Style and innovation were the judging criteria for the Big Air contest that took place on the 29th of March 2014 in Livigno, Italy for the Suzuki Nine Queens presented by O’Neill. After many days of shooting at the colossal castle the invited riders where amped to push the level of riding in the jam session. Spectators basked in the sun on Mottolino Fun Mountain cheering while the girls sent it. Lisa Zimmermann claimed the top spot out of the freeskiers with her two best tricks, a breezy 900 tail grab and by stomping her very first switch 1080 mute. Elena Könz (SUI) was the snowboard winner with her signature backside 540 mute and frontside 720 melon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5RQ7YV7lU

(pic:Keri, Lisa and Emma)

18 year-old Lisa Zimmermann was eager to defend her last year’s unofficial “Queen of the World” title in the four-run, five-rider final. After stomping the 1080 on her last run the German ripper was all smiles, “I’m super stoked to land that trick for the first time. The girls were pushing each other on the top and there was such a good vibe. It worked out great today, because the conditions and the jump were perfect, I felt really confident, so I just went for it.” Event director and pro-skier Nico Zacek (GER) commented, “Lisa is a progressive rider and also stomps the difficult tricks.”

(pic: Lisa Zimmermann)


Coming in second was Sweden’s Emma Dahlström who has been slaying the kicker all week with style. A Nine Queens veteran, this was her first time on the podium, a well earned spot with her cork 720 tail grab and stunning switch 720 mute. Using the good vibes as her fuel clearly works. “Hanging out with all these girls, shredding and having fun, it was just good times today. I love doing my signature trick, the cork 720 tail grab, and I'm getting it quite good on this castle, so I’m happy!“

(pic: Emma Dahlström)

In third place was the ever-smiling Keri Herman (USA) who was also able to improve on her trick list by landing her first 900 safety after stomping a floaty switch cork 540. Just outside the podium were Zuzana Stromkova (SVK), who has been rocking it for the whole week and Kim Lamarre (CAN). Zuzana's best tricks were a misty 900 and misty 700 with textbook style. Anais Caradeux (FRA) entertained the crowd by being the only girl to attempt and stick the seriously large transfer from the take-off in the middle of the pipe to the landing of the left jump.


(Pic: Keri Herman)

(pic: Anais Caradeux)

Snowboard winner Elena Könz (SUI) brought it home with technical rotations, tweaked out grabs and spins both ways. In the spirit of fun she also threw in the mix a personal first, a crowd pleasing laid-out backflip. Jessika Jenson (USA) received a last minute invitation to the event with her “Wanna be a Queen” video clip and she didn’t fall short of expectations with a cork backside 720 and huge backside 540. She was stoked on her second place and the opportunity to join a photo shoot for the first time ever. Tied in third place were Jenny Jones (GBR) with a frontside 720 and Isabel Derungs (SUI) with her signature cork backside 720. Jenny pushed herself throughout the week adding another trick to her repertoire going for the frontside 900, though she did not land it cleanly in the finals. Overall, it was awesome day and the perfect introduction for snowboarding to the Suzuki Nine Queens presented by O’Neill.

More details about the event on http://www.ninequeens.com and http://www.facebook.com/ninequeens.