Paunonen Valtteri at Finnish Open 2011
&copy fin11 (photo Antti Ritokallio)

Tero Manninen at the Finnish Open 2011
&copy fin11 (photo Antti Ritokallio)

Date: 13.04.2011
Updated: 14.04.2011 00:46

By: SFO Press Office

The 3Star 

Snowboarding Finnish Open (SFO) 2011 was held at Tahko on 1.- 2.4.2011. Almost 40 riders took on the Tahko Park during the weekend-long event. For the first time in the SFO history, the 2011 event also had a ladies ‘unofficial’ category with four invited top riders. Friday's qualifications in sunny Tahko attracted fewer snowboarders than expected and everyone in the qualifications advanced to Saturday's semifinals. Cloudy weather and dozens in excited audience witnessed 13 riders going through to finals as two riders shared the 12th position. Clammy weather made the conditions challenging, but thanks to the hardworking crew the finals lived up to the SFO 2011’s standards. Tero Manninen surprised even himself by claiming the SFO 2011 title. It was the 23-year old part-time snowboarders first big win. Anna Laukkanen, a name to remember, took first place in ladies event. Best Rookie title went to Tuomas Pohjanen. The highest air was held in two parts in SFO 2011. In the quarterpipe it was Joni Malmi who flew the highest and the corner title was claimed by Ali Toppinen.

Results Men
1  Manninen Tero                
2  Kumpulainen Aleksi        
3  Lambert Teemu                       
4  Pulkkinen Arttu                     
5  Tiilikainen Saku                        
6  Lipsanen Janne                      
7  Tikkanen Paavo                        
8  Pentti Heppu                                    
9  Malmi Joni                                 
10 Ojala Tuomo                                 
11 Tuoriniemi Jari                     
12 Luhtanen Sami                        
13 Piiroinen Petja                       

Results Ladies
1  Laukkanen Anna           
2  Rukajärvi Enni            
3  Pehkonen Saana         
4  Lindström Tiina