LumDimSummary: The 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open

L-to-R: 2nd place Sam Hulbert (USA), 1st place Juuso Laivisto (FIN), 3rd place Roope Tonteri (FIN)

For the second time at the TTR 5Star 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open, Juuso Laivisto (FIN) reclaims his throne (he won first place in 2010) winning first place in this year’s 10th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open.

Although US rider Sam Hulbert was ranked first going into the Super Finals, Juuso stole the show hitting a “back-to-back bs900 mutes, followed by a 50-50 to method on the polejam, bs lipslide on the downrail finishing off in style with a tweaked out fs360 nosebonk on the Red Bull cube.”  If you don’t speak “snowboarding”, then just imagine a lot of super fast spinning flying off massive kickers.

“It’s been awesome to see how the event has grown the last few years, and to see such legends in the judging booth made it extra special to win here today!”   - Juuso Laivisto, Winner of Red Bull Nanshan Open 2012

Juuso Laivisto flying off the big kicker. Photo courtesy of PM:Studio

Head judges Iztok Sumatic (SLO) and Ishi (JPN) alongside snowboarding legends Ingemar Backman (SWE), Michi Albin (SWI), Scotty Wittlake (USA), and Alan Wong (PRC/USA) made all the difference in the riders’ performances.

After seeing Roope Tonteri (FIN) rip every run and ranking first after blowing everyone away in the qualifying runs on Saturday, many expected him to come out first in the finals. But I gotta say, I was still rooting for Juuso all along! My favorite rider and good friend from his first trip to Beijing two years back when he won first place in the 8th Red Bull Nanshan Open, I was stoked to see my favorite rider come out first once again!  Super happy to see such a talented rider and happy person do so well and shine so bright in China!

10th Red Bull Nanshan Open Rider Rankings:

The only rider to hit the jib section’s oversized-pipe with a 50-50 to bs360 out after a bs720 to fs1080 on the kicker, Sam Hulbert (USA) took second place in this year’s Nanshan Open. Not too shabby as this was his very first time riding in the Red Bull Nanshan Open!

2nd Place – US Rider Sam Hulbert; photo courtesy of PM:Studio

Like I said earlier, Roope was the anticipated superstar for this year’s Nanshan Open and he definitely blew everyone away in the qualifying rounds. He had the biggest runs and probably would have taken 1st place if he was able to land his attempt at a cab900 indy.

“Roope Tonteri (FIN) unfortunately was unable to stomp what could have been a first place run, landing a cab900 indy but reverting out on his impressive bs1260 mute attempt – still finishing his run off in style with a switch boardslide 270out on the polejam and a lipslide 270out on the downrail, enough for third place.” – Olli Fenwick-Ross, organizer of the Red Bull Nanshan Open and member of the mellowparks.cn team

3rd place – Rider Roope Tonteri (FIN): photo courtesy of PM:Studio

LumDimSum Snapshots of the 10th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open:

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