WE GOT IT

I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun for 10 days in a row!

This year’s NanShan Open was not only incredibly successful as Asia’s largest snowboarding stop on the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour, but more than that, I am left with priceless memories.

Here’s a recap of the past week (after the first qualifying round of the NanShan Open when the top 13 snowboarders were announced from the original 30 pro-snowboarders):

In the final competition day on Sunday, January 10th, the 13 finalists were narrowed down to the top four: Juuso Laivisto (FIN), David Bertschinger Karg (SUI), Sergey Lapushkin (RUS), and Nick Hyne (NZ) who secured their place in the afternoon’s Super Finals.

Rider: Sergey Lapushkin

Rider: Juuso Laivisto

Out of the four superstars, Juuso Laivisto took first place in the super finals followed by Sergey Lapushkin, David Bertschinger and Nick Hyne.

“I’m really happy! It’s my first time in China and the resort reminds me of my home mountain, so it was kinda special to win here! This trip is so well organized and we’re all having such a good time… now where’s the beer!?” – Juuso Laivisto on grabbing first place

After the competition, everyone got loose with a karaoke dinner and a wicked house party worthy of going down in history. To sum up the night, just imagine: beer spraying, nudity (just the men), stomping/breaking tables, smashing lamps, and basically utter destruction of the entire cabin.  In the end, 2 people went to the hospital and I believe the damages to that one room totaled over 30,000 RMB. Rough.

Classic shots of the beginning of the night of total annihilation:

The next few days were booked for trekking on the Great Wall, ice biking in HouHai, shopping at Silk or Yashow, dinner party at Alan Wong‘s sick apartment and finishing off with a record Official Competition After-Party at Vics (where else is open with people on a Tuesday night?)

LumDimSum Photo Gallery:

**Shout out to Steve, Olli & the Mellowparks crew for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible experience.

**Thank you to Marc & Tobi for helping me realize I am in fact NOT Goofy, but Regular and now ‘I GOT IT!’ I can snowboard and it feels GOOD!!

**To all the riders/filmers/photographers who came to Beijing for the NanShan Open: It was such a pleasure to get to know each and every one of you. Thank you for the best 10 days ever and I hope our paths will cross again in the near future. Until then, keep rocking it and going big. You’re all superstars!!

As Ludde says, “WE GOT IT”