Big names and rookies heading for historic Swiss contest

The Crans-Montana  Champs Open presented by Rip Curl is back as a 5Star event on the Swatch  TTR Tour in 2009. 

Happening from February 4 to 7, this is one of the  most historic competitions on the tour. This year it will feature an upgraded Star  level, a stacked riders list and a monster 650m slopestyle course.

The  format will see new upcoming riders enter the contest, looking to  overcome the big TTR names. Everyone will be aiming to score part of the 850 TTR Ranking points and $50 000 USD prize purse up for grabs.

Due to other Swatch TTR events such as the 6Star Billabong Air & Style  and 5Star Red Bull Snowscrapers pending within the next week,  predictions are almost impossible to make for the World Ranking List.

These events are sure to drastically alter the ranking, meaning the  Swatch TTR Top 10 will look very different in a matter of days.

Current World No.6 Risto Mattila (FIN) is having another stellar season  which is seeing him shape up to be a potential Swatch TTR Tour Champion.  He is currently advancing up the ranking so expect him to be on fire.

Current World No. 16 Ville Uotila (FIN) and last year's Champs Open  winner Jaakko Ruha (FIN), who now sits in World No. 22, will also be in  attendance, looking to grab some more Swatch TTR Points.  If the season  so far is anything to go by, then it is safe to assume there will be  some Finns on the podium.

The Godfather of Swiss snowboarding, Gian  Simmen, recently impressed at 6Star O'Neill Evolution and 6Star Burton  European Open and now sits in World No. 35.   Although he may be older than most of the other riders, he still has a few tricks up his sleeve and will give the Swiss rookies some inspiration and guidance.

Andy Finch, the U.S. rider, with the motto "Go big or go home!" has so  far been laying low on the TTR circuit this season so he is sure to have  a game plan to fire his season into action. Elias Elhardt (GER) and  Steve Krijbolder (NED) are two young riders currently making waves in  the snowboard scene. Both of them finished strongly at the 6Star O'Neill  Evolution and will be looking to keep the ball rolling in Crans-Montana,  where they have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

This month a truckload of Swatch TTR snowboard action is taking place. On February 6 and 7, the rookies will head to Mont Tremblant,  Quebec, Canada for the 3 Star Salomon Snowboards Backyard Bang and February 7 and 8 the 3 Star Burton AM Series rolls into Park
City, Utah, USA.

Visit www.ttrworldtour.com for all new rankings, updated videos and news and watch the event live at www.freecaster.tv