Kevin Pearce new Swatch TTR World Tour Champion

Stratton, VT, USA - March 21st, 2008: After a full-out season of close calls and flawless victories, US snowboarder Kevin Pearce charged through the opposition, defeating his challengers and rising to the occasion to become the new 07/08 Men’s Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion.

Kevin Pearce, a Vermont native, was crowned at 04.30 pm U.S. EST at the base of Stratton Mountain in front of a mass of spectators applauding and cheering his achievement. Reto Lamm, President of the Swatch TTR World Tour, presented the Swatch TTR award – a 20-kilo metal and wood, custom made trophy for Pearce.

Kevin had one of the best season records in TTR history; his pursuits for the Swatch TTR Title beginning all the way back in August. A string of victories and podium finishes throughout the season brought him all the way to the top and he entered the 6-Star Burton US Open highly favoured.

His efforts began with a second place in the Halfpipe at the 5-Star Abominable Snow Jam in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Although he struggled in New Zealand, Pearce entered the Northern Hemisphere portion of the Tour in full force, dropping a huge Cab 1260 to win the 6-Star Nokia Air & Style in Munich/Germany. His success continued on the other side of the world in Japan, where Pearce finished fourth at the 6Star Nissan X-Trail Jam amidst a field of riders that had certainly stepped up their game since Munich.

Pearce’s streak of title victories was then unleashed in Laax / Switzerland at the 6-Star Burton European Open in a Halfpipe final that blew away every rider and spectator. Legendary Halfpipe rider Shaun White had laid down what was thought to be an unbeatable run and with the final run of the entire competition, Kevin Pearce proved to the world that he is right up there beside the best snowboarders in the world. Jaw’s dropped and voices were left speechless as Pearce began with a 10 right out of the gate straight into a second 10, followed by back-to-back 9s into a gargantuan Mctwist and ending with a stylish straight air. His run earned him the HP Title as he set his eyes on to Innsbruck /Austria.

At the 5-Star Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe, Kevin once again dominated, claiming his second straight title. But he wouldn’t stop there. After winning last year’s Arctic Challenge in Oslo / Norway, Pearce went on to win his second consecutive 6-Star Oakley Arctic Challenge, stomping huge BS Airs, his epic Mctwists and a newly honed BS Rodeo 5. After his victory in Oslo, Pearce overtook Risto Mattila from Finland for the Tour lead.

The 6-Star Burton US Open however, was Kevin Pearce’s time to shine. With a 25% point bonus in both Slopestyle and Halfpipe, Pearce didn’t back down and drove it home to become the 07/08 Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion and taking home $ 50 000 USD. Kevin qualified for the Halfpipe finals with a second in the semis, right behind Shaun White. In the end, Pearce finished third in the US Open Halfpipe with an epic Halfpipe run, earning his first ever TTR Tour Title.

Verena Bossmann
PR & Media
Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour

Operating Office:
TTR Pro Snowboarding
58a Valiergasse
6020, Innsbruck
Austria

verena@ttrworldtour.com
ph: +43 (0)676 7575111

ABOUT TTR:
Founded by Terje Haakonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the SWATCH Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour is a non-profit, rider-driven organization representing the progression of snowboarding. The SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour is based on global grass root and key independent freestyle snowboarding events over a ten-month period from Southern to Northern Hemisphere locations. Events are rated via a 1-through-6STAR system, with points allocated accordingly, a SIX(6) STAR event holds the highest. Any athlete participating in these events, from up-and-coming to professional talent, earns ranking points and a position on the SWATCH TTR World Ranking List. The top male and female athlete based on an average of their best six results of the season is crowned SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion.

This release was published on openPR.