01 April 2005

The superstars of new school skiing are gathering in Åre for the Jon Olsson Invitational.

Gigantic jumps and obstacles are taking shape at the slopes of Åre and the last preparations are being made by Olsson himself.

Olsson said that the recent warm temperatures had made it easier to build the jumps: "Hopefully the snow will stay warm and soft for the competition too."

The starting field looks very impressive even though riders like Tanner Hall and Pep Fujas had to cancel their trips due to injury. Simon Dumont will act as a judge during the comp along with Boyd Easley and Philou Poirier.

A new name to enter the Jon Olsson Invitational is the successful Norwegian Andreas Håtveit. Another rising star coming to Åre is the hotly tipped 14-year old American Derek Spong, who took a silver medal at US Open in Vail earlier this year.

As well as the comp, there will also be a girl only session where the best female athletes of the world will perform. Some of the skiers are Grete Eliassen, Norway and Sarah Burke, USA, who recently took gold- and silver medals at the X-games in Aspen.

List of competitors:

1. Derek Spong, USA
2. Blake Nyman, USA
3. Josh Bibby, CAN
4. Jacob Wester, SWE
5. TJ Shiller, CAN
6. Andreas Håtveit, NOR
7. Tyler Peterson, USA
8. Sammy Carlson, USA
9. Rory Bushfield, CAN
10. Emil Forss, SWE
11. Espen Linderud, NOR
12. Chris Biollo, CAN
13. Jon Olsson, SWE
14. Per-Kristian Hunder, NOR
15. Henrik Windstedt, SWE
16. Niklas Karlström, SWE

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