Judging SuperUnknown is hard... seriously hard. You have four times as many entries as there are semi/final slots and 95% of them are really good. The panel tasked with making the call includes the Level 1 crew, as well as NS staff and some of the OG riders. When the entries are all in, we work our way through each one looking for something that sets a rider apart from the rest. I can only comment on my own approach, because we each have a different tastes when it comes to what we like to see on skis, but I'm looking for something that makes me think 'yes, that guy (or girl) could blow up', be it particularly enjoyable style/creativity or out and out insanity. The level of skiers these days is insane and every one of these semi-finalists is killing it. And sure there are guys who didn't make the semi-final cut who I'd have picked to make it... there are certainly a few in the semis selection that I'd personally have chosen for the finals. That's the nature of a subjective competition though. It's bound to cause some controversy, but hey... that's half the fun isn't it?
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Eero Haukalla
Simon Grissemann
Phil Gaucher
Cody Ray
Connor Crabbe
Jack Finn
Mike Cappola
Knut Fineid
Johannes Rohrmoser
Mark Draper
Dane Kirk
Justin DL
Ben Zins
Tuukka Pori
Aki Vallioneimi
Robert Ruud
Semi-Finalists will be announced throughout the week- check back each day for updates and help us decide who should take the 10th spot in the Finals- its up to YOU to decide! Give each of the Semi-Finalists a watch and vote for your favorite to join the other Finalists and our crew at Winter Park Resort at the end of April for a shot at the title! The Wild Card Poll is open from Saturday March, 24th until Friday March, 30th 12:00pm (MST)- spread the word and vote once each day.