Winds Force Roxy Out

The Roxy Chicken Jam is the biggest female-only contest in the world for snowboarders, but the starry field that made it to Kaprun, Austria, for the Swatch-sponsored contest, part of the Swatch TTR Tour, were out of luck. Winds were blowing at more than 80 miles an hour, which could have blown girls in the air into the pipe tranny or off of a park jump. Overcast skies made the already dull light totally flat. The event was canceled.

It was sad for the international field that came to duke it out for domination; points are currently so close that the rankings were expected to change for the top five slots. Pros like Torah Bright, Australia; Kim Fasani, USA; and Cheryl Maas, Netherlands, all had a chance to move up. Jamie Anderson, USA; currently the world’s top ranked female snowboarder, wasn’t coming to Austria, leaving Bright room to move into the lead.

Bright and Anderson fought against each other throughout last season before Anderson claimed the women’s tour title. This year, aside from the $50,000 prize purse Swatch is offering, points are on the line. It’s just little more than a year before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and all the ladies want those points as insurance for an Olympic berth.

The Austrian contest win was lusted after, because it was a six-star event. Contests are ranked as one through six stars, with the highest number offering the most points. A six star contest is worth 1,000 points.

The finals will take place in Mammoth, California. Meanwhile, the Tour takes a holiday break and comes back next year. Relax, that’s really only a few weeks away. The next event is the Burton European Open, January 9th, 2009; another six star contest. Expect the sickest airs and biggest stylin’ on the slopes you’ve ever seen; on this tour, everybody rides.