Japanese Duo Claim Ansell Big Air Titles

Japan’s Makoto Kondo and Tomo Kojima have both secured "Ansell BIG AIR" wins on day one of the Rip Curl Freeski Pro, staged at Australia’s powder capital - Victoria’s Mount Hotham.

In fine but windy conditions on the highly technical and challenging "Race Gully" course, the world’s best freestyle skiers took to the Big Air in search of the newest grabs, perfect technique and optimum hang-time.

Utilising shortened, twin-tip skis, competitors consistently performed their futuristic tricks in combination with switch (reverse) take-offs and landings. Characterised by beautiful backdrop scenery and blue sunny skies, competitors put on an amazing technical Big Air display not previously witnessed in Australia. 110cm snow depth with the weekend’s 8cm top-up allowed arguably Australia’s most innovative freestyle course.

FINAL DAY 1 RANKINGS:

Men
1. Makoto Kondo (Japan)
2. Steele Spence (USA)
3. Robbie Richards (Mount Hotham, Australia)
4. Andreas Gloor (Perisher, NSW)

Women
1. Tomo Kojima (Japan)
2. Amy Gavin (Falls Creek, Victoria)
3. Nicole Lewis (Mount Buller, Victoria)
4. Zoe Booth (Perisher, NSW)

High Winds Make for Difficult Landings

Kondo, the Sportwool Terrain Park champion in last year’s inaugural Rip Curl Freeski Pro, clearly won the Ansell "Big Air" with consistently high scores. Winning the discipline with a corked 720 degree spin with a tail grab, Kondo remarked "I was drifting in the air. Because it was so windy, it was very difficult. I was lucky with my landings."

Risky jumps highlighted Tomo Kajima’s path to Ansell Big Air victory and a convincing overall event lead. A solid score for a smooth backflip in her first jump allowed Tomo some breathing space. A heavy crash was the outcome of her next attempt. Bruised and sore she stated, "It was windy and a little dangerous, so I really had to concentrate".

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