Best Snowboarder of 2009

At the top of the hill, we are all equal—it’s what happens after we drop in that makes the difference. Regardless of your chosen path, there are a few standouts that truly set themselves apart by combining style, skill, and a forward-thinking vision to feed progression. For a decade now, SNOWBOARDER has celebrated those professional snowboarders who have most consistently succeeded in pushing our sport to new heights with our Rider of the Year Awards. From Alaska to the Arlberg, and all points between, stomping double corks, pulling triple kinks, chasing titles, and being chased by choppers, these pros spent more time settlin’ it in ’08 than anyone else.

To award these accolades, SNOWBOARDER relies on the most qualified jury we can think of—our Top Ten alumni. Once a pro makes our list, they are relied upon to cast their vote for future awards. For this, our tenth Rider of the Year showcase, SNOWBOARDER received ballots from the most extensive, esteemed, and varied pool of past honorees yet, including Jeremy Jones, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Kevin Jones, Travis Parker, Janna Meyen, Shaun White, Mike Michalchuk, Ali Goulet, Nicolas Müller, Jason Murphy, Danny Davis, Brian Savard, Andrew Crawford, Leanne Pelosi, Marc Frank Montoya, Ross Powers, Eero Ettala, Chad Otterstrom, Tara Dakides, David Benedek, John Jackson, Chris Engelsman, Todd Richards, Natasza Zurek, Travis Rice, Peter Line, Priscilla Levac, Lukas Huffman, Eddie Wall, Mikey LeBlanc, Gretchen Bleiler, DCP, Bjorn Leines, Chris Dufficy, Andreas Wiig, Devun Walsh, Fredi Kalbermatten, JP Walker, Jussi Oksanen, Gaetan Chanut, Danny Kass, David Benedek, Romain De Marchi, Marie-France Roy, and Gigi Rüf.

Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #1 Travis Rice
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, and no surprise here as Travis Rice comes in at number one. An amazing season of filming, photos and event placings, Rice truly is a renaissance rider who can do it all.
Best Snowboarders of 2009 : #2 Kevin Pearce
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, with contest and editorial killer Kevin Pearce coming in one spot short of the top at number two. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Snowboarders of 2009 : #3 Gigi Ruf
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, breaking into the top three spots with video part phenom Gigi Ruf. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.

Best Snowboarders of 2009: #4 Jake Blauvelt
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, with Vermont transplant Jake Blauvelt coming in hot at number 4. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.

Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #5 Nicolas Muller
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, breaking into the bottom 5 with Switzerland's mega and mini shredder Nicolas Muller. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #6 Torstein Horgmo
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, and dropping in at number 6 is Trondheim's Torstein Horgmo. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #7 Mark Landvik
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, with pillow line punisher Mark Landvik coming in at number 7. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving
Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #8 Pat Moore
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, with one of New Hampshire's finest Pat Moore coming in at number 8.Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #9 Shaun White
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, moving down the countdown to Shaun White who comes in at number 9. Snowboarders are ranked by past Rider Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring snowboarders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Snowboarders Of 2009: #10 Jussi Oksanen
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, kicking off the top ten countdown with Finnish phenom Jussi Oksanen. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring snowboarders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Female Snowboarders Of 2009: #1 Jamie Anderson
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Female Snowboarders Of The Year, breaking into the number one spot with the youngin' who helped revolutionize womens riding, Jamie Anderson.
Best Female Snowboarders Of 2009: #2 Marie-France Roy
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Female Snowboarders Of The Year, with French-Canadian crusher Marie-France Roy coming in hot at number 2 . Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.
Best Female Snowboarders Of 2009: #3 Torah Bright
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Female Snowboarders Of The Year, breaking into the womens rankings with Torah Bright coming in third. Snowboarders are ranked by past Snowboarder Of The Year Alumni including Jeremy Jones, Travis Parker, Eero Ettala, JP Walker and Peter Line among others, ensuring riders who make the cut are surely deserving.

Best Jibber Of 2009: Keegan Valaika
Snowboarder Magazine presents the 2009 Best Snowboarders Of The Year, with Keegan Valaika reigning on rails as the number one jibber of the year.
Snowboarder Magazine Rookie Of 2009: #1 Eiki Helgason
Snowboarder Magazine presents the standout rookie Snowboarder of 2009 Eiki Helgason. Eiki brought the definition of rookie straight from the textbook, coming out of nowhere and demolishing everything in his path.
Best Big Mountain Snowboarder Of 2009: #1 Jeremy Jones
Snowboarder Magazine presents the Best Big Mountain Snowboarder of 2009, with Alaskan assaulting mountain man Jeremy Jones.
Snowboarder Magazine Comeback Of 2009: #1 Peter Line
Snowboarder Magazine presents it's 2009 comeback of the year spot to Forum or Against 'em star Peter Line. While Line could disappear forever and still be known as a creative genius on a snowboard, it's no surprise to see him in the number one comeback spot.
Best Snowboard Video Of 2009: That's It, That's All
Snowboarder Magazine presents the best video of 2009, Brainfarm productions' That's It, That's All. One of the most highly anticipated cinematic snowboard creations of all time, it's no surpise TITA came in at number one in 2009.