Dual Banked Slalom Hafjell recap

16/1/2022

I have been to pretty much every type of snowboard event the last twelve years in all parts of the world and I have organized all types of events, at least nationally.

I have always wanted to host a type of event and a discipline that could cater to everyone, and I mean everyone. I think we might have found a formula.

This weekend Brettforbundet organized Dual Banked Slalom in Hafjell together with LHMR Brettklubb after the World Para Snowsports Championships invited us to reuse their fantastic course in Hafjell built by Arena Snowparks, as the World Champ finals were done the day before we started.

I discussed with our competition director for this event, Per Willy Hegge, leading up to the weekend as we heard some of the riders from the World Para Snowsport Championships wanted to ride our event as well.

We agreed: “Let`s not make an event where it`s the adaptive riders and “regular” riders, but let`s just make an event and format were we all ride together.

We are all just snowboarders anyway.

Vilde Hauger-Mølsted (NOR) 7y.o. Photo: Henning Owren (LHMR Brettklubb / Brettforbundet)

First of we had over 100 starting competitors and I was baffled how big the range of riders that entered and shredded their hearts out were. The riders were keeping the vibe at an all-time high and all the smiles made my day, forgetting about my 5:30 a.m wakeup call to start getting the event ready.

We had kids as low as seven years old, we had parents, up and coming talents, we had old pros, new pros, current pros, national riders and international riders and a great field of riders that competed in the World Para Snowsports Championships the days before, we all shredded together in the time trial and in the head-to-head finals format.

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Photo: Henning Owren (LHMR Brettklubb / Brettforbundet )

The level just got better and better and the course rode well through the whole day and the weather was thankfully on our side.

All riders rode a two run time trail and the top rider went through the finals and the head to head knockout format. One run decided their faith...

The contest started of with the juniors.

Alexander Nyquist (NOR) won the boys division a head of Hans Anonsen (NOR) in 2nd and Aksel D. Heyerdal (NOR) in 3rd.

Luna Hekne Herskedal (NOR) won the girls division a head of Eira Stavanaes (NOR) in 2nd and Nelia Stavanaes (NOR) in 3rd.

After the juniors we had 24 entered kids from 7-12 y.o in a jam session format. So fun seeing all the groms handling the course and holding their own.

The Open division had a few nail biter heats when the finals started.

In the end Open Womans was won by Zuzanna Smykala (POL) a head of Karin Margareta Boson (NOR) in 2nd and Caroline Nilsen (NOR) in 3rd.

The Open Mens final was won by Karel Von Goor (NED) a head of Aleksander Østereng (NOR) in 2nd and Ben Tudhope (AUS) in 3rd.

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