The Swatch TTR 6Star Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships 2010 went down last week in Laax, Switzerland. 08/09 TTR World Snowboard Champion Peetu Piiroinen won the slopestyle with style and consistent runs, closely followed by Norwegians Mikkel Bang and Gjermund Braaten. Scandianavian podium dominance could only be stopped by Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov. Check out the photos in the slideshow above and keep your eyes glued to www.ttrworldtour.com to find out what happens next at the 5Star Canadian Open, the last big TTR Event before the Olympic Winter Games 2010 in Vancouver go down.

Will Peetu with his huge points lead be able to hold on to the No. 1 position once the US boys get back on the Tour in the end of February? Right now, Finland and Norway take 1st and 2nd in the TTR top nations ranking, America in 3rd. That might be the first time ever. For the girls it’s equally, if not more exciting. Sarka, Sina, Lisa, Cheryl, and Cilka are only little points apart and double 6Star Slopestyle Champion 2010, Enni Rukajärvi is hot on their heals.

Gjermund Braaten hitting the 6Star slopestyle in Laax

Will we lose our style and start skiing?

Are we destined to drink in the lodge and talk about the old days when we used to shred and good times were had?

Mmm I doubt it. Not a damn chance!

Still the question begs, what will become of us?

Dick Schulze is the one to look too!

Dick Schulze is the grey haired rider that is still tearing it up in the powder, park and pipe.  This 62 year old lawyer from the United States is a part time Kiwi, and grandfather of three, who also happens to be the oldest competitor in the Swatch TTR Burton European Open.  “Just because your grey on top does not mean there is no fire inside” says Schulze.  This is no doubt the philosophy he lives by as he still follows winter year round and even has a sponsorship deal.

Dick only took up the sport 12 years ago when he defected from skiing and was hooked within the first five minutes.  He can’t explain why he loves it so much but there is just something about the feeling of sliding on the snow that stokes him out.  He loves shredding all terrain and is even training on trampolines to perfect his flipping ability in the Pipe.  Yep, that’s right, he rides the Pipe!  When talking to Dick you could see just how pumped he was to hit up the mega Superpipe in Laax.  Dick competes at every open event that he can get into, whether it is Boarder Cross, Halfpipe or Slopestyle.  He says there are a number of competitors in his age group and even though they might be friends, they are not so nice when up against each other.  The competitiveness is still there.

Next up he’s heading to the Swatch TTR 5Star Canadian Open and after that there is no chance he’ll be slowing down.  On top of riding daily, Dick has also completed twelve marathons in the last twelve years and is probably fitter than some of the young gun riders competing at the BEO.
Twelve years is quite a long time in snowboarding and in his time, Dick has seen the progression of riding skyrocket.  He is still totally blown away when Pearce, White, and co hit the Halfpipe and believes that with every year it just gets better.  When asked about his own future on the snow, he talks excitedly about an 80 year old snowboard instructor he met at Jackson Hole last season who is still ripping.  If this 62 old rider is looking up to an 80year old rider then that should definitely serve as inspiration to the rest of us.

So don’t stress, snowboarding is like a bottle of wine.  It just gets better with age!