Oslo, Norway – Reno, Nev.’s Chas Guldemond won men’s slopestyle finals and the overall Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Champion title on Sunday in Oslo. Jamie Anderson, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., took second place for the women, while Canadian Spencer O’Brien took the top spot.
The weather improved from Saturday’s pipe finals in Oslo, but temperatures dropped making the course slick at the TTR 6star event. The riders were greeted with sunshine and a perfectly manicured slopestyle course that started off with a three-option handrail, an option of four jibs, a set of two kickers, channel gap, option of two jibs and ended with a huge step-over jump. Guldemond’s run was smooth and had a huge backside 1080 to an even bugger cab 1260 which gave him the win with an 87.9. It was a nail biter that put Quebec’s Sebastien Toutant in second place with a final score of 86.8, followed by Seppe Smits of Belgium in third.
“It’s unbelievable! I was sure of myself and I knew what I had to do,” said a proud Guldemond. “It was a beautiful course and I was having a good time. I did a switch backside 1260 and that was the first time I landed it, ever. I am so psyched.”
Eric Beauchemin, of Lake Winola, Penn., came in fourth place and Tyler Flanagan, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., ended up in seventh.
In women’s competition, O’Brien was able to top Anderson’s lead with her last run that consisted of a frontside boardslide, noseslide, backside 540, switch backside 540, 50-50 and ended with a large frontside 720.
“It feels amazing. It’s still sinking in and the idea of being World Champion is so crazy,” said O’Brien. “I’m so happy and so excited and so proud of all the girls.”
Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi finished in third. Jordie Karlinski, of Snowmass Village, Colo., came in seventh and Stowe, Vt.’s Ty Walker was ninth.
Guldemond prepared to leave Oslo while already planning to defend his new title. “I’m the oldest rider in today’s final, and I’ll be 30 for the next one,” he said, “but I will for sure be there to defend this title.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
World Snowboarding Championships
Oslo, Norway – Feb. 19, 2012
Slopestyle
Men:
1. Chas Guldemond US 87.9
2. Sebastien Toutant CA 86.8
3. Seppe Smits BE 76.3
4. Eric Beauchemin US 75.9
5. Aleksander Østreng NO 74.4
6. Sven Thorgren SE 66.7
7. Tyler Flanagan US 63.1
8. Roope Tonteri FI 59.5
9. Mark McMorris CA 36.9
Women:
1. Spencer O’Brien CA 84.4
2. Jamie Anderson US 78.9
3. Enni Rukajaervi FI 74.5
4. Cheryl Maas NL 64.3
5. Shelly Gottlieb NZ 63.1
6. Kjersti Østgaard Buaas NO 62.1
7. Jodie Karlinski US 53.5
8. Megan Ginter US 48.9
9. Ty Walker US 28.7
10. Urska Pribosic SL 25.3