The Nokia Air&Style,in Munich, Germany, has become one of the largest, and most premier snowboard events in the world.  You might be asking yourself, "What the hell does this have to do with freeskiing, or why is it on this website?"  I am a skier,and i am also a shaper, and to combine them both,i got the fortunate opportunity to shape,and test the jump.

Welcome to Air & Style, no seatbelts required!       

I made two straight air attempts to test the speed needed,and to determine the correct angle,or "pop".  This is the second year that i shaped this monstrous, scaffold table-gap. The top of the in-run is built roughly ten stories from the top row of the stadium seats, running about 150 feet from the start to the take-off.  Then, the fun begins!  First there is 30 feet of netting to save your ass if you come up way short.  Looking down into the net, you feel like being at the top of some 70 foot cliff in Jackson.  More than 70 feet of air is needed to clear the gap over the knuckle to the landing. Once you land, there is the option to hit the step-up butter-box to 35 foot down box, or to hit the 25 foot tables set up on either side of the box set-up.  Very impressive, to say the least!

The "super happy fun slide" crew, about to get it on... 

It was my honor to work with Nick Francke, one of the head shapers from the Salt Lake Olympics, and all-out crazy freak, for the last two events.  Alongside myself and Nick, were Brandon Strong, and Austrian David Reinthaler, whom also killed it with his stylish rocket airs.  All of us together, along with my trusted anthems, and the "super happy fun slide" (a thin crash mat) to put the finish shape from the in-run to the take-off. The result...  success once again!  The riders were throwin' down, on what they were calling one of the best jumps they ever hit.  Guess it doesn't hurt the ego to drop into a sold out crowd of nearly 30,000 cheering fans.  Along with the snowboard main event, there was a rookie's event, and a fmx sled event.  The final excitement was provided by Joe Parsons, this crazy-ass sledneck, which balled up, and dropped in on the in-run, and charged over the main hit!  Sick stuff!  There were several live acts, including The Hives, and Sean Paul to rock the Munich crowd til the end.

David Reinthaler boosting uber alles!

The final results had Kevin Pearce edging out Mikkel Bang, and Torstein Horgmo in third.  A great event, a great time,and of course...  the after party, thrown by our friends Fischy, and Bene, the boys from Pleasure snowboard mag.  Thanks for the many, many drinks!  Our boy, Brandon "the rakie" Strong especially enjoyed the festivities by ending the morning after jumping into the emptied, indoor pool- converted dance floor, and landing on glass, nearly lopping his pinkie off!  Always amazing what too much booze can do...     Thanks to Nick, and the "super happy fun slide" crew,and to Sandro Wirth, and the "Swiss freaks" for getting all the hard work done before, and after.  You guys rule!  Shouts to Torstein, Louie Vito, and Peter Konig, you guys looked like you were having the most fun, and it showed!  The coolest thing i witnessed, Nicholas Muller, and his butter attempt on the main jump...  Gnarly, it's enough to watch his one-footer chicken wing backflips...  but please, this man's nuts are on a whole other level entirely!      Please go to Air-Style.com for more info...