Today Team Americas emerged victorious in the 2nd installment of the Swatch Skiers Cup in Valle Nevado, Chile. The Backcountry Slopestyle event that was scheduled for today was cancelled due to unsafe snow conditions and the teams instead competed in a winner take all tiebreaker. Three riders from each team competed in a best two out of three tiebreaker.
In the first heat Cody Townsend (USA) bested Mathieu Imbert (France).
Markus Eder (Italy) then beat Chopo Diaz (Chile) in the second leg, earning praise from Event Judge Mark Abma: “Markus Eder’s run was amazing, spinning 360s in both directions and incorporating a rodeo 540 and a rodeo 720, all off of the natural terrain found on this backup venue.”
In the final showdown KC Deane (USA) defeated Paddy Graham (UK) to bring home the trophy for Team Americas.
After finishing day one in a tie at 8-8, the final tally was 10-9 in Team Americas favor. A third installment of the Swatch Skiers Cup was also announced today. It will take place from February 9-16, 2013 in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Team Americas:
Cody Townsend (Captain)
Riley Leboe
Chris Benchetler
KC Deane
Drew Tabke
Chopo Diaz
Oakley White-Allen
Dane Tudor
Team Europe:
Sverre Liliequist (Captain)
Sam Smoothy
Mathieu Imbert
Paddy Graham
Jacob Wester
Richard Permin
Tom Leitner
Markus Eder
Check out some of the highlights from the Big Mountain Competition from Day 1.
For more stellar photos from todays backcountry tiebreaker CLICK HERE.