London, UK – Finland’s Janne Korpi was on Saturday crowned the king of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season’s first big air contest.

In front of 17,000 spectators and the four iconic towers of London’s Battersea Power Station, Korpi, who had already won the World Cup season’s first halfpipe contest in New Zealand, secured his career’s fifth big air triumph with 184 out of possible 200 points to edge out last year’s third-ranked rider in London, Seppe Smits of Belgium, by a mere 1.8 points. The Netherlands’ Joris Ouwerkerk, who had entered only two prior World Cup events before Saturday’s contest at the London Freeze Festival, surprised the crowd to round out the podium in third.

Saturday’s win also allowed Korpi to extend his lead in the battle for the overall World Cup title for the best freestyle snowboarder.

“I’m so stoked, I can’t believe it,” said the smiling 25-year-old. “Yesterday, it didn’t went well for me. But after the last training session right before the finals, when I landed all of my tricks, I felt pretty comfortable and knew that I would have a chance to win.”

The Finn nailed a frontside 1080 double cork melon as well as a switch backside 1260 mute while his rivals also used the massive ramp to throw in several 1080 double corks and 12s.

“The level was insane,” said Smits, who was able to better his result from last year in London by one spot. “I’m super stoked that I was able to stick my cab 1260 mute inverted and my backside 1260 mute. That feels great.”

Smits won’t compete in the second halfpipe contest of the season, which will take place in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, in just a few days. “I’m concentrating on slopestyle and big air” this season, said the 20-year-old.

So is Ouwerkerk, who surprised even himself on Saturday. “I never thought I would have a chance to make it on the podium. I couldn’t be any happier,” the 19-year-old said in the finish area. Ouwerkerk earned his champagne shower by stomping a cab 900 double cork as well as a backside 1080 double cork mute.

The 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season continues Tuesday and Wednesday in the Saas-Fee halfpipe.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup
London, UK – October 29, 2011
Big Air