We’ve been in Laax, Switzerland for the inaugural Sudden Rush Laax 2015 – Banked Slalom Open. Whilst there are many legendary banked slaloms in North America, over here in Europe there’s only a sprinkling of them gracing our alpine peaks. Well, Laax came together with two of the best transition riders of all time: Mr Terje Håkonsen, and Mr Nicolas Müller to help end the drought. 

Nestled above the hallowed ground that the Burton European Open is held on, you’d have been hard pressed to find the course if you didn’t know where it was. However, if you looked a little closer and followed the crowds of split tailed sticks, powder gun shapes and the dulcet tones of the PA system – you found yourself atop a gully with more turns than the Nürburgring.

With the snowboard world reeling from Yuki Kadono’s back to back 16 triples, you couldn’t have found yourself farther away from the competitive machine that day. Surrounded by legends of snowboarding both old and new, riders like Shayne Pospisil, Romain de Marchi and Ursina Haller tackled the course with the poise and finesse of Spanish Matadores taming a bull.

As a reward for the crowds of spectators that found the course, they were treated to a first row seat to watch legends and young guns of snowboarding tackle the turns in under a minute. In the ladies; it was Simona Meiler, Isabelle Jud and Cécile Plancherel that clinched the titles in their respective categories in blistering times that brought even the hardiest of snow rippers to tears.

Over in the mens’ category José Fernandes stormed his way to victory in the Grand Masters 50+ competition with a 2 second lead over the other men. Ivo Gmür was mere milliseconds from a sub-minute run, but had to settle for 1st place for his efforts in the mens’ masters 40+ heats. In the open heat, over 93 men competed for the glory, but it was Michael Layer that clinched the trophy cabinet with his blisteringly fast 00:58:43 time which took him straight to the topspot.

Arguably the highlight of the day was watching the Pro categories battle it out for banked slalom supremacy. The course was a dangerous beast ready to buck you out at any moment, and rest safe in the knowledge that even some of the best in the world were disqualified for missing gates. Many a method, indy nosebone and pokey stalefish were unleashed on a right hand bank dropoff, but as the powder settled and heart rates returned to resting, it was a stacked podium of legends.

In transatlantic harmony, Shayne Pospisil and Nicolas Müller shared the bronze medallions with both of them finishing in 00:59:74 – a fitting special relationship for statesmen of snowboarding on opposing sides of the Atlantic. Taking the silverware was local boy Levi Luggen with a 00:58:70 time much the adorn of the crowd.

At the end of the day though, there was only one man that could be crowned chief of the carve, and there was no man more fitting than Mr Terje Håkonsen to take the topspot. His irrefutable board control skills saw him take a demanding victory with a 00:57:10 time, contestable by none.

In front of a crowd of locals, riders and industry bigwigs; Terje took the stage and was rightly crowned the winner of the first, and hopefully not last, Sudden Rush Banked Slalom at Laax.

As the sun rose on the second day of the Sudden Rush, it was time for Switzerland’s finest Jungs und Mädchen to take to the course and hold their own. As with most kids events, it’s impossible to not find the enthusiasm infectious and the previous night’s whiskey haze was cleared in double time. Whilst the previous day a strong wind had gusted up the gully, there was barely a whisper as the boys and girls hurtled their way through the gates in times Flash Gordon would be proud of (if any of the kids knew who he actually was).

Once the kids had satisfied their appetites for the undulating terrain, it was time for an impromptu switch race which saw the legends return to test their mettle on the course riding switch. It was a visceral assault on the senses watching some of the world’s finest transition riders take on the course in reverse symmetry to the day before. Massive respect to Forest Bürki who decided to hit the first roller with a front 180 on a swallow tail, and then following up with a cab 360 to the cheers of the crowd.

One again though, it was the Norse precision of Mr Håkonsen that prevailed and kept him on top for the switch race honours as well. The thing you have to remember about Terje riding switch is that he rides a +21 front, +6 back degree stance as well. So when riding switch, Terje’s feet are both pointing back uphill…madness. More magical stuff from the world of the Sprocking Cat.

All in all, it was one of the most fun events we’ve covered this season. It’s incomparable to events like the BEO, or the Air & Style due to its very nature, but we enjoyed the 90’s vibes we got from the contest.

Thanks to Laax for putting on the event, and special props to James Niederberger whose idea the event was and the rest of the Snowpark Laax and Laax Ski School team for running the event on the day. Respect where respect is due to the legends themselves; Nico and Terje, for getting involved with the event, and stoking fire in the kids.