WSF World Rookie Champion 2010 Roope Tonteri won today the Burton European Open 2011 in Laax, Switzerland, conquering the first ticket to ride the slopestyle at the World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo 2012.
We meet Roope the first time at the 3Star Protest World Rookie Fest 2009 in Livigno, Italy, where he obtained the 4th place. A preatty good result for an unknown kid coming from somewhere in Finland. Few months after he was shredding in Ischgl, Austria, where he conquered his first WSF World Rookie Champion title 2009 and the possibility to film with the Pirate Movie Production.
In 2010 Roope won the Protest World Rookie Fest in Livigno and got a ticket to ride the Oakley Arctic Challange in Oslo where he ended at the 7th place. In the same year another Finnish rider was writing the history of snowboarding: Peetu Piiroinen won his second TTR World Champion Title. Back in the days Peetu was the first ever WSF World Rookie Champion. After TAC 2010 Roope’s name was more and more famouse and at the end of 2010 winter season he wrote a small page of history winning his second WSF World Rookie Champion title.
That was only thje beginning of Roope’s great carrier which culminated today in his victory at the Burton European Open 2011. Roope will be the first confirmed male rider for the Slopestyle of the World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo 2012, a big result for a youngster coming from somewhere in Finland.
While Roope is now waiting for his most important awarding in Laax, many of his friends are waiting for him in Livigno to celebrate this incredible day in the same place where we meet him the first time 2 years ago.
In only 2 years, from somewhere in Finland, Roope is now the first confirmed rider for the slopestyle at the World Snowboarding Championship in Oslo 2012.
Congratulations Roope from the WSF World Rookie Tour crew!
About World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo 2012
Inspired by fair and exciting qualification systems in tennis, golf, surfing and other individual sports, the snowboarders can qualify to their own championships through world ranking, titles, national quotas and wild cards. By winning a TTR 6 star event you are automatically qualified. So is TTR top 50 men and top 30 women on the 52 week rollover ranking starting and ending with European Open 2011 and 2012. Furthermore, each of the 35 member nations in the World Snowboarding Federation (WSF) has 1 national quota per contest in addition to the other qualification quotas, and the organizer holds 2 wild cards to each contest.
Developing a qualification system tailor made for snowboarding, has been pivotal. All riders must have the opportunity to qualify on a fair basis, no matter if they are established pros or rookies. In addition to creating this unique entry system to the event, TTR and WSF is working close with the WSC organizers further developing the new Snowboarding Livescoring System (SLS) towards the world championships. SLS was introduced at The Arctic Challenge slopestyle in February 2010 and the Burton New Zealand Open halfpipe in August, and is now implemented at all TTR 6 star events. Fair qualification and judging will be the guiding stars for the WSC.
The World Snowboarding Championships (WSC) is a co-operation between the TTR World Tour and WSF. 240 riders from all snowboard nations will take part in this unique event in Oslo, February 2012. The municipality of Oslo is guaranteeing the event financially with a budget of 4,5 million EURO. IMG Sports Media will handle all international media and sponsor relations for the event.