The Qualifying continues at the Orage European Freeskiing Open

Busy, busy, busy… that was the name of the game today in Laax for the Orage European Freeskiing Open by Swatch. With half of the mens field still needing to qualify from the previous day, coupled with mens and womens halfpipe qualifying, the day was a bit to handle for the event coordinators. And to make things worse, the fog machine was turned on, blanketing the pipe in a nice ethereal layer of fog that was impenetrable.

But this is Europe (read: upside-down land), and everything has managed to work out. Despite some minor course holds (due to fog) the men and womens pipe qualifiers went off, with unknowns, ams and pros alike showing the judges their best in the large stunt ditch. About halfway through the mens heats, Luke Van Valin called in a favor to someone upstairs and the fog lifted, revealing stunning views and letting that sunny Swiss sky show through. The men got to finish in some sunshine, and immediately after, then women dropped in super hard on the sunny Laax pipe.

While the pipe went down, and following it’s finale, the slope course was opened up for the pre-qualified athletes and yesterday’s heats 3 and 4 to practice. The sun revitalized peoples’ spirits, with seemingly endless dope runs being sent. The chopstick bowl got demolished by Margetts and Banks Gilberti. The top box options were not even a problem for the riders. The triple jump line was owned… in a certain way that can only be seen in Europe. I don’t even know what that means, but I liked what I saw today.

Finally, after a day delay of waiting… wanting… needing… heats 3 and 4 got to run for the slopestyle qualification. The clouds started to put a damper on the afternoon, just killing everyone’s sun buzz. But the riders, all amped up from practice (and the dope rider’s drinks und sandwiches) threw down like it was their job (which it is). Orage and Laax built the course, the riders came and conquered.

With both days of qualifiers behind us, we can move forward into the semis and finals, adding pre-qualified G’s to the start list. No doubt there will be some crazy riding going down. Tomorrow will for sure see plenty of big air, decked out hits, and Van Valin’s premium brand of announcing. What else will the day bring? We will have to wait and see.

Check back tomorrow for the halfpipe results for men and women!

Find out more info at the Orage European Freeskiing Open Site.

Today’s Qualified Athletes:

Mens Pipe:
Matt Margetts
JF Houle
Banks Gilberti
Mathieu Bijasson
Thomas Barnier
James Webb
Pekka Hyysalo
Murray Buchan
Fabian Meyer
Reto Comincioli
Oscar Harlaut
Joe Schuster
Jimmy Greenleaf
Paddy Graham
Gaute Haaker
James Machon
Mattias Menzli
Maxime Fornier
Vivien Theiry
Marco Guler
Niklas Eriksson

Womens Pipe:
Davina Williams
Anais Carradeux
Kristi Leskinen
Karin Edwards
Michelle Schlaepfer
Rebecca Hammond

Mens Slopestyle (heats 3 and 4):
Benedikt Mayr
Kim Boberg
Rainer Laa
Marius Kjolseth
Patrick Hollaus
Janne Van Enckevort
AJ Kemppainen
Pekka Hyysalo
Nicolas Vulgnier
Matt Margetts
Aleksander Aurdal
Banks Gilberti