Day 3 Highlights - Halfpipe Finals

Day 3 was originally scheduled for the Slopestyle finals; however, we decided to attempt to outsmart mother-nature who's been handing us beat downs with wind, snow, rain, slush and every other form or precipitation for the past three days. We rolled the dice and made the call to risk the less than favorable forecast and host the Super pipe finals today instead of tomorrow.

Our gamble paid off and worked to the riders benefit. Today by Laax's standards was a fairly tame, warm day with mostly cloudy skies and brief intervals of blue. The weather providing a warm pipe just soft enough to allow riders to push the limits, but not too soft where speed became an issue.

With a soft pipe, music cranking and hundreds on hand to witness today's top pros and victory hungry ams, there was only one thing necessary to cap off the festivities... The Banana Bar. Making its second appearance at the bottom of the pipe The Banana Bar, manned by the one and only Sky, is now officially the spectators and riders on course wet bar of choice. The stage was set, the conditions were close to perfect and the riders were amped.

The semi finals went down in what seemed like an instant. Athletes did what they needed to make it into the next round for a shot at the cash and prizing but made sure to keep a few secrets in their back pocket for the finals. When it was all said and done the women's finals would be represented by: Sarah Burke CAN, Rosalind Groenewoud CAN, Jen Hudak USA, Anaïs Caradeux FRA, Virginie Faivre SUI, Kristi Leskinen USA.

On the men's side were Mike Riddle CAN, Xavier Bertoni FRA, Justin Dorey CAN, Kalle Leinonen FIN, Matt Margetts CAN, Vivien Thiery FRA.

As the clock struck 2:45 sharp the women took to the pipe ready to put on a clinic and show the world how far they've pushed the limits of our sport. Orage Am. Rosalind Groenewoud busted out of the gate with a huge 900 on her first hit, one of the only females to do so. Having taken a nasty crash in warm ups, it was questionable whether Ros would compete but she powered through each run boosting higher than most, spinning both ways down the entire pipe locking in a solid second place finish. Taking third place was Jen Hudak, one of today's hottest up and coming female pipe riders. With lofty airs and solid transitions Jen locked in a solid third place finish and a few extra grand in her pocket.

But when it was all said and done it was the veteran, the queen of female freeskiing Sarah Burke who took home the top spot. Boosting nearly as big as the men with style superior to her competitors Sarah charged like only she can, throwing fives, sevens and nines all the way down the pipe. Sarah walked away with another victory proving that despite how far she may be pushed by up and comers, she still has what it takes to throw down harder than the rest.

When the men rolled into the starting corral the crowd was primed and ready for a major league throwdown. And that's exactly what they got. The thing about the Orage European Freeski Open By Swatch is that the event openly welcomes and appreciates the next generation of skiers. The up and comers and Ams who are about to become tomorrow's skiing heavy weights. The European Open is the place where they transition from rising stars to skiing legends and today we saw three new names rise to the challenge to stand atop the podium like they owned it.

Taking third place was Justin Dorey, a young Canadian who last season shocked the industry at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival with his victory over some of skiing's biggest pipe riders. Once again, Justin was on top of his game linking big spins and lofty flat fives to show what it means to have a complete bag of tricks. Just edging out Dorey was the Frenchman, Xavier Bertoni, one of the few riders to not only drop in switch but also make the risky move of working switch airs into the middle of his run. Xavier threw huge nines both ways including a gigantic left side nine on the last hit of his run and was by far one of the most consistently smooth riders of the day.

Taking the top spot, the bragging rights and the cash was another Canadian, Mike "the Riddler" Riddle. Going absolutely huge the entire length of the pipe Riddle's runs were highlighted by his final two hits where he boosted an enormous 1080 on the right wall into a 11 foot cab ten on the opposite side. Proving why he's one of Canada's best pipe riders to date Mike Riddle showed that he's a force to be reckoned with a one of the gnarliest up and coming riders in our sport.

And now its time to shut it down and go rock out with the Norwegian punk band Turbonegro... we'll see you tomorrow at the Slope finals.