Kevin Pearce wins Toyota Big Air in Japan

Scott USA’s own Kevin Pearce, a nineteen year-old Norwich, Vermont native, won the battle to be crowned “King of Air” at the 11th Annual Toyota Big Air in Sapporo, Japan, in front of tens of thousands of spectators at Makomani Open Stadium on February 10, 2007.

“Needless to say I am in a bit of shock. This event is overwhelming, and the energy from the crowd is ridiculous. I am stoked to have landed my runs and pulled off the tricks I wanted to do tonight. Every run I just wanted to step it up more and more, stoke out the crowd, and to win this prestigious event is just surreal.”

Between the pyrotechnics, live bands and laser light show, 16 world reknowned big air riders battled it out in the qualification round to advance into the top eight to compete in the quarterfinals man-on-man knock out format. Each rider had two runs to execute their best trick and up the ante to knock out their respective opponents. Pearce was clearly the man to beat, as he consistently bettered his previous score, winning each of his heats with stylish textbook backside 900’s and smooth cab 1080s, holding his backside grab through out each rotation. In the semi-finals Pearce met his Burton teammate and last year’s Toyota Big Air winner Nicolas Muller, beating the former “King of Air” by executing massive cab 1080s. In the final, Pearce met Risto Mattila, who rose to the challenge but could not beat Pearce’s flawless cab 1080s, execuited with perfect grabs and precise landings.

As if winning more than $20,000.00 US and a new Toyota was not overwhelming enough, Pearce made history with the highest score ever awareded in the 11 year history of the Toyota Big Air, an impressive 290 out of a possible 300, achieved on his final run.

Pearce will be competing next at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open, February 20 – 25, at ALTS Bandai, Japan.

Kevin Pearce is also sponsored by Burton Snowboards, and Frends



photo: Adam Moran