Markku Koski takes big air world title in Korea

The Olympic snowboarding half-pipe bronze medallist from Turin 2006 Markku Koski took his first World Championship title on Saturday, winning the big air event at the Worlds in Gangwon, South Korea.
      In a hard-fought final, Koski - who is a relative veteran at just 27 - sticked a Cab 1080 and a Backside Rode 900 to hold off the challenge of Belgium's Seppe Smits and Stefan Gimpl of Austria.
     
All three of the Finnish entrants taking part made the final, with Petja Piiroinen finishing in 6th place and Jaakko Ruha in 11th.
      Risto Mattila, one of the pre-event favourites, injured his ankle on Friday and was forced to look on from the grandstand.
      Mattila won the same event in 2003, and another Finn, Antti Autti, was crowned champion in 2005.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  First silver and bronze medals from Torino as fancied Finns stumble (13.2.2006)

Links:
  FIS Snowboard World Cup
  Markku Koski on the FIS pages
  Snowboard World Championships, Gangwon
  FIS - Snowboarding