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The Fillmore Auditorium in downtown Denver was swarming with all shred heads alike on Friday night for the 12th Annual Transworld Riders Poll Awards. With the booze flowing, Travis Rice got the awards got under way – the all-around vibe being really stoked and a little buzzed.

Jess Kimura got the recognition she deserves and claimed Women’s Best Video Part of the Year for her opener in Peep Show’s “Let’s Make Better Mistakes Tomorrow” and also won Reader’s Choice (alongside Torstein Horgmo who happened to stomp the first triple cork ever in the Winter X 15 Big Air event). Jess rips and it was awesome to see all of her hard work pay off with her peers giving her props. Burton rider and Canadian Mark Sollors picked up Rookie of the Year with his shred talent crossing the border into the States. Standout of the Year was awarded to Mr. Mikey Leblanc for his stairset gap to flat that closed outVideograss‘ video “Bon Voyage” – if you haven’t seen this gnarly situation yet watch it HERE. Burly. He had some fierce competition in this category as he was up against Torstein and Danny Davis.

Video of the Year went to Transworld’s “In Color” for its variety of riding, killer soundtrack and list of talent. Joe Carlino, Gary Milton, and Hayden Rensch put this baby together and did a damn good job.

Aussie and Olympian Torah Bright won the respect and hearts of the snow industry and scored Women’s Rider of the Year. Rightfully so, this girl owns the halfpipe and is pushing women’s snowboarding every time she straps in. We expect big things (double type things) from this lady.

John Jackson made a major sweep as well by being named Rider of the Year with the Best Video Part (Forum’s F’ It). This is the second year in a row that he’s claimed both those titles. Don’t act like you’re not impressed – this guy is ridiculous and continues to mash the backcountry.

One of the many highlights of the evening was the Legend award which was given to Baker local Mike Ranquet who recently has been featured on Vice Magazine’s web series, “Powder and Rails” which has touched on his many accomplishments. Coming from the skate world, Mike single handedly brought skate style into snowboarding and made sure everyone knew this at the awards. After a lengthy ramble about skate style and some…other things, he concluded his rant with a tiny “Skiing is f-cking gay, seriously” and then was pulled off the stage by the eye candy in a tight dress. Good times.

Another Rider’s Poll in the books, everyone survived (we think) and continued to party the night away at the Nike 6.0 Shoe Shine/Snowboard Mag party at the Summit Music Hall. Congrats to all the winners for making this sport we all love that much better. Peace out Denver, it’s been real.

WINNERS
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Mark Sollors
Legend Award: Mike Ranquet
Standout of the Year: Mikey Leblanc
Video of the Year: TW In Color
Women’s Rider of the Year: Torah Bright
Reader’s Choice: Jess Kimura & Torstein Horgmo
Men’s Rider of the Year: John Jackson
Men’s Video part: John Jackson
Women’s video part: Jess Kimura

Source: http://www.grindtv.com/snow/blog/23998/12th%20annual%20transworld%20riders%20poll%20awards%20recap/

“I’m so grateful to have had the support of Roxy from the very beginning. I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” said Bright. “Roxy is home.”

Known as the most progressive female rider on the slopes, Torah Bright recently took home the gold in the snowboard halfpipe event at the Vancouver 2010 Games. A globally recognized athlete, she was the first Roxy rider to launch her own signature collection, the Roxy Bright Edition during the 2008/2009 winter. She is also a two-time Winter X Games gold medalist in the snowboard halfpipe.

Bright’s future plans include filming a new snowboard movie, re-entering competitive slopestyle and perfecting her backcountry riding. Bright will also be focusing on expanding her technical skills and advancing her tricks in the halfpipe in anticipation for the 2014 Olympics in Russia where the Australian native will try for her second piece of Olympic gold. Bright will be competing in the upcoming 2011 Winter X Games in Aspen.

For more information on Roxy or Torah Bright, visit www.roxy.com.

Winter X 15 will be held from Jan. 27 – 30, 2011 in Aspen, Colo. Winter X Europe will be held March 16 – 18, 2011 in Tignes, France.

More than 125 athletes will compete from all over the globe in Snowboard and Skiing in France for the second year of Winter X Games Europe.

For the third straight year, the Winter X Games was ESPN’s highest-rated and most-viewed, and more than 43 million viewers tuned in to watch on ESPN and ESPN2. The ESPN telecasts posted a 1.2 household rating, representing an average of 1,147,000 households. In addition, both ESPN and ESPN2 recorded their highest-rated and most-viewed individual Winter X telecasts (1.3 on ESPN and a 0.8 on ESPN2). Winter X Games 14 also set a new attendance record in Aspen at Buttermilk Mountain with a total of 84,100 spectators over four days, beating the previous Aspen best of 76,150 set in 2007 — an increase of nine percent.

Winter X Games Europe was the first Winter X Games outside of the United States. Together with CANAL + Networks (CANAL +, CANAL + SPORT, Sport +) and ESPN International, Winter X Games Europe was broadcast live in eight countries, including France, and distributed to 166 countries and territories, including Latin America, Middle East, Pacific Rim, sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Israel, Caribbean, North America and Europe. The three-day event attracted 66,200 spectators for the inaugural event.

Torah sounded pretty humbled by it all, speaking on the Perisher blog: “I’m surprised but deeply honored that Perisher is naming the Superpipe after Ben and me!” She not only had it named after her but she also got to session it over the weekend.

To have your chance to win, simply head over to entry page on the Perisher website and drop in your details. Entries close Wednesday the 11th of August.

If you win you and 2 mates will get to shred with Torah for 4 hours in the morning. Note no travel or transfers are included but you’ll be shouted a lift ticket!

Click here for the entry page.

The pair were guests of ESPN at the annual ESPY Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

The ESPY Awards are a glamour annual event that combines the biggest names of sport and entertainment.

As well as the red carpet and parties their are also awards. Sportsbroadcasters, writers and TV executives vote across the various categories.

Bright ended up a winner in the Best Action Female category, beating a star field which included fellow Aussie and World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore.

Lassila and Bright stayed in Hollywood through the week of the event and enjoyed the sights and sounds that the famous strip has to offer.

“I just enjoy the people watching,” Bright, who has attended for the last three years, said.

Lassila who was seeing the ceremony for the first time was impressed by the scale and magnitude of the presentation.

“It’s great to be able to mix with so many American stars of sport and celebrities.”

ESPN will air the 17th version of the awards in Australia on Sunday night.

See the pics below

Source: http://twitpic.com/photos/ChanelleSladics

To celebrate Torah’s Halfpipe Gold Medal victory in Vancouver, Perisher will be renaming its Superpipe in her honour at an official ceremony during the 2010 winter season.

As part of her new ambassadorial role, Torah will become the face of some of Perisher’s advertising and promotional campaigns, representing the resort where she first started snowboarding and the place she developed her amazing skills.

It’s not just about advertising though, Torah obviously has a very strong affinity with Perisher and as such she wants to ‘give back’ to the place she grew up. During the season, Torah will be spending time with lucky Perisher Winter Sports Club children, imparting her knowledge and experience in personalised coaching clinics. Plus, Torah will ‘hang-out’ with the winner of a ‘Board for a Day with Torah’ competition that Perisher will be conducting.

“We are excited to have Torah join us”, said Neil Thew, Public Relations and Business Development Manager, Perisher. “Torah’s incredible accomplishments on the competitive snowboarding arena are to behold and admire, however her warm and engaging personality match these qualities, making her the perfect ambassador for Perisher,” continued Mr Thew.

Torah has expressed that given Perisher is her favourite Australian alpine resort, it was easy for her to commit to officially becoming a representative of the place she loves, both here and internationally. “Although Torah spends much of her time overseas these days, she still calls the Snowy Mountains and Perisher home,” confirmed Circe Wallace, Torah’s manager.

It’s not only a time to celebrate the partnership of Torah with Perisher, but today Torah is getting married to fellow snowboarder Jake Welch in the US.

All at Perisher extend to both Torah and Jake very best wishes for their big day today and their life ahead together. We look forward to seeing them soon at Perisher.

www.perisher.com.au

First off the block is our very own Snowboard Gold Medalist, Torah Bright.

Enjoy these couple and let us know if your would like any particular pro’s featured.