(openPR) - Leysin, Switzerland. Unexpected stormy winds finally forced organizers of TTR FOUR(4)STAR 4th annual Billabong World Junior Pro to cancel the Slopestyle Finals at the Mont de Chaux Snowpark, Leysin, 6th-11th March, 2007, and take the semi-final results to announce the Franck April (CAN) and Marie Hucal (USA) the Billabong World Junior Champions.

Bad weather affected Saturday’s original schedule so Billabong World Junior Pro organizers and riders postponed the Finals to a potentially better weather situation on Sunday. But strong winds relented and the 9 female and 9 male Finalists agreed to a halting of procedures in line with rider safety. Final results were allocated based on the highest points in the semi-final results, proclaiming 20-year-old Franck April (CAN) and 15-year-old Marie Hucal (USA) the winners based on their solid runs, earning 8,000 & 5,000 euros respectively and 700 TTR Ranking Points.

“Unfortunately the wind didn’t drop as much as expected, so we were forced to cancel the Finals. The safety of all riders is the main objective before anything else. And also we felt that none of the riders could have performed their best riding today. The riding level over the last couple of days was insane and it would have been a downer if we had seen a Final with only safety runs by the kids. At least now we have results from the best riding in the best possible conditions.” quoted David Pitschi, contest director.

Notable TTR Ranking changes include 2nd placed Arthur Longo (FRA). With this, Longo’s 6th TTR result, he moved up from18th rank to skirt just in the TTR Top 10 at TTR World Nr 10.

The Tristan Picot Memorial trophy was awarded to 19-year-old Valérian Ducourtil (FRA), the most impressive amateur. Ducourtil (FRA) also wins exclusive press coverage in Method Mag and a week of snowboard training at the Boot Camp.

The original rider’s field of 45 boys and 14 girls aged 20-and-under came through either Billabong invites or global qualifiers from New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland, amongst other countries.

Billabong World Junior Pro Top 9 Results Boys
1. Franck APRIL (CAN)
2. Arthur LONGO (FRA)
3. Michael LUNDMARK (SWE)
4. Murray HODGSON (CAN)
5. Nick SIBAYAN (USA)
6. Wouter DE LANGE (BEL)
7. Mathieu DANEAU (CAN)
8. Andreas GIDLUND (SWE)
9. Sami IKONEN (FIN)

Billabong World Junior Pro Top 9 Results Girls
1. Marie HUCAL (USA)
2. Hanna LAUKKANEN (FIN)
3. Mirabelle THOVEX (FRA)
4. Mandy LANGBROEK (NED)
5. Diana SADLOWSKI (POL)
6. Nadja PUTSCHERT (SUI)
7. Alex BERG (USA)
8. Heidi PAUMOLA (FIN)
9. Anouck MOUTHON (FRA)

Notes to the Editor:
Founded by Terje Haakonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour is a non-profit, rider-driven organisation that aims to represent the progression of snowboarding. To create a clear rookie-to-pro structure, the TTR World Snowboard Tour is based on global grass root and key independent freestyle snowboarding events. Events are rated via a 1-through-6 Star system, with points allocated accordingly, a 6 Star event holding the highest. Any rider participating in these events, from up-and-coming to professional, will earn TTR Ranking Points and a position on the TTR Ranking List presented by Swatch. The top male and female rider is crowned Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour Champion.

TTR World Snowboard Tour
Kapuzinergasse 47, AT-6020 Innsbruck
0043-650-7519305


For further information on TTR, Ranking List, Rider Profiles and Event please contact/click:
TTR: Wendy Woo - press@ttrworldtour.com / www.ttrworldtour.com
Event: Christel Dupiellet - christel@billabong.tm.fr / www.billabongjrpro.com