[Ayumu Hirano was doing the sickest crippler to japan combo for his first hit. P: Sam Oetiker]

The weather conditions on the third day of the LAAX OPEN may have been more suited to pow slashes and tree runs (of which there were plenty!) but the halfpipe semi finals were still the main events on offer and did not disappoint.

Frenchman Arthur Longo came out on top in Heat 1, setting a 87.49 as the benchmark for the second heat and qualifying second for the finals overall. Swiss home-boy David Habluetzel came through looking really strong on his home turf qualifying in third with an 87.12 after finishing a solid run which opened up with a monster cab double cork ten. Then 17 year old Japanese ripper Ayumu Hirano sent it huge on his second run to claim the top spot with a 90.50 after back to back double cork tens.

The visibility was seriously limited by heavy snowfall, so it’s no surprise that some big names left the competition at this stage. It sure was tough out there. Danny Davis and Iouri Podladtchikov unfortunately didn’t make it through to the finals but at least they got to ride some pow with all the homies.

The sun tried to come through while the ladies took to training but failed to make a lasting impact, conditions were equally challenging later in the afternoon. Torah Bright claimed the top spot in the women’s heat, qualifying with an 87, closely followed by Japanese shredder Hikaru Oe (84.74) and Clemence Grimal (FRA) who scored an 80.12.

Check back tomorrow AM for the Laax Open Live Stream. Slopestyle semi’s are kicking off early Thursday morning, halfpipe finals are on Friday and slopestyle finals on Saturday. With the weather set to clear up, it’s guaranteed to get crazy.

Check out the full results and photos below.

LAAX OPEN 2016: RESULTS QUALIFICATION HALFPIPE, JANUARY 20, 2016

Men
Heat 1
1  Arthur Longo (FRA) 87.49
2 Christian Haller (SUI) 82.87
3 Markus Malin (FIN) 82.49
4 Patrick Burgener (SUI) 79.62
5 Ikkou Anai (JPN) 75.49
6 Louie Vito (USA) 74.99
7 Raibu Katayama (JPN) 66
8 Yuto Totsuka (JPN) 59.12
9 Danny Davis (USA) 58.5
10 Kent Callister (AUS) 53.37
11 André Hoeflich (GER) 48.37
12 Viktor Ivanov ( SUI) 47.87
13 Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) 46.37
14 Menduri Stecher (SUI) 42.5
15 Tim-KevinRavnjak ( SLO) 38.87
16 Lars Popp (SUI) 30.74
17 Elio Fumagalli (SUI) 29.37
18 Jon Osterwalder (SUI) 26.24
19 Marc-Emmanuel Techer, FRA 11.12

Heat 2
1 Ayumu Hirano (JPN) 90.5
2 David Habluetzel (SUI) 87.12
3 Benji Farrow (USA) 85.87
4 Matt Ladley (USA) 83.87
5 Brett Esser (USA) 75.24
6 Ayumu Nedefuji (JPN) 75.12
7 Seamus O’Connor (IRL) 73.87
8 Johann Baisamy (FRA) 71
9 Scotty James (AUS) 70.87
10 Taku Hiraoka (JPN) 68.62
11 Antti Autti (FIN) 67.49
12 Jan Scherrer (SUI) 65.62
13 Yannick Hermann (SUI) 49.62
14 Raio Kuchisubo (JPN) 46.62
15 Matthew Cox (AUS) 41.25
16 Alexander Kondo (USA) 33.25
17 Lorenzo Gennero (ITA) 26.37
18 Elias Gian Allenspach (SUI) 25.37
19 Mikolas Pajer (CZE) 0

Women’s
1 Torah Bright (AUS) 87
2 Hikaru Oe (JPN) 84.74
3 Clemence Grimal (FRA) 80.12
4 Arielle Gold (USA) 79.24
5 Sophie Rodriguez (FRA) 74.62
6 Mirabelle Thovex (FRA) 73.12
7 Kurumi Imai (JPN) 70.75
8 Verena Rohrer (SUI) 67.74
9 Nadja Purtschert (SUI) 58.62
10 Sina Candrian (SUI) 56.87
11 Carla Somaini (SUI) 54.75
12 Berenice Wicki (SUI) 51.87
13 Summer Fenton (USA) 50.75
14 Leilani Ettel (GER) 48
15 Ramona Petrig (SUI) 47.25
16 Enni Rukajärvi (FIN) 46.87
17 Celia Petrig (SUI) 39.87
18 Babet Bischof(SUI) 28.25
19 Fiona Schurter (SUI) 25.75