2007 Honda Session Final Pro Competion
January 13, 2007 - VAIL, CO
Live music, hot chocolate, cold temperatures, bon fires, and big trick air was the mix on Vail's Golden Peak Saturday as the Honda Session held it's final professional event of the weekend, the Bud Light Men's Slopestyle competition. The night time venue featured four huge jumps in a row ending with an explosion of fire behind the rider as they cleared the final jump and road into the rails and bowls arena. The 1.5 hour session allowed riders to take as many judged runs possible with only their best run counting towards the final results. Twenty five year old, Andreas Wiig (NOR), may be a veteran in the freestyle snowboard world but still has enough to take top honors in many competions and now has the Honda Sessions to add to the list. Wiig improved upon his previous best finish of second place behind Shaun White in 2006 to take this year's Honda Session slopestyle big air comp, with a score of 93.7, and collected $30,000 in prize money. Andreas Wiig's first run, which included a backside rodeo 1080 into a cab 1080 onto a switch backside nine to frontside 1080, set the high bar for the rest of the field. No others had enough to challenge and Wiig won by three full points in the end. David Benedek (AUT), another seasoned veteran at twenty six, solidly claimed second with a score of 90.7 earning him $20,000. Benedek's final huck was a 1260m, the first in a major competition history. Third place, with a score of 84.3, was taken by nineteen year old, Chas Guldemond (USA), who followed Benedek's lead also throwing a 1260m, taking home $15,000.
Complete results available HERE.
So what would four time Honda Session champion Shaun White have done? Would Andreas have taken second again in his third Honda Session behind Shaun who scored a whopping 95.0 last year? Who knows but you can bet all these guys can't wait to get back at it in a couple weeks time for Winter XGames 11, January 25-28 in Aspen, CO. As an event that brings out the newest and best everyone has to give, competition and presure should be colossal! Fan's are guaranteed new tricks and huge amplitude!
The NBC one-hour network broadcast of the 2007 Honda Session will air this coming weekend, Sat. Jan. 20, at 2 PM (EST).
Above Left: Andreas Wiig; Winner of the Bud Light Men's Slopestyle competition hitting the final jump and riding the rails arena. Above Right: David Benedek, second place splopestyle rider, works the rails course at the end of his run.
PHOTOS and Article By: Craig Stein - © Photo Express-It, Inc.
View 1_13_07 Slopestyle Session Photos HERE. Requests for Photo Usage Rights, GO HERE
Steel & Sky Rail Session Lights Up Vail
Honda Session Competition Kicks Off
January 12, 2007 - VAIL, CO
A fast and furious rails session was the theme for the night as riders were awarded cash prizes every fifteen minutes during the one hour men's and women's competitions. The blast of the propane fire plume marked the passing of each interval as the winner of that segment was announced and competitors continued to session the rails course.
Some of this year's top riders may not be old enough to drive but still walked away with the largest cash deposits. On the men's side, 17 year old Lucas Magoon took top honors with a total payout of $6,750 which included $1,500 for the, "Josh Malay" best overall trick, front side 50-50 to back side 180 on the box. Pat Milbery, Kevin Pearce, and TJ Schneider all tied for second receiving $3,500 each. Highly anticipated rider, Mason Aguirre, finished 7th overall while other hopefuls, Danny Kass and Louie Vito did not qualify for the finals. 14 year old Ellery Hollingsworth, the youngest woman rider in the field, came away with the top honors and $4,000. Second place in the women's division also ended up in a tie between Jamie Anderson and Silvia Mittermueller, each collecting $3,550. Best overall trick was awarded to Leanne Pelosi with her front side 270 to fakie-out, earning her $1,500 in take home pay. Top seeds, Lara Hadar and Molly Aguirre finished 4th and 6th respectively but could not make the podium.
Complete results available HERE.
PHOTOS and Article By: Craig Stein - © Photo Express-It, Inc.
View 1_12_07 Steel & Sky Session Photos HERE. Requests for Photo Usage Rights, GO HERE
2007 Honda Session On You Tube - January 12, 2007 - Steel & Sky Rail Session
Honda Session Riders Test Out the Fresh Layout of the Rails Course
A Media Frenzy Descends on Golden Peak
January 11, 2007 - VAIL, CO
The entire field of men and women riders dropped into the just completed rails arena of the Honda Session Thursday to test their tricks and ready themselves for Friday's Steel & Sky (Rails) competition. Things were pretty heated with one collision and a few other close calls during the two hour practice round.
Golden Peak at Vail Resort was descended upon by the media as photographers and videographers scrambled for that ideal photo op. The partial sunshine and warm temperatures made for a beautiful afternoon as snow clouds began to form in the west. Snow is forecasted for Vail, Thursday through Saturday which will make for fluffy conditions this weekend.
The festivities begin at noon Friday as the Honda Base camp opens with activities for the whole family. The action kicks off at 2:45 with the men's rails practice session followed by the qualifier round at 3:30 PM. Women's rail practice begins at 5:15 PM followed directly by the final round from 6-7 PM. The men's Steel & Sky finals will finish out the night beginning at 7 PM.
PHOTOS and Article By: Craig Stein - © Photo Express-It, Inc.
View 1_11_07 Practice Session Photos HERE
2007 Honda Session On You Tube - January 11, 2007 - Construction & Rail Practice
Honda Session Returns to Vail Minus Shaun White
Event to Receive National TV Coverage On NBC
January 10, 2007 - VAIL, CO
The final rider list has been published and it is official. Four time Honda Session champion Shaun White will skip this year's competition due to prior schedule commitments stemming from his post Torino gold medal victory fame. Olympic teammates, Danny Kass and Mason Aguirre, will head up the men's division along with David Benedek as the favored riders. Other male contenders to watch will be Andreas Wiig, Travis Rice, and Chad Otterstrom. All of whom have been hot this season.
Top female snowboarder talents confirmed for this year's Honda Session are; Laura Hadar, Molly Aguirre, and Leanne Pelosi. Others will surely be scrambling for their place on the podium and a share of the $16,000 women's rails payout.
With a total purse of $124,000, the 2007 Honda Session is a popular stop not only because of the prize potential but also as a warm up event before Winter XGames 11 which will be held in Aspen, CO starting Jan. 25th. Many XGames competitors will be on hand to please the Golden Peak crowd in Vail this weekend, but Shaun White fans will have to make the trek to Aspen at the end of the month to see the "Flying Tomato."
A national audience will have, for the first time, an opportunity to experience the event, as NBC will televise the Honda Session on Saturday, January 20, at 3 p.m. (EST).
PHOTOS and Article By: Craig Stein - © Photo Express-It, Inc.
Above: Shaun White; Olympic and XGames Gold Medalist. © CStein/ESPN Images
