WHEELER WINS AT TURIN FREE AIR

8 April 2002


Free AirBetween 01-03 March, Turin helped to celebrate its 2006 Winter Olympic title with a major free public event - Free Air Torino, held in three locations - Turin, Bardonecchia and Pinerolo.

Westbeach's Danny Wheeler pulled it off for the Brits as he won the Snap Contest and a cheque for 4000 euro with a super smooth Cab7 Mute.

WheelerThe party atmosphere continued in the Piazza as Italian celebrities, including Albert Tomba and Giaciamo Kratter, were interviewed for TV. The whole square was lit up by a fantastic laser and light show as Turin celebrated its winter future.

Saturday saw urban snowboarding taken to another level. The riders pulled all out to tunes from Droidy and the Ministry of Sound, on the Polar Snow-covered Big Air, as MC Maurino Castellani presented the contest to an impressive, international finish. Judges Jonny Barr (UK), Max Perotti (IT), Simon Nichols (UK) and Dani Meier (NZ) delivered their results - and Quiksilver wiped the board as each of their team riders claimed a position in the top three!

Martin Cernik (CZE) took first place to claim the Big Air Italia title as he stomped a clean Cab9 Tail-grab; Mone Monsberger (AUT), a last minute replacement, took second, and Jakob Wilhelmson (SWE) styled in at third position. 16000 euro was shared between the winners as was copious bottles of champagne as the entire Top Twenty hit the stage for the prize-giving in front of a wet but amped, core crowd of supporters. Mark Hughes from Ministry of Sound span his tunes as everyone enjoyed the Italian alcoholic measures at the official Free Air party

Sunday hit blue-bird as the sun came out for a chill-down as the riders, including Jakob Wilhelmson, Jens Anselstetter, Ile Eronen, Pekka Valli, Joel Strecker & Pierre Micheloud, were taken to session on the Burton Snowdeck Demo in the Piemonte Alps at Bardonecchia.

Sunday also held the Vans Best Trick contest at the Vans Street Park in the Cortile Expo Fenulli, Pinerolo. Local hero Fabio Palombino (Platinum) won with a Front-side180 to Back-side nose-grind slapped hard over the fun-box in the park.

 

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