Danny Wheeler has won the "Big Air Italia" in Italy over the weekend. Jamie Baker also rode well but failed to make the final three.

The competition was an initation big air event in Turin, to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flag. Turin will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2006.



Turin, home to the 2006 winter Olympics, celebrates the arrival of the Olympic flag from Salt Lake City with a free public event - Free Air Torino - the first major Italian inner-city snowboard competition since Urban High, in 1997.

From 01-02 March, 2002, Turin will see a montage of top international and Italian athletes from the world of snowboard, skate and BMX perform in the heart of the ancient city, at the famous Piazza Vittorio Veneto, under the co-ordination of EASE Ltd.

Situated near the River Po, the 93m long by 24m wide straight air snowboard jump designed by Italy’s own Roby Moresi, will take the inner city experience one step further. On Friday night, demos and the first-time-ever-seen Snap Contest, devised by Drew Stevenson, will start off the weekend’s mania, with performances from top-line Italian artists.

Saturday is pure contest as the ‘Top Twenty’, made up of the best Italian and international riders, compete for €60 000 and the ‘Big Air Italia’ title. Judges, including Jonny Barr & Max Perotti are headed by Kiwi. Sounds come straight from Ministry of Sound, including DJ Mark Hughes, who will take us through the night to the official Free Air party.

Sunday’s schedule will be chilled as the ‘Top Twenty’ are taken to photo-shoot at the Burton Snowdeck Demo and free-ride in the heart of the Piemonte Alps at Bardonecchia – also open free to the public.

Spectators can also experience free interactive snowboarding on the Nitro Public Snow Slope, supported by 32 Snowboard Boots, and rally round the cyber-mobile internet zone.

Not one, but two Vans Street Skate Parks will be open over the weekend to Italy’s crème-de-la-crème skate pros, with free session time for the public: one located in the Piazza, the other at an exclusive location in Pinerolo – Cortile Expo Fenulli.

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