Enjoy the 2012 Suzuki Nine Knights Presented by G-SHOCK Contour highlight clip.

And in case you missed, Suzuki Nine Knights here’s full results of the contest!

Neukirchen (AUT), August 30, 2012 – The wait is finally over and it was well worth it. As of right now, the sensational highlight clip of the SUZUKI NINE KNIGHTS presented by G-SHOCK is live:

For the second time, some of the best freeriders in the world accepted the invitation of host Andi Wittmann to come to the Wildkogelarena Neukirchen Bramberg for some freeriding on the highest level. Several film crews followed the action and the result of their work is breathtaking.

But not just the filmers delivered some exceptional pictures. Four renown sports photographers took their best shots and competed just like the riders to see who would come out on top. A selection of their pictures was judged by the most critical jury composed mostly of the photographers themselves in six categories.

Here are the results:

- Best Action Shot Big Air: Stef Cande (FRA)
– Best Action Shot Trail: Daniel Rönnbäck (SWE)
– Best Black&White: Carlos Blanchard (ESP)
– Best Creative Angle: Daniel Rönnbäck (SWE)
– Best Lifestyle: Markus Greber (Ger)
– Best “Wildkogel” Shot: Stef Cande (FRA)

The winning shots are definitely worth a look, you can browse through them exclusively here!

As opposed to comparable contests, the riders had almost a full week to show their skills at the Suzuki Nine Knights presented by G-Shock. In that time they were observed by the judges to pick the winners in several categories at the end of the week. Two riders deserve a special mention, the newcomers Xavier Pasamonte (ESP) and Anthon Thelander (SWE).

Shervy’s extremely extended Superman stands the comparison to his fellow countryman’s Lacondeguy and won him the “Trick of the week”. But even he couldn’t touch the overall performance Anthon Thelander showed throughout the week. That the jury awarded him the title “Rider of the week” didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Check out the complete results:

- Ruler of the week: Anthon Thelander (SWE)
– Trick of the week: Shervy Pasamonte (SPA) INSANE SUPERMAN
– Best Trick on contest day: Yannick Granieri (FRA), BIG FLIP DOUBLEWHIP
– Best Line on contest day: Martin Söderström (SWE)
– Highest Hip Air: Andi Wittmann (GER) / Kurt Sorge (CAN)
– Best Whip: Louis Reboul (FRA)

More info on www.nineknights.com

Contents courtesy © The Distillery Media

The sun was beaming as crowds of spectators were admiring the trick fireworks that the Knights at the Wildkogel were throwing down. Some of the world’s best mountain bikers had travelled from ten different nations to the „Wildkogel-Arena Neukirchen Bramberg“ and were set on really sending it one more time for the contest day. At the end of the day, there were several winners; Yannick Granieri (FRA) bagged Best Trick with a huge backflip doublewhip, Martin Söderström (SWE) rode the Best Line, Louis Reboul (FRA) had the Best Whip and host Andi Wittmann shares first place for Best Air with Kurt Sorge (CAN). In a few days the second action clip goes live, so be prepared to be amazed.

After the contest had to be slightly postponed because of strong winds and fog, the sun fought its way through the clouds around noon and spectators witnessed a freeride mountain bike supersession on the highest level. The contest took place in a jam format, the judges considered every run for four categories: Best Air, Best Trick, Best Whip and Best Line.

His flip double whip won Yannick Granieri a deserved first place but it was a rather close victory. Norwegian Olav Fjaere almost celebrated a world premiere by just barely missing landing the very first flip triple whip. Even without a clean landing, this trick was nothing short of a sensation but no match for the Frenchman’s clean execution.

Several riders had more than decent airtime on the big kicker, but nobody had more air under their tires than host Andi Wittmann and Kurt Sorge. They both cleared almost nine meters from the ground and made it impossible for the judges to pick the higher jump. Both definitely earned the number one spot.

The prize for the best line went to the rider who best used the course and showed the best run overall. Martin Soderstrom clearly deserved the title for this one. He was one of the very few who showed a trick on the second hit, in this case a barspin. The Swede dropped off the castle with a 360 table and launched an impressive 360 tuck to tailwhip off the big kicker.

Louis Reboul is one of the riders who secured a spot on the rider’s list with his submission to the Contour Wanna be a Knight contest. All newcomer knights delivered a solid performance at the contest and Louis promptly whipped himself into first place.

Further info on: http://nineknightsmtb.com

The first few days of the SUZUKI NINE KNIGHTS MTB presented by G-SHOCK have already exceeded all expectations.

In perfect weather conditions, photographers, filmers and the freeride knights found the perfect set-up on the castle at the “Wildkogel-Arena Neukirchen Bramberg” for a freeride mountain bike session of epic dimensions. Absolute highlights such as the heli-session and the Nine Knights trail made sure that the riders outdid themselves and filmers as well as photographers already have some truly exceptional material.

For the grand finale on Saturday, August 25, spectators are cordially invited and if you are in the area, this is something you shouldn’t miss. Check out the first action clip:

On Tuesday the first milestone was scheduled. Accompanied by the helicopter of the Flying Bulls, the athletes pulled some massive tricks out of the bag providing the filmers and photographers with some legendary shots in two 60-minute sessions. The riders tricked their way down the course in several trains so that there were five riders in the air at
the same time.

The winners of the contour WANNA BE A KNIGHT Contest deserve a special mention, since they are killing it up on the Wildkogel. Anton Thelander (SWE) is rocking the course and is definitely doing team Sweden credit. Bienvenido Aguado Alba’s (ESP) superclean 720 caused photographers and the other riders to cheer for the Spanish rider. After Andi Wittmann was not able to ride his course last year, he is stoked that he can charge the castle together with his knights. You can check out his flip double whip this Saturday on the public contest day.

Most of the pros such as Geoff Gulevich (CAN), Yannick Granieri (FRA), Martin Söderstrom (SWE) and Giant rider Kurt Sorge (CAN) are already on site and are using their reliable skills to write freeride history at the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB presented by G-SHOCK. More knights are joining them over the next few days, among them Thomas Genon (BEL), the winner of the Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler. On the weekend, a few special guests will complete the riders’ list for the contest day. Spectacular action as well as great entertainment are guaranteed at the slopestyle event on Saturday, August 25 from 11am. At night, there is drink and fun to be had at the legendary Nine Knights Afterparty powered by Sweet Protection and mtb.downdays.eu at Schweini’s – so if you are in the area, make sure to drop by, we would love to see you!

The time for the contest day was rescheduled slightly and will begin at 11am. The Nine Knights Afterparty powered by Sweet Protection and mtb.downdays.eu at Schweini’s begins at 9pm.

For further info: http://nineknightsmtb.com

Credits reserved © S. Cande, F. Breitenberger – The Distillery Media

The Nine Knights 2012 seen from different perspectives!

Enjoy Suzuki Nine Knights highlight video, and if you want to take a look at the report and pictures, just click here!

Pictures: (c)Federico Quaglino

I’m sure you all saw on the web the pictures of the wonderful snow castle in Livigno. Everything was perfectly settled for the Suzuki Nine Knights event, probably one of the most suggestive of the winter. And the riding level was surely not less than the scenario! Federico Quaglino was there and was literally stocked by the event. He sent us the gnarly pics you see in this article!

The Big Air competition on saturday saw Kai Mahler (SUI) as winner in front of Gus Kenworthy (USA) and Jonas Hunziker (SUI).

And here is an overview on all riding category winners:

Best Big Air overall: Tom Wallisch
Best Rail rider overall: Gus Kenworthy
Best Style trick: Lolo Favre (Flatspin 540 screamin´seaman, nose grab)
Big Air contest: 1st Kai Mahler, 2nd Gus Kenworthy, 3rd Jonas Hunziker
MVP of the week: Roy Kittler

The winner of probably the most important category of the event was Tom Wallisch, who received the title “Best overall ruler of the week on the kicker” and took home nothing less than the new Suzuki Nine Knights I pad and the special Nine Knights ring from Jewelry Köblinger in Innsbruck. Also the other winners took home great prizes.

Take a look at the Big Air Finals clip!

Pictures: (c)Federico Quaglino

The Suzuki Nine Knights crowned the glorious winners of the Freeride-Contests on Saturday evening at a presentation in their honour. The most successful rider was Martin Söderström from Sweden who won two of the four categories. Yannick Granieri of France was the winner of the big air section. The highlights of the awesome six-day Mountainbike Sessions in the Urlaubs-Arena Wildkogel Neukirchen Bramberg can be seen in a four-and-a-half minute film that goes off like a  firecracker:

After four wonderful summer days with extensive sessions on the Big Air Castle, as well as the newly built Freeride Trail, the public day fell victim to the bad weather conditions on Saturday. Snowfall and wind gusts up to 100 km/h forced the riders to spend the day in the Wildkogelalm, and a final contest was sadly unable to be considered.

On Saturday evening, however the winners of the various categories were crowned based on their efforts during the week. Host Andi Wittmann and his field of riders voted almost unanimously for 24-year-old Yannick Granieri from Lyon, France, as champion of the Big Air category. His compatriot Pierre Eduard Ferry took home the title of ‚Ruler of the Trail’ and Martin Söderström from Sweden showed his exceptional talent bagging both the ‚best style’ and ‚best trick’ categories – the latter of these two prizes being won with an amazingly high and clean barspin to tailwhip, an extremely technical trick to pull off.

The photographers also had their time in the spotlight on Saturday night as the ‚photo contest’ entered the ultimate phase. The photographers evaluated each others work along with two independent experts to determine the winners in five categories: best big air shot, best trail shot, best black & white, best creative angle and best lifestyle shot. Canadian Harookz and German Markus Greber both won two categories each.

Host Andi Wittmann, who was severely restricted at the start because of a shoulder injury at his own event draws a very positive conclusion: “All riders have put on a very impressive performance throughout the week and the photographers could exploit all possibilities available to them. It is a pity that the public day had to be cancelled as we would have loved to show everyone what the guys are capable of but that’s how it goes sometimes in the mountains.“

Overall it was an awesome premiere for this event and we have had really great feedback from all sides. The Suzuki Nine Knights would like to thank all the riders, photographers, and especially all friends in the Urlaubs-Arena Wildkogel for their sensational support. Andi Wittmann will be returning to shoot some video on the Big Air Castle later on in the fall.

Rider’s Contest:

‘Ruler of Big Air’
1.     Yannick Granieri (FRA)
2.     Bienvendio Alba (ESP)
3.     Martin Söderström (SWE) & Amir Kabbani (GER)

‘Ruler of the Trail’
1.     Pierre Eduard Ferry (FRA)
2.     Geoff Gulevich (CAN)

‘Best Style’
1.     Martin Söderström (SWE)
2.     Kurt Sorge (CAN), Yannick Garnieri (FRA) & John Alm Högmann (SWE)

‘Best Trick’
1.     Martin Söderström  (SWE) – Barspin to Tailwhip
2.     John Alm Högmann (SWE) – (huge) Superseater

Photo Contest:

‘Best Big Air’ – Harookz (CAN)
‘Best Trail Shot’ – Stef Cande (FRA)
‘Best Black & White’ – Markus Greber (GER)
‘Best Creative Angle’ – Markus Greber  (GER)
‘Best Lifestyle’ – Harookz (CAN)

Photocredits: Actionshots: (c)Lars Scharl; Prize giving: (c)Sebastian Färber