MURRAY TAKES THE PODIUM AT THE AUSTRIAN OPEN 2007

On Friday and Saturday 9-10 February 2007 while his friends were sitting through classes at school and sleeping-in, LINE UK Pro rider Murray Buchan was over in Austria at the Columbia Austrian Open by Salomon preparing to ski off the biggest triple big air kicker line of his life and steeling himself to compete against some of the most talented young freestyle skiers in Europe.

Murray had prepared with a few weeks training on snow at Laax over Christmas but coming from Edinburgh, Scotland he doesn’t have the luxury of a mountain on his doorstep, making his ability to compete internationally in freestyle skiing all the more remarkable.

Postponed once already because of poor snow conditions there were concerns over whether the Austrian Open in Mayrhofen in Tirol would go ahead at all.

In the end the Nordpark Superpipe competition was canceled but massive kickers were prepared, three in a row, allowing massive 6-meter-high airtime and a gap to box and rails and other features for the Mayrhofen Slopestyle competition and Murray and fellow LINE riders from Europe, including our own Gaute Haker from Norway, got busy practicing their trick runs against bluebird skies in perfect conditions.

The qualification runs demonstrated the level of talented riders attending the event and Columbia rider and event organizer Martin McFly Winkler was confident before the finals that the anniversary event would be a big success: “The qualification made clear that the Austrian Open anniversary is going to go far beyond any expectations, it’s another step forward.”

In the end Frenchman Kevin Rolland won the prestigious Slopestyle title in the Mens’ event but we have to mention Paddy Graham’s tremendous achievement in coming 2nd, a fantastic result for a British rider. The Ladies competition was won by Belgium’s Katrien Aerts, who beat the favoured American Kim Misof.

So what happened in the Youth/Rookie category in which Murray Buchan was competing?

Well… he only went and won it!!!

Murray Buchan, 15 year old freestyle skier from that well known ski resort town of Edinburgh won the Rooky category outright, beating competitors from around Europe:

1. Murray Buchan, SCO
2. Thadde Jaos, GER
3. Stafan Schenkn, ITA

According to those present Murray was in a class by himself, leaving other sponsored riders including Germany’s Tadde Joas and the Italian Stefan Schenker behind.

Murray is back at School now but will be heading out to compete in the FIS World Championships, the Brits and the Orage European Open in March. We wish him the best of luck - remember to check back here to learn how he does.

(With thanks to photographers Tommy Bause and Matt Klemenc and the Austrian Open website - check out the gallery at: http://www.austrian-open.com/)