Uotila wins 4th Grandvalira Total Fight!
On the second day of the Grandvalira Total Fight, Janne Lipsanen (FIN) was the first rider to drop in and kick off the competition for the snowboarders in the Andorraan Pyrenees. The “Masters of Freestyle“ started for the last qualification round on 11:30h, shredding the guts out of the Tarter Park in Grandvalira. Title defender since 3 years, Ville Uotila, who surprised in the pre-qualis, ranking only 10th, took the highest score, by putting down a Switch BS 900, followed by a BS 540 and ending up with a technical Switch FS 900 Mute. Impressive; and that’s what everyone else, including the judges thought. But it was too early, to calm down and relax, knowing his fellow Finish competition on this year’s Total Fight, which was after him.
The Quarter Finals increased the excitement under the crowd, contributing next to blue bird weather and great atmosphere, to an even greater event. For the Finals, the lineup would get cut down again to only four riders, from formerly 32, who qualified for this day’s competition, so it was time to take out the trick box and show solid runs. Ville Uotila (FIN) had to go neck-on-neck vs. Facundo Vial (ARG) in one heat, meanwhile Nuuti Niemela (FIN), was pitched against his fellow countrymen Tommi Rokolampi (FIN). On the other side, there was Matias Schmitt (ARG) against Joachim Krogstie (NOR). The last and probably hardest heat, was the Scandinavian battle between Valtteri Paunonen (FIN) and Julius Oedegaard (NOR).
A big part of the finals was filled in the end by the Scandi force, consisting of title defender and favourite Ville Uotila, Valte Paunonen and Nuuti Niemela, next to the Argentinean rider, Matias Schmitt and everybody was about, just putting down gnarly tricks and solid runs. The best run out of three should decide, who would take home this TTR 4 Star title and also 500 TTR points of course.
Ville Uotila bailed in his first run on the Big Air line, while Matias Schmitt impressed whith Double Backflips on the same and won the heart of the crowd and the judges. But Finish 3-times winner Ville, wouldn’t be this 3-times winner, if he would let go that easy. Coming back with a BS 1080, a BS 540 Indy and a BS 900 Mute on the Tank rail, he impressed the judges and every one else once again, taking back his 4th title in a row, on this 2011 Grandvalira Total Fight.
“I’m super happy, the park was on top form and I definitely think that the Total Fight should have 5 stars on the Swatch TTR World Tour”.
It’s important to point out the Argentinean rider Matias Schmitt, who did an amazing performance. He was one of the non-invited riders of this event and went on, to make 4th place in the competition. Spot 3 and 2 on the podium, went to Nuuti Niemela and Valtteri Paunonen.
FINAL Results 2011 TOTAL FIGHT
1º – Ville Uotila (FIN)
2º – Valtteri Paunonen (FIN)
3º – Nuuti Niemela (FIN)
4º – Matias Schmitt (ARG)
check also the report of the qualification day
