PARK9 2013 - SOME WORDS FROM THE ORGANISER, CHRIS SOUTWELL
Verbier was host to the 3rd ever Park 9 on Saturday, the event sees freestyle skiing and snowboarding taking on a golf theme. The Verbier park staff did a legendary job in
transforming the park to look like a golf course with 9 features consisting of kickers, rail lines and stalls each of which had a par rating depending on its difficulty.
The day started with the qualifiers in which 8 teams made there way around
the course competing for 4 slots in the 3 hole final. We had such a strong field of riders and the final 4 slots where any team for the taking. The standard of riding on the kickers and rails was amazing and with a crowd of over 300 people watching they really got behind the riders and pushed them. The 4 teams that made it into the final where Homies, Thyon Central Park, Planks and Ski Service.
As well as the riders keeping the crowd entertained Verbier Seasonaires laid on a all cast DJ team with the likes of Tim Lyall, DJ G, Oscar and we cant forget the great job Fabien and Simon did on the microphone keeping every updated with what was going on. The Pub Mont Fort also laid on a great BBQ and snow bar to keep everyone in the party spirit.
For the final the three chosen holes were the big black kicked in the park where the riders where judged on style, the rail line consisting of the banana rail, the up flat down rail, the pilar box and rainbow rail before the final finished on the big kicker with a team expression session.
On the kicker the huge gathered crowd were treated to another great spectacle and
With everthing from double front flips to huge 1080 being pulled off it was going to be a close call. Peter Strom even did a 1 foot method on the kicker and that did send the crowd crazy.
The rail line saw spins on and off all the rails and a series of switch ups on the up flat down rail and even front flip of the banana rail from Swiss boarder Anthony Duchateau.
On the final feature which was the kicker team expression session the huge gathered crowd were treated to another great spectacle. I have never seen 4 teams ride so well and it was a close call for the judges. Have a look at the highlights of the last play off whole. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPLPR_P5Ez0
In the end it was a close fought final and Ski Service came off as winners by 1 point. Here are the results:
1st – Ski Service
2nd – Planks
3rd – Thyon Central Park
4th – Hommies
5th – Gucci Solarium Mafia
6th – Inspadaat
7th – Yolo - Causte
8th - Izi Ski Crew
The 3rd ever Park 9 was a huge success and will be back again next
year. Organizers Southwell Enterprises and Ride Freesports would like all the helpers, we had over 30 people helping though out the day and with out your support the event would not run so thank you for helping and making the Park 9 such a great event. I would also like to thank all the event sponsor Verbier St-Bernard, Perfect Movement, Ski Service, Planks clothing, Verbier seasonaires, Verbier Sport Plus, the Verbier fun park crew, The Pub Mont Fort, and the Farinet for their support. We look forward to seeing you all next year and I will have some very exciting news to break in the next few weeks about the future of the event.
