686 Middle Earth Superpipe Championships

8/22 - On the third and final day of the 686 Middle Earth Superpipe Championships, 30 athletes advanced to the finals to compete for the title. With tunes playing on the sound system and crowds gathering in the stadium, the sun broke through the clouds and the wind subsided to showcase some of the world’s best halfpipe talent.

The superpipe was cut to perfection for the highest caliber of riders New Zealand has seen yet. Snow Park’s Frank Wells noted that “the investment in the team of international groomers has fully paid off with the best pipe day in Snow Park history”.

The women’s final kicked off at 11:30am with some solid runs from local kiwi rider and 2004 Middle Earth Champion Kendall Brown, 16 from Mt. Manganui. USA Snowboard Team member Hannah Teter and Kjersti Buass from Norway, also showed off some big air and style, with the allover level of riding pushing the limits.

Hannah Teter, 18, from Vermont, said the Snow Park superpipe was “The best pipe in the world, this competition had great weather for girls finals ” adding “Snow Park is the best!”

Despite dark clouds rolling in overhead, the crowd stayed cheerful with Export Gold beers in hand and stoked out with free giveaways from Durex. The chill factor setting in, the spectators all checked out an impressive practice session and patiently waited for the men to battle it out in the finals for a place on the podium.

The men’s finals was nothing short of spectacular with riders going hard pulling off several back to back spins, big airs and inverts. Swedish rider Stefan Karlsson , 24, reached an amazing 15 feet out of the pipe on his first run and little Louie Vito, 17 from Vermont, pulled off a cranking run of 7’s, 5’s, flips and spins. On his second run, the crowd went wild for Kier Dillon, 28 from San Diego, as he pulled off a 9 and completed a solid ride.

It was to be Kier Dillon taking the men’s top podium spot on the day, walking away with $2,500 cash courtesy of major sponsor 686 and a Snow Park NZ lifetime “black pass”. Second and third places respectively went to Danny Davis, 17 from Michigan and Louie Vito.

“This was the most fun contest I have ever done, the pipe was better than at the X-Games and the level of riding was insane. I am stoked I can be hanging out at Snow Park for the summer” Kier commented about the day.

Hannah Teter took the top spot among the females, also taking home $2500 in cash and a Snow Park lifetime “black pass”. Soko Yamaoka, 31 from Japan, scored second followed by US rider Tricia Byrnes.

Every finalist walked away with a prize pack from 686 as well as a bottle of New Zealand’s finest vodka from 42 Below. Snow Park NZ would like to thank all the sponsors that made this event possible: 686, NORTHWAVE, DRAKE, BAKODA, VENUE, 42 BELOW and EXPORT GOLD.

Men’s Final Results

Kier Dillon, 28, San Diego
Danny Davis, 17, Michigan
Louie Vito, 17, Vermont
Chad Otterstrom, 28, Minnesota
Kevin Pearce, 17, USA

Women’s Final Results

Hannah Teter, 18, Vermont
Soko Yamaoka, 31, Japan
Tricia Byrnes, 24, Vermont
Kjersti Buaas, 24, Norway
Cheryl Maas, 20, Netherlands

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