For the second time, we at HAE , together with the guys from nnim clothing and the White Rabbit Bar, organized THE HOME-RUN invitational banked slalom in Bellwald (VS). The primary goal of this event is to bring the entire Swiss snowboarding scene together at the end of the season to have a beer, reflect on the past season, and have fun.
87 riders took part in the second HOME-RUN Invitational Banked Slalom and enjoyed the class festival of Swiss snowboarders to the fullest. The crowd was led by speaker Phil Bucher, who opened the games. The first twenty riders after the two qualifying runs qualified directly for the final. Five more joined in after a short drinking game. Nicolas Wolken set the fastest time in both qualifying runs. However, he was unable to match this performance in the final run, as four riders managed to beat him. Last year's winner Thomas Wyden came fourth, just behind the two legends of the scene Fredi Kalbermatten and Reto Kestenholz . They ultimately finished third and second. It was Fredi who invited the American gang to the event. Freeride Vice World Champion Sammy Luebke was one of them. He didn't need to be asked twice, and after his victory in Haines and third place in Verbier on the 2015 Freeride World Tour, he also won the banked slalom in Bellwald. The fact that such an accomplished American isn't above coming to Bellwald reflects the atmosphere at HOME-RUN.
HAE friend Andreas Arn gives it his all!
The focus was on togetherness and the pure joy of snowboarding – even if good old Phil couldn't stop cursing by the time the results were announced. After the official competition, the course was still mastered in switch. Reto Kestenholz took home another win. Somehow, no one was surprised, considering his 3.5-meter-high switch backside airs in the Zermatt pipe. Alexander Rufibach and Julian Fürsinger rounded out the podium in the switch competition.
bankers
What followed were what felt like ten rapid-fire runs and a 15-meter transfer by David Lambert between two banks. He crashed three times, and some are still surprised that he was even able to stand up afterward. David was also the one who embellished his run with a flawless frontside 360.
Mike " Aemka " Knobel will likely be honored with the best backside air at this corner. Photographer Claudio Casanova celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday and was also honored at the awards ceremony. Happy birthday!
The podium with the winner Sammy Luebke
Give the kids a playground and let them snowboard. It was the picture-perfect end-of-season celebration they'd always dreamed of. A celebration like no other!
Final
1. Sammy Luebcke 45:11 2. Reto Kestenholz 45:34 3. Fredi Kalbermatten 45:51 4. Thomas Wyden 46:07 5. Nicholas Wolken 46:19
Switch 1. Reto Kestenholz 49:12 2. Alexander Rufibach 49:88 3. Julian Fürsinger 52:23 4. Forrest Burkie 52:40 5. Roger Schuler 52:87
Fastest Run Nicholas Wolken 44:17
