Last year’s edition saw Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), loftily fly above the 9 meter tall axe at the sunset hip session, threatening the current height record.

The Suzuki Nine Knights 2016 sets out on a mission to build “The Perfect Hip” and bring along the best transition riders to hone in on innovating hip and transition riding. The new event location in Watles, South Tyrol, Italy will see various sessions running from the 29th of March, leading up to the Public Contest Day on Saturday the 2nd of April 2016.

RIDERS SKI:
Bene Mayr (GER)
Joffrey Pollet-Villard (FRA)
Jules Bonnaire (FRA)
Taylor Seaton (USA)
David Wise (USA)
Christof Schenk (ITA)
Jon Olsson (SWE)
Jacob Wester (SWE)

RIDERS SNOWBOARD:
Sebbe De Buck (BEL)
Simon Gruber (ITA)
Christian Haller (SUI)
Peetu Piiroinen (FIN)
Heikki Sorsa (FIN)
Werni Stock (AUT)
Seppe Smits (BEL)

World Height Record?
Rarely in the spotlight in past years, the focus is on the hip-feature. As always with the Suzuki Nine Knights, progression is on the horizon, with some serious potential for a world height record. The 2015 hip was limited on speed and for 2016 the 15m tall, 60m long hip will be shaped to perfection with a long run-in, setting the optimal conditions for air-time. Of course something as ambiguous as breaking a world record requires every factor to be just right.

SKI
Andreas Håtveit (NOR) holds the existing skiing height record of 11.27m. He stomped this insane airtime with in 2006 whilst on a shoot on June Mountain and was followed only moments later with equally impressive height by Jacob Wester (SWE) who will be on-site and eager for a do-over to engrave his name after the title. Frenchman, Joffrey Pollet- Villard will be one to watch out for, as he has got a taste for records claiming a world halfpipe hight record at 8.4m in 2015 with an alley oop flatspin 540. In addition, an eager troop of top riders will be representing including Jon Olsson (SWE), David Wise (USA), Christof Schenk (ITA) and Taylor Seaton (USA).

The legendary Terje Håkonsen (NOR) currently holds the world record for highest air with his backside 360 that flew a whopping 9,80m above the Arctic Challenge quarterpipe in 2007. Heikki Sorsa, the “Flying Finn” held the coveted record in his name up till then since 2001 with an equally impressive 9.3m. He will be on-site and is certainly one who could restore the glorious title. Piiroinen is certainly a man who is itching to go higher and last year he was merely held back by speed. In addition a row of fearless heavy hitters will be on site including Belgian duo Sebbe de Buck and Seppe Smits along with local powerhouses Werni Stock (AUT) and Simon Gruber (ITA). Join us for the Public Contest Day to see the guys push the boundaries of hip and transfer riding!

More info on www.nineknightsnow.com