New Star by Quiksilver and Nokia in Igora

Last Saturday was New Star happening in Igora (SPb) Russia sponsored by Nokia and Quiksilver.

Hans Kestilä on the wall!

I got invitation to join, NOT really to ride))), these kind of kickers are no longer like my kind of old farts, I got just VIP-pass to watch and shoot photos! Big thanks to organizers, VIP-pass was really necessary (outside temperature was about -12 C), there was nice big tent where to warm with food, hot drinks etc..

I went already on Friday to check the place and a new kicker. Also I wanted to meet Hans Kestilä my old riding friend from Tampere (FIN), who got invitation to participate to competition with 2 other Finnish guys; Petja Piiroinen and Henri Laakkonen.
Guys were just starting first jumps, when I came. Kicker was HUGE!
I asked; are the kickers nowadays always so big; They told that kickers themselves maybe not, but this is maybe very peacefully, but table actually not very long!!??

Anna Moskal  164cm and kicker ???cm

Friday's training session they were jumping just peacefully, stylish and grabbed 540's, 360's and some corks. Session was in the evening and bright lights were disturbing a bit visibility of landing (not badly). Looks like everybody liked the kicker.

On Saturday I arrived about 12:45 and Finnish guys and others were just starting their training session, it was fast over, they got just 3 jumps. They told that they arrived 10 am and now they got their 3 jumps.))) It's like always in whatever contests, lot of waiting and only little bit riding.))
Actually I got training session photo of every guy, who were then top 5 in final results:

Petja Piiroinen

Marius Scafferer

Henri Laakkonen

Hans Kestilä

Alexey Sobolev

There were also new school skiers participating in their category and must to say that they are really making cool things nowadays. Just spinning to every direction, making switch and tweaking and grabbing. Their jumps are so big, somehow even bigger than snowboarder's jumps.
Snowboard spins I can still read somehow, I mean how much they are spinning, but skiers spins I can't!!

Pavel

There was also my friend Pavel Karamysev (SPb) participating and he was 3rd in tough competition.

Results: 1. Thomas Ritsch (31) 2. Rene Schawabl (34) 3. Pavel Karamysev (26)

Congratulations!!

Then back to snowboarding!
Program of contest was following; Qualifications, Semifinals and only 5 guys to Finals.
Petja Piiroinen won Qualifications and was second in Semi's loosing just 0,4 points. I was watching and photoing with Finnish eyes))) and for me Semifinal results were not right!! Anyway really great that whole Finnish group got to the finals. In finals were 1 Russian, 1 Norwegian and 3 Finnish!
Finals I just somehow lost (maybe warm tent and drinks were even too nice), I saw only last round. Anyway there were double corks, 1080's, nice tweaked grabs etc... Happening was great. We spent whole day over there and tent was really necessary.))
Some photos from semifinals:

Petja

Alexey

Henri

Results:  (from right1. Alexey Sobolov 2. Petja Piiroinen 3. Henri Laakkonen 4. Hans Kestilä 5. Marius Scafferer

My congratulations to all finalists!

Petja's spraying style

Hans and Henri spraying, when Petja and Alexey speaking Russian. Spray of Marius is not very strong.))

Näihin kuviin, näihin tunnelmiin!