(photo: TTR)
Events

Canadians Spencer O’Brien, Mark McMorris Win TTR 6Star O’Neill Evolution Big Air

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Davos, Switzerland – In the Swiss winter wonderland of Davos, Canadians Spencer O’Brien and Mark McMorris won the 6Star Big Air competition at the O’Neill Evolution on Saturday.

Gripping until the last run, McMorris was followed closely by American Eric Willet and Seppe Smits of Belgium. On the women’s side, Swiss rider Sina Candrian came in second, followed by Austrian rookie Anna Gasser who left some experienced favorites behind.

(photo: TTR)
(photo: TTR)

It was Gasser’s last run that secured her spot on the podium. With a stylish Backside 540 Mute Grab and Frontboard to 50-50 Frontside Out on the rail, she surprised everyone, including herself.

“’I can’t believe it, I am so happy!” said Gasser. “This morning I was very nervous, but during training, it all felt so good and I relaxed a bit more, that may have been it.”

“I am super excited over my second win of the season, especially with a trick that I haven’t really done that much,” said O’Brien, who locked in the highest score of 93.45 for her Frontside 720 Nosebone and a Gap Lipslide on the rail in her second run. “It was a good time here in Davos!”

As the snow started coming down more intensely, things were heating up in anticipation of the men’s final. In front of a crowd numbering in the thousands, Willett lost his first and second run lead to Mark McMorris by only 0.30 points, with the Canadian performing a nearly perfect Backside Double Cork 1260 Mute Grab and Gap switch hardway to 270 out on the rail.

“Eric rode insane, and would have deserved the win as much as I did,” acknowledged McMorris.

In the Big Air Tour ranking, Willett grabs the lead from Finland’s Roope Tonteri. Smits advanced from 12th to fifth position, remaining in his fifth position in the Overall Rankings. With his first Big Air result of the season, Swiss rider Christian Haller advanced to the first position in the TTR Overall World Tour rankings. O’Neill Evolution was the last Big Air contest before the Big Air final Billabong Air&Style set for Feb. 4 in Innsbruck, Austria, where the TTR Big Air Tour Champion will be crowned.

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