Ross Powers and Kelly Clark led a riding charge that has never been seen in NZ pipe riding before - the Kiwi ,Canadian, Australian, USA, English and Japanese pro ridiers stepped up their play and absolutely charged - the photos speak for themselves!!!! The Weather held fine & Guy and Sonny from Burton beamed smiles while cheers rang out and double overhead airs were fired out of the pipe - as the day progressed in total jam format the action mounted - the talent that lies on these shores became apparent again and a world class duel exploded like a scene from a mass muskateer movie in the standard of the US open and Olympics, Luca from 'sts' blared out the non-stop commentry all day on the mic over Downtown Brown who twisted the Beats to keep riders and spectators pumped, vocal and frothing for more,

Riders ascended the sides of the pipe like a relentless hiking army dying to get in for another missile launch spot - their legs must have been like cast iron by the end of the comp and the stoke of the next run, crowd noise, support and riders flying overhead on their way up shot them up the sides to strap in and go places they had never been before.

The 'Harris mtns heli' rider judged 'one hit' that blended into the end of the finals jam sceamed to the photographers and open mouthed spectators as the biggest airs of the day by Will Jackways who took it out and massive tweaked rewinds by Ross Powers pulled the noise among the incredible stuff that all the riders were throwing every last ounce of energy into.

In the main event the performances inspired all, Ross [taking no.1] threw down his pipe magic, AJ, Dyl, Q, Crispin, Marcus, big hitters Will and Tim Jackways all fired up and blazed so huge and tricked out!!! Tsyoshi's ninja inverts wowed onlookers with fellow samurai Ishiya Tebuya on his heels along with ever grom Jah Harris, Tom Willmot and Sam Marcott snatched at the galaxy above posting the amplitude figures to the judges and young grom Mitch Brown following in Shaun Whites footsteps shot his tiny frame that high above the walls in polished style that his peers eyes shone in stoke at the future comming on strong, In the women it was Kelly Clark on her birthday in NZ taking the women to new levels of amplitude and riding - Julian Brae was hot on her heels with the big airs and inverts!, Kendal Brown soared looking clean & the best she'd ever riden moving herself to a new height in pipe, Abby Lockhart took 3rd working the walls for elevation out and putting the big hand plants in at the end.

Burton, Nixion, Anon, Gravis, Harris Helli, NZ Snowboarder MAG and Cardrona all made it happen along with the legendary 'Quest' barbecue looking after the competitors, Party action hit Queenstown with force at Sub Culture that night with scribe on the mic and the beverage flowing till the morning lights came out - you can imagine.......Kelly shots, Wes mullet, Ross pool shark, Marcus under a table, Sonny tweaks, Dyl till the end, the Alty grin, everyone bluring etc etc........

Once again we could go on and on about every rider [day and night!], eyes were glowing, you will see it in the magazines, film and television - it was nothing short of inspiring and awesome to see concluding two weekends of NZ riding history - the Sub20[sts] Freestyle Battle and the Burton Open both taking NZ and NZ riders to an all new feel, pride and era of snowboarding at home & world wide!!!!!!!!! this is a time for any player to be in NZ, the talk is already about next year, it seems NZ snowboarding is internationally erupting!!!! - Bring it on.........!!!!!!!!!!!!

BURTON NZ OPEN RESULTS
Women’s Open
1 Kelly Clark (USA) 31.6
2 Juliane Bray (NZE) 26.5
3 Abby Lockhart (NZE) 19.3
4 Kendall Brown (NZE) 18.1

Men’s Open
1 Ross Powers (USA) 37.8
2 Crispin Lipscomb (CAN) 34.0
3 Tim Jackways (NZE) 30.8
4 Marcus Wehrle (AUS) 30.7

Luca Soulos