World first at Perisher for Planet X Winter Games

USA import Chris Benchetler scored silver with an impressive '720 caveman' and 18 year-old Charlie Timmins, also from Jindabyne, won bronze.

Six on the best

Battling it out for their share in the $25,000 prize pool and the Planet X Gold Medal were pro skiers Russ Henshaw, Christian Sirianni, Chris Benchetler (USA), Jono Lipsker, Oddy Graham, and Charlie Timmins, alongside Pro Snowboarders Max Cookes, Ryan Tiene, Mike Osachuck (CAN), Nate Perry, Jake McCarthy and Australia's number one ranked snowboarder, Andrew Burton.

World first with super winch

Gale force winds at the NSW alpine resort over the weekend had kept the 2008 Planet X Games weekend's organisers on their toes. However, clearing skies on Sunday enabled them to roll out their world first: using a high-powered Urban Rider winch to accelerate skiers and snowboarders into the ¼ pipe at high speeds. It was the first time the winch had been used on snow.

Port Macquarie's Ryan Tiene impressed judges with his style and technical skill on the ¼ Pipe Tow-in. He took out first place snowboarding honours while ex-winter Olympian Andrew Burton won silver. Renowned Canadian snowboarder Mike Osachuck took home the bronze.

Huck and Chuck

Blue winter skies broke through the clouds in time for the Planet X Huck and Chuck event. Competitors "Huck" or hike up to the top of the run and then "Chuck" or jump off the feature while performing a number of aerial manoeuvres. The event is a test of courage and endurance as well as freestyle skill.

Jake McCarthy – Perisher Blue team snowboarder and the youngest competitor in the field – impressed judges with a Switch Backside Five on his second hit. Melbourne rider Max Cookes - who completed the same trick as McCarthy but was marked down by judges on style - tied for second place with Ryan Tiene who landed a massive Frontside 3 Caveman.

Snowboard judge and editor of Australian and NZ Snowboarding magazine, Russell Holt, says Jake McCarthy didn't necessarily go as big as the other riders in the contest but showed greater technical skill.

"Ryan Tiene and Nate Perry actually came close to taking it out on their second jumps, both landing smooth Frontside 7's but both actually reverted the landing making it a little unclean" said Holt.

Local young guns stole the show in the Huck and Chuck Ski event. Seventeen-year-old Jono Lipzker came first after pulling off a huge Switch 7, while Russ Henshaw, scoring his second medal for the event, was runner-up. Melbourne skier Christian Sirianni placed third.

New voting format opens up to public

Planet X introduced three new contest formats for this year's Winter Games. The judging of the Braun CruZer3 Rail jam will for the first time be determined by the public.

Four videos of each competitor: Chris Benchetler (ski), Christian Sirianni (ski), Max Cookes (snowboard) and Ryan Tiene (snowboard) are viewable online at www.planetx.com.au.

Punters have until 30th September 2007 to vote for their favourite rider and have their say about who deserves the prize money and the gold medal for the Braun CruZer3 rail jam.

The winner of the Planet X Winter Games Gold Medal will be announced online at Planet X by October 5.