Cover photo: Jesper Gronnemark
The fourth edition of Scandinavian Team Battle went down at CopenHill a week or so back, bigger and better than ever before. Copenhagen in the summertime is a pretty special place to be. Perhaps more famous for CPH Pro (skateboarding) and just being incredibly cool (everyone, CopenHill has brought the freeski scene right into the city. This year the event had more of a festival feeling with lots of bars, food stands, DJ sets, a concert, a rooftop party... and obviously the insane ski competition. The setup got an upgrade and even a mini swimming pool and the crowd was loving every second.
Photo: Joachim Clauen Hansen
The comp format itself stayed true to its origins with 5 teams from 5 different countries. Each team features two riders, who hit the course simultaneously. Each team found unique ways of impressing the crowd and judges, with lots of weird and funny circus-type maneuvers going down.
Photo: Jesper Gronnemark
In this event, there's a big element of teamwork, be it tapping a teammate’s head, jumping over each other, or tapping skis mid-air. Emil Granbom took one for the team, diving into the pool and laying back, turning himself into a transfer rail for Jesper. Mikkel BK went bigger than anybody else tapping Johan Berg’s skis mid-air styling it out with an umbrella of all things. The Finns, Elias Syrja and Harald Hellström created a new rail for themselves using one of the fences meant to control the crowd. Team Innsbruck, Lisa Zimmermann and Teresa Korábová were ripped all day, and surprised even the judges by swapping in alternate Ellen Damsgaard mid-comp, in disguise as Lisa Zimmermann. Lastly, hometown heroes Jakob Ebskamp and Isabella Tvede got weird and technical on all features. Jakob even used Isabella as a human ramp covered with dryslope surface to jump onto a tube 'off piste' (see cover photo, look carefully!).
“This format is such a sick and fun way to get creative with your teammate as well as showcasing skiing to an audience who most likely don’t know that much about the sport already.” - Jakob Ebskamp (Event organizer and skier for Team Denmark).
Photo: Carl Ulslev Degn
With only 15 minutes left a summer deluge soaked the hill, leaving the crowd enjoying the last bit of the show (Danish style, fashionable umbrellas anyone?). As the commentator rightly screamed into the mic “more rain equals more speed!”, Mikkel BK launched too the jump bigger than anyone ever has before at CopenHill and the fact that he walked away was all the more impressive.
Ultimately, the competition was extremely tight with only a few points separating the top three. Team Finland came in third, Norway second and for the fourth time, Team Sweden walked away with the win!
“Team Norway were so close to bringing it home this year but Team Sweden is just unstoppable. They basically nailed every run throughout the entire day” - Judges.
Photo: Jesper Gronnemark
The event returns for next year so be on the lookout for dates and information!
Photo: Joachim Clauen Hansen
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Teams:
TEAM SWEDEN: Jesper Tjäder & Emil Granbom
TEAM NORWAY: Johan Berg & Mikkel BK
TEAM DENMARK: Jakob Ebskamp & Isabella Tvede
TEAM FINLAND: Harald Hellström & Elias Syrja
TEAM INNSBRUCK: Lisa Zimmerman & Tereza Korábová
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Content online:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C792UnEOXmZ/
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The event was sponsored by:
Red Bull, Sunweb, Neveplast, GoPro, LINE Skis, Marker Bindings, Steel House Copenhagen, Kliché bike shop
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With help from:
Newschoolers, Nordic Sea Planes, Holmen Dirt, Butchers Heat, Soundboks
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Photo: Jesper Gronnemark
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