JON OLSSON INVITATIONAL: Big Air in Sweden
One of the largest Big Air competitions for skiers was held in Åre, Sweden on Saturday night. Many of the world’s top riders were gathered to participate in the second edition of Jon Olsson Invitational. The air time was as impressive as the line-up and the crowd was given a spectacular show with world class new school skiing. After a solid performance Jon himself could enter the podium as a proud winner. Almost 7000 persons came to see the 28 invited top riders of Jon Olsson Invitational 2006. The riders did their best to impress the judges and the audience and they succeeded by far. The level was sky high when riders as TJ Schiller, Sammy Carlson, Jacob Wester, Corey Vanular, Andreas Håtveit and Simon Dumont made high and clean jumps.
In the qualifier the riders were given two runs each from which top eight qualified to the head-to-head rounds. After many great rounds only four riders were left for the semi finals; TJ Schiller versus Andreas Håtveit and Jon Olsson versus PK Hunder. Håtveit did a clean bio 1260 but he could not beat TJ who took bronze by throwing a huge switch 1080. In the final round PK did a cork 720 nose grab but it wasn’t his best jump of the day and as Jon stomped his new trick Kangaroo Flip, like a double flat spin 540, he was announced winner of his own competition.
Jon has worked hard both on creating a good event and he has spent days and nights preparing the jump to perfection. He was with out a doubt delirious with joy after the competition and he told the crowd that this was probably the happiest day of his life.
Michelle Parker and Grete Eliasson performed great during the night and they proved with huge airs that girls are not any more far behind the guys.
Results Jon Olsson Invitational 2006, Åre Sweden:
1. Jon Olsson, Sweden
2. PK Hunder, Norway
3. TJ Schiller, Canada
4. Andreas Håtveit, Norway
