One of the largest competitions in Big Air for skiers was held in Åre, Sweden April 1st. Many of the world's top riders were gathered to participate in Jon Olsson Invitational. They showed the audience huge airs and technical tricks and after a solid performance, Josh Bibby from Canada was at the top of the podium.

Almost 5,000 people came to see the 16 invited top riders of the Jon Olsson Invitational. The riders did their best to impress the judges and the audience, and they succeeded by far. The level was sky-high when riders like TJ Schiller, Derek Spong, Josh Bibby and Jon Olsson himself made high and clean jumps: switch 1080s, inverted 900s and rodeos. Olsson both designed and shaped the course with two gigantic jumps and a wall ride. He spent days and nights preparing the jumps to perfection.

In the qualifier the riders were given two runs each, from which the top eight qualified to the head-to-head rounds. After many impressive rounds only four riders were left for the semi finals: TJ Schiller, Jon Olsson, Jacob Wester and Josh Bibby were all battling for the gold. Jon ended fourth, while TJ took third place and 4,000 US dollars. Wester and Bibby were given three jumps in the final and they gave the judges a hard time! But as Wester crashed in his last run, Bibby won the competition and 10,000 US dollars.

The world's top female new school riders Sarah Burke, Michelle Parker and Grete Eliasson performed a great session during the night, and the girls proved with huge airs that they are not any longer far behind the guys. Grete Eliasson did the most impressive runs and won a diamond ring.

Results Jon Olsson Invitational 2005, Åre Sweden:

1. Josh Bibby, Canada

2. Jacob Wester, Sweden

3. TJ Schiller, Canada

4. Jon Olsson, Sweden

Bibby with a switch 7 mute in the finals.

Josh Bibby.

Norwegian Espen Linderud.

Grete with a 360 mute.

Jacob Wester, switch 5 tail.

The man, the myth. Jon Olsson.

The podium.

TJ Schiller.

Jacob Wester.

Jon Olsson.

All photos by Matthias Frederiksson