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Gotlieb getting some air at the Burton European Open, Photo Credit: Stef Zeestraten

Gotliebs performance today earned her valuable points towards both the Burton Global Opens Series title (US$ 200,000 prize-money) and the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Championship titles.

She was pleased with her performance commenting, I could have executed a cleaner run, but am very happy with the day overall.

Shelly Gotlieb showing she's got what it takes, Photo Credit: Stef Zeestraten

There was lots of great riding from the girls, it was amazing.

After an exciting day of competition, Enni Rukajrvi from Finland secured her first win at the BEO, Sina Candrian (SUI) took second and Sarka Pancochova (CZE) rounded out the podium.

The slopestyle course was in perfect shape and every single rider seemed to have lots of fun.

Gotliebs teammate, Stef Zeestraten also competed in the BEO but just barely missed the cut during the mens semi-finals and was therefore unable to compete in the finals.

Both Gotlieb and Zeestraten now board a plane for North America where Gotlieb will start training for the prestigious X-Games and Zeestraten will join teammates Nick Brown and Nick Hyne at the first ever Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup in Calgary, Alberta.

Womens Slopestyle Finals Results
1.  Rukajrvi, Enni FIN ROXY 93.17
2.  Candrian, Sina SUI BURTON 78.50
3.  Pancochova, Sarka CZE FLOW 74.50
4.  Wiik, Lisa NOR Skarnes ROXY 63.83
5.  Gotlieb, Shelly NZL Ohakune BURTON 62.67
6.  van Gils, Charlotte NED Rotterdam 1986 K2 F 45.50
7.  Ramholt, Tina SUI HORSEFEATHERS 41.00
8.  Karlinski, Jordie USA Snowmass Village NIKITA 33.33

Mens Slopestyle Finals Results
1.  Piiroinen, Peetu FIN BURTON F 93.00
2.  Bang, Mikkel NOR BURTON F 92.00
3.  Braaten, Gjermund NOR OAKLEY F 87.83

LINKS:
www.opensnowboarding.com
www.snowsports.co.nz
www.nzsbu.com

All teams are traveling to New Zealand with their country’s elite junior team. Defending champions and previous ISA medalists are going to be looking forward to a repeat performance while aiming to improve their previous feats.

Tyler Wright (AUS), gold medalist of the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championsihp in Ecuador will try to put her name next to Stephanie Gilmore, who won the event back to back in Tahiti 2004 and USA 2005.

Keanu Asing (HAW) and Tamaroa McComb (TAH), gold medalists in 2009 and 2008 respectively in the Under 16 division, are looking forward to writing their names in history books. Both Asing and McComb will be competing in the Under 18 division in New Zealand. If one of them wins, they will become the first surfers to win both boys divisions in the history of event.

Also joining the list of favorites is:
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 18 bronze medalist, Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 16 silver medalist, Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 16 bronze medalist, David Brand (RSA)
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 16 copper medalist, Jessé Mendes (BRA)
Ecuador 2009 – Girls Under 18 silver medalist, Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Ecuador 2009 – Girls! Under 18 bronze medalist, Alessa Quizon (HAW)
France 2008 – Boys Under 16 silver medalist, Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
France 2008 – Boys Under 16 copper medalist, Ian Fontaine (FRA)

In addition to top names, the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will have a team presence from Indonesia, Fiji and Vanuatu, all countries competing for the first time ever.

The event will be officially open on January 20, after the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony. The opening ceremony will take place at Mission Bay, Auckland at 1pm. Competition will start at 8:00am on the 21st at Piha Beach, Auckland.

Attention Media
Media Registration will start on January 19 at 11:00am at the SkyCity Grand Hotel in Auckland. A Press Conference will take place on January 19 at 12:00pm, also at the SkyCity Grand Hotel..

Editorial right free videos and images in hi res are available in the following ftp:
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Password: download1

CONTACT US, we´re here to serve you

Pablo Zanocchi
Media Manager
International Surfing Association
pabloisasurf.org

Jake White
Media
Quiksilver Australia
Jakesurfingaustralia.com

Ben Kennings
Media Manager
Surfing New Zealand
benkenningssurfingnz.co.nz

About the ISA
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing and all Surfriding activities, including Short Board, Longboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard, Skimboard, Tow In and Stand Up Paddle surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA’s four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA), and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

About Quiksilver (www.quiksilver.com)
Quiksilver is committed to providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. Our aim is to foster the sense of individual expression and excitement – the stoke that is the essence of boardriding*. We’re also here to spread the word because the only thing better than finding stoke is sharing it.

* Boardriding is about timing and style. It’s youthful, active, casual, and free flowing. There is no wrong way to ride a board. The goal is simply to learn, progress, improve, and give it your own interpretation.

Above: Wells on Podium with Mike Riddle and Xavier Bertoni

The pressure seemed to be getting to the athletes at the year’s first major competition.

“Yeah, I think it was just nerves,” Wells said of the other rider’s troubles. “I just wanted to land a solid run and then step it up for my second one.”

And that’s exactly what Wells did, stomping a double flip on his first hit and cruising down the pipe with ease.

In the end, Mike Riddle laid down a run that included a double flip, two 900s and an alley-oop 360 flatspin that sent him to the top of the Dew Tour Podium, narrowly edging out Wells.

“Jossi killed it too,” said Riddle. “We had pretty close to the same run, just the bottom was different.” Riddle nailed his signature alley-oop “bwarrow,” as he called it, for the final hit.

“It was crazy,” Wells said of the level of skiing. “We had the best halfpipe skiers in the world here. It was great just to watch.”

France’s Xavier Bertoni, the reigning X Games champ, scored 90.75 putting him on the podium in third place.

In one of the largest turnouts of New Zealander’s at an international event this season, the kiwi contingent showed that they could compete with the world’s best.

Ohakune’s Mountain Dew Ambassador Shelly Gotlieb made it through to the six-woman final in women’s snowboard slopestyle and Stef Zeestraten (Christchurch) made it through to the 12-man final in men’s snowboard slopestyle.

Above: Shelly Gotlieb, riding at Cardrona Alpine Resort   Credit: Pablo Azocar

For Gotlieb and Zeestraten, the result was above expectations, as both riders made it to the Final amidst an extremely tough field of international riders in their first competition of the Northern Hemisphere season.

Their teammates on the women’s Halfpipe Snowboard team Kendall Brown and Paula Mitchell made it through the qualifying rounds to the Prelims but failed to make the finals.

Other kiwis on the New Zealand national teams who competed include halfpipe snowboarders Ben Stewart and Rebecca Sinclair and slopestyle snowboarder, Jake Koia.

Wells’s younger brother Byron, also a freeskier, took one run through the pipe but was in too much pain to continue, due to an injury to his heal in October. He decided to wait this one out so that he is in top form for the second stop of the tour.

Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand.

Winter Dew Tour

The Winter Dew Tour consists of three major, multi-sport events spanning across the country, with a cumulative points system, and a $1.5 million competitive purse. Each event features men and women’s snowboard (superpipe and slopestyle), and men’s freeskiing (superpipe and slopestyle). At season’s end, the overall point’s leaders in the six disciplines are crowned year-end champions and awarded the prestigious Dew Cup. As part of an Alli property, key lifestyle elements compliment the competitions at each Tour event including the Festival village, specialty competitions, and live cutting edge music. The Winter Dew Tour is broadcast live on NBC Sports with additional competition and lifestyle broadcasts on MTV, MTV2 and USA. The Winter Dew Tour is also distributed on Fuel TV, Universal HD, Rush HD, and internationally on Eurosport, Fox Au! stralia, Extreme Channel and Allarco superchannel. More information can be found at www.allisports.com

For all the news and video clips from the first stop of the Winter Dew Tour 2010, log on to: http://www.allisports.com/tours/winter-dew-tour

First up were the Junior Men with Ethan Halliwell taking out the honors and the cash bonus for being the fastest junior on the hill, soon after Derek Winwood showed his skill and won the 30+ class along with a cash bonus for that. Derek also showed he hasnt slowed down by coming in 5th overall making himself some more cash for a good days racing.

With cash being paid to the top 5 fastest racers of the day the top 4 were rounded out with senior mens class with Kieran Bennett coming in 4th chasing down Hayden McKay who placed 3rd.

The race for first was a hot one and came down to Reuben Miller and Pete Cooper battling it out over the two race runs. Reuben managed to show his skill and fitness and  scrape into 1st by only a few hundredths of a second over Pete taking out the top cash prize.

For the girls Harriet Harper from Blenheim showed the rest how its done taking a comfortable win over Amanda Pearce and walking away with the cash.

After a great days racing everyone walked away satisfied and for the organisers it was great to hold a race where all of the profit made was given back to the riders. A massive thanks to Mountain Dew and also to all of the volunteers who gave up their day to make this race happen.  Keep an eye out for an even bigger and better Nelson Open in 2010!

Qualifier. The Open Qualifier is the only way for athletes not yet qualified for the Dew Tour to get in. Sometimes referred to as a Local Qualifier, this Qualifier had a very strong international presence. The level ranged from world class riders like Peetu Piiroinen to young kids you probably have never heard of yet, but certainly will.

Right: Fredrik Austbo spins through a frontside 10 on his way to the top qualifying position

Out of 42 male competitors only the top 10 got coveted Dew Tour spots. This is the only qualifying stop of the Winter Dew Tour so those that got in are stoked since they are on the Dew Tour for the entire season. On the women’s side, six should be moving on to get Dew Tour qualification.

Above: Peetu Piironen showed up with some fine Finnish style but did not make the cut to be in the Dew Tour

For the women, Spain’s Queralt Castellet got third, Steamboat Colorado’s Madeline Schaffrick got second and Canada’s Sarah Conrad took the 1st place qualifier spot.

Above: Breckenridge’s own Zachary Black has enough sick tricks in his repertoire to have gotten 3rd in the Grand Prix last week, he follows that up by qualifying second

It seemed that the top men were holding back; really only doing what they had to to get on to the tour. Peetu Piiroinen did throw down the first double cork in Dew Tour history however, but that did not get him through qualifying. The qualifiers today depended on more traditional tricks, like 10′s and 9′s. Dylan Bidez took third.

Above: While people came from all over the world to enter the Dew Tour, third place qualifier Dylan Bidez only came from nearby Minturn, Colorado

Breckenridge local Zachary Black proved last week at the Grand Prix to have a deep bag of tricks including switch 10′s and swooped into second. Frederick Austbo pretty much killed it, winning it on his first run and holding the lead until the end. It will be cool to see the new guys and gals qualified today mix it up with the Dew Tour vets and wild-card entrants.

To check the complete results from the Winter Dew Tour’s Totino’s Open, CLICK HERE

Above: Staale Sandbech is the younger brother of Transworld Senior Photographer Frode Sandbech, talk about a talented family

Tim O’Connor (Right, Image – Lion Rock) saw off his opposing finalists with his clinical backhand snaps in the pocket followed up with some east coast reverse trickery on the inside.  The judges were strict on ASP criteria and O’Connor took the title by being both radical and having variety in his moves.

Fellow Mount surfer, Alex Dive impressed all day with his speed and vertical attack everytime a critical section appeared.  He claimed second in the Open after previously dispensing with all comers in the junior final.  For Alex, it was hopefully a prequel for how he will want to perform at the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championship that will also be held at Piha next month.

Bevan Wiig was the standout Auckland surfer of the day, coming third in the open, after having to dig his way out from his repercharge heat after a first round loss.  Bevan was running on empty after also surfing through to place seocnd in the Senior Final.

Last year’s champ, Scott Bell (Akld), surfed with his usual flair while the heats were out on the bar, but struggled to find the waves he needed in the evening high tide final, placing fourth.

The Juniors saw three members of the NZ Junior Team squad reach the final with JC Susan also from the Mount, finishing behind Alex Dive in second place.  Ryan Hawker, from Piha, was only a fraction behind, placing third, with NZ Team surfer Ben Poulter (Rag) placing fourth.

Ben Poulter had surfed powerfully taking out big names in every heat he surfed, only faltering by 0.5 in his open semi final.  Still only an under 16 surfer, Ben has let some of NZ’s top open surfers know he can take them down in any conditions.

Ben’s sister, Alexis, convincingly took out the Auckland Women’s title from fellow NZ team members, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris in second and Grace Spiers in third.  Local surfer Maiya Thompson placed fourth.

It was only in the Seniors where Auckland surfers could dominate, with Piharian Nat Barron, coming out of retirement to claim the Senior Champion title.  Bevan Wiig placed second with Shaun Coffey in third and NZ 2009 Over 40 Champion, Rick Lasch placing fourth.

The organisers would like to thank Billabong, Hardcore Surf, Etnies, FCS/Gorrilla Grip, Pure Wax, Lifestream Spirulina, Piha Surf and the Piha Cafe.

Results were as follows:

Open Mens.
Quarter 1.  Ben Poulter,1. Liam Joyce,2.  Matt Hewitt,3. JC Susan,4.
Quarter 2. Scott Bell,1. Tim O’Connor,2. Subarn Linklater,3. Zen Wallis,4.
Quarter 3.  Tane Wallis,1. Alex Dive,2. Steve Walker,3. Shaun Coffey,4.
Quarter 4.  Bevan Wiig,1. Ryan Hawker,2. Rangi Ormond,3. Nick White,4.

Semi 1.  Scott Bell,1. Tim O’Connor,2. Ben Poulter,3. Liam Joyce,4.
Semi 2.  Alex Dive,1. Bevan Wiig,2. Ryan Hawker,3. Tane Wallis,4.

Final.  Tim O’Connor,1. Alex Dive,2. Bevan Wiig,3. Scott Bell,4.

Junior Mens.
Semi 1. Ben Poulter,1. Ryan Hawker,2. Tane Wallis,3. Todd Doyle,4.
Semi 2. Alex Dive,1. JC Susan,2. Blake Myers,3. Elliot Paerata-Reid,4.

Final.  Alex Dive,1. JC Susan,2. Ryan Hawker,3. Ben Poulter,4.

Seniors.
Semi 1. Bevan Wiig,1. Shaun Coffey,2. Brad Buckle,3.
Semi 2. Rick Lasch 1. Nat Barron,2. Steve Walker,3.

Final. Nat Barron,1. Bevan Wiig,2. Shaun Coffey, 3. Rick Lasch,4.

Womens.
Final. Alexis Poulter,1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris,2. Grace Spiers,3. Maiya Thompson,4.

2009 Auckland Surfing Champs were presented by Billabong and Lion Rock Boardriders Club. For more info contact: lionrockbdrs@xtra.co.nz or Clive Moreton (09) 834 6777.

Also have a look at www.zerosandones.co.nz for more info on Tim, he’s one talented guy!