Swiss snowboarder Ursina Haller took victory in a closely fought women's halfpipe final at the O'Neill Evolution in Davos.
"I didn't expect to win," said Ursina. "I was hoping for top five or top three – so I am even more stoked with the win!"
The sun came out for this first day of competition at the O'NeillEvolution 2010 to highlight the impressive halfpipe riding from thewomen. "The pipe was really good and the weather worked for us tootoday. We had a good time," said Ursina.
Her winning run of84.5 from her first run of the final, consisted of a FS 5 into a BS 5,a Stalefish, a BS air, and a FS 7 at the bottom.
"The wholevibe of the competition was not to put too much pressure on theriders," she said. "We had so much fun in the qualifications, which wasa jam session, so it felt like you were riding with your friends. Thenin the finals we had three runs too, so we just continued to have fun!"
18-year-old Slovakian snowboarder Cilka Sadar – the youngestrider in the final – was surprised but delighted with her second placefinish – after coming from fifth on her final run.
"I wasn'tnervous because I got fifth in the qualifiers and then before the finalrun I was also fifth. So I didn't really expect to do that good," saidCilka. "I am clearly better when I am not that nervous!"
Finishing off the top three was another Swiss rider, Manuela Peska, whofinished in first place in the qualification round, and with herconsistent runs ended the competition in third place.
Althoughfinishing 6th,Sarka Pancochova was the one partying the hardest at theaward ceremony– with each of the top eight finalists receiving a bottleof champagne– as she maintains her Swatch TTR World Tour lead.
Dutch rider, Cheryl Maas moved up to second place, and now the world number three is Cilka Sadar.
With womencompeting at the O'Neill Evolution for the first time in three years, itproved a decisive and important stop on the Swatch TTR World Tour.
"WhenI saw that women were back at Eovlution on the TRR page I was reallystoked," said the winner Ursina. "It's not far frommy home, and Ialways thought it was a great event – with the halfpipe and having it inthe village. Hopefully they have it again here next year – that would begreat!"
Tomorrow the halfpipe opens to the men – when the qualification round begins at 11am.
FINALS RESULTS
1. ($8,000) Ursina Haller (SUI)
2. ($6,000) Cilka Sadar (SLO)
3. ($4,000) Manuela Pesko (SUI)
4. ($4,000) Kjersti Ostgaard Buaas (NOR)
5. ($2,000) Caroline Beliard (FRA)
6. ($1,000) Sarka Pancochova (CZE)
7. ($500) Nadja Purtschert (SUI)
8. ($500) Akiko Miwa (JPN)
SCHEDULE
Monday January 4 – Training
Tuesday January 5 - Women's Halfpipe
Wednesday January 6 – Men's Halfpipe Qualifications
Thursday January 7 – Men's Slopestyle Qualifications
Friday January 8 – MEN'S HALFPIPE FINALS
Saturday January 9 – MEN'S SLOPESTYLE FINALS