After this historical triumph, Rocco van Straten, a Junior World Champion in both, lift and cable wakeboarding, was absolutely astonished. “I’m super happy. To be honest, I don’t know what to say. But one thing is for sure: this is the best moment in my whole life so far.”

However, the victory in the first big air competition on US-American soil after seven years (Mt. Bachelor, OR, 2004) wasn’t his first trick in the last weeks. Van Straten had also surprised at the last World Championships in Spain by placing fourth. “That definitely gave me a push although I had to fight the jetlag today. And then I end up first. I didn’t expect anything like this, but I was hoping for a top-5 result.”

The Dutchman sat in fifth after the first two jumps (of which the better one counts) having earned 25.1 points for his cab 900. In the decisive third run, he stomped a huge backside 1080 thus logging in another 27.9 points and also raising the bar for the four guys still to come. None of them had something in store to set against except of Michael Macho, who was the only one landing his trick in the sweet spot. You won see it, go to this website http://www.fissnowboard.com/uk/videos/race-video.html and run start at 2.45.

Dutch TV sportnews
http://nos.nl/video/popup/214635-van-straten-wint-big-air-in-denver.html

Hope I can stick my trick in Denver aswell, would be super.Contest is 26th Januari, afterwards I go to the Burton Canadion Open.
Denver Big Air is almost here

Monday 24 January 2011
In just a few days, the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup will be back in full swing again. On January 26th, 2011, Denver, Colorado, will host the season’s third big air and thus the first in the US after a break of seven years (Mt. Bachelor, OR, 2004). In addition, the freestyle event, which will be held in the Civic Center Park, the cultural heart of Denver, is the first ever to take place in a North American metropolis. A 102 feet high ramp of steel has been built guaranteeing superb conditions for some sweet air time and stylish spins.

The international field features some top riders such as 2011 World Championships runner-up Zach Stone of Canada. But the young kid, who surprisingly claimed Silver at the 9th FIS Snowboard WCS in Barcelona about one week ago won’t be the only one to watch out.

In addition, Rocco van Straten (NED), fourth of the last major event as well as 2010 Big Air World Cup standings runner-up Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI), who placed seventh at the World’s finals, will also start. In addition, another finalist (11th) of Barcelona, Austria’s talent Clemens Schattschneider is ready for some more nice results.

Time schedule Denver, big air:

Wednesday, Jan, 26th, 2011:

Qualifiers 4 PM local time

Finals 8:40 PM local time

In the competition he new he had to go for it, and stick-ed it right the first time. In the second run he did it again and gave him enough points to go to the finals (4th in his heat).

In the finals where only 12 competitors left from 52. In the finals 2 out of 3 jumps count and the last jump counts always. Judge also look at different jumps. Rocco decided to start with jump he would stick anyway to give him more confident. (switch backside 7) . The second jump he stepped it up to clean 9. The all or nothing was in 3th jump and he did it again a clean backside doublecork 1080. It brought him 4th place and was just 1,5 point away from 3th placed. Everybody was watching it live on Eurosport2 and his coach jumped high out of his seat. and jelled:

HE DID IT!

Saturday I was 3th place on the European champs cable wakeboard. I missed one trick tobad

On the World Trophy I had much better day, and everything went well. I could even start my second run in the final with mobe from startdock.

Everybody was stoked. I enjoyed it alot. I am going to have a nice party to celebrate. Yeh i am so happy