(openPR) - Innsbruck, Austria. The Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour proudly welcomed two new champions to the wall of glory as the second annual crowning of the Men’s and Women’s TTR World Champions went to snowboard stars, Shaun White (USA) and Torah Bright (AUS).

Legendary TTR SIX(6)STAR event, the 25th Burton US Open Snowboard Championships hosted by Stratton/Vermont, provided the platform for the declaration of Shaun White (USA) as the new Men’s TTR World Snowboard Tour 06/07 Champion, on Saturday, 17th March, 2007. Taking over the title from Mathieu Crepel (FRA), TTR’s first-ever male Champion, White (USA) marked his victory through a 1st place win at Halfpipe and 3rd place finish at Slopestyle, giving him enough points to earn the title ahead of closest contenders Travis Rice (USA) and Antti Autti (FIN).

White’s (USA) path to the Championship victory began at the start of the season with a 5th place Stadium Slopestyle result at infamous TTR SIX(6)STAR event Nokia Air&Style, Munich, December 06. An invite to the Quarterpipe/Big Air formats at the TTR SIX(6)STAR Nissan X-Trail Jam, Tokyo Dome, the following week secured him his first of four 1st place TTR wins. White (USA) returned to Japan in February 07, to take podium 1st and 2nd at Halfpipe & Slopestyle, respectively, at TTR FIVE(5)STAR Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open in the resort of ALTS Bandai. Back home in the States in March 07, White (USA) magnificently scored his third 1st place win at TTR FIVE(5)STAR event World Superpipe Championships in Park City/Utah and continued his winning streak at tour-defining event TTR SIX(6)STAR 25th Burton US Open Snowboard Championships. With seven TTR results under his belt, White (USA) dropped his lowest scoring result, his 2nd place Slopestyle finish at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open, to secure his average best 6 result score of 986.23 TTR Ranking Points – and become the Men’s TTR World Champion 06/07.

A jubilant White (USA) stated: ‘I’m really proud to win the title. TTR is a great way for kids to build up their careers. I’m stoked on becoming the TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion!’

Top girl-only TTR SIX(6)STAR event, the Roxy Chicken Jam located in Park City/Utah provided the perfect stage at which to crown an elated Torah Bright (AUS) as the second Women’s TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion 06/07 on Saturday, 24th March, 2007. Presenting the award to Bright (AUS) was first-time TTR Champion and title contender Cheryl Maas (NED). Bright’s (AUS) podium 2nd and 3rd results at Halfpipe & Slopestyle respectively, secured her Championship title after notable season challenges from nearest rivals both Maas (NED) and 16-year-old Jamie Anderson (USA).

Amassing ten TTR results this season, Bright’s (AUS) road to Champion success began in August 06, in the Southern Hemisphere at the FOUR(4)STAR Burton New Zealand Open, in Snow Park/NZE. An 8th position in Halfpipe was Bright’s (AUS) lowest all season - soon-to-be dropped from her overall 6-result score. Kaprun, Austria, host of the European leg of TTR SIX(6)STAR Roxy Chicken Jam in December 06 provided the location of her Slopestyle 4th place result. Hopping in February 07 to Mt Bachelor, USA and ALTS Bandai, Japan, Bright’s 4th place Halfpipe placing at TTR FIVE(5)STAR Chevrolet Grand Prix, plus 6th place Slopestyle /1st place Halfpipe finishes at TTR FIVE(5)STAR Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open were all eventually dropped from her overall TTR score. It was America in March 07 that proved to be Bright’s (AUS) blazing month of glory as she hit podium at every TTR contest she rode: 1st place Halfpipe winner, TTR FIVE(5)STAR World Superpipe Championships, Park City/Utah; 2nd place Slopestyle & 3rd place Halfpipe finisher, TTR SIX(6)STAR 25th Burton US Open Snowboard Championships, Stratton/Vermont; and finally, her 2nd & 3rd results from the USA leg of tour-defining event TTR SIX(6)STAR Roxy Chicken Jam accumulating 977.2 TTR Ranking Points for the Women’s TTR World Champion 06/07 title.

On her victory, an overwhelmed Bright (AUS) stated: ‘Winning the TTR title is amazing – I am absolutely speechless! TTR is just what we need in snowboarding – it’s amazing to have a title that can legitimize the sport and ourselves as authentic athletes.’

Each event was the stage in the TTR calendar at which no rider could earn any more TTR points following this to actually beat the rider at the World Nr 1 position on the TTR Ranking List presented by Swatch. Each tour-defining event received an extra 25% in TTR Ranking Points for Superpipe and Slopestyle formats to ensure Tour Champion victories. Both riders win TTR title honours for one season.

Post-crowning the TTR Tour Champions, the calendar continues through to the end of April 2007. All TTR contests attended until then will provide riders with TTR Ranking Points for the 06/07 TTR Ranking List presented by Swatch to add to their overall ranking score until May 01st, 2007.

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
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