Behind the scenes with our crew of judges

Name: Jørgen Nøvik
Nationality:     Norwgian
City of origin: Born in Oslo, lives in Drammen
Birthdate:  Never born....
Years riding: since 90 cm tall.

Name: Michi Albin
Nationality:  Swiss   
City of origin:  St. Moritz
Birthdate:  28.09.1976
Years riding: since 1989

Name Pascal Imhof
Nationality:     Swiss
City of origin: Grindelwald
Birthdate:  15.10.1975
Years riding:  since 1993

Name:  Vidar Berentsen
Nationality: Norsk    
City of origin: Oslo, Nes
Birthdate:  1974
Years riding:  many

Name: Julien Haricot
Nationality:     France
City of origin: vienne
Birthdate:  21.04.1980
Years riding: since 91

Name: Dani Meier
Nationality: New Zealand   
City of origin: Wellington
Birthdate:  1965
Years riding: since 1988


For these six judges, snowboarding is their life, their platform, their passion, a ticket to adventure, an expression and good times. They are all invited to decide who wins and who looses at this years Oakley Arctic Challenge.

The judging, how does it work?

Generally, each judge gets an overall impression of each rider, considering hight, takeoff, landing, style and variation.  The hight is measured by cameras mounted 1 meter from the lip of the coping. Then we get the rider on a screen, with lines like a diagram, telling us the hight of each rider.

But it is also important to be good looking ☺

What is different in this years competition, compared to th earlier TAC´s?
-That would mainly be the variationscore. This year we have variation as one of the judgingcriterias, kind of pushing the riders to not only safe on one trick. We also had the moneymakers. This is a brand new and exciting format. This shows how the sport is evolving and changing because of small things.

Which role do you guys think The Oakley Arctic Challenge has, evolving the sports and peoples creativity?

-This is the main competition in the TTR system, so it is very important. The competition is made to help the sport, and it is magical and special. There is always an element of surprise and innovation, always something new and not the same as it was 20 years ago. I also think the TTR system and the organization helps people understand more of snowboarding these days. Many fantastic riders making a platform for the next generation when it comes to snowboarding and what is possible.


 How can we keep snowboarding fresh and innovative?
-With competitions and events like we are doing right now. TTR is good for the sport, but sowboarding itself is the main decider of what is good and what is bad. This will always continue, and my experience is that there is so much more to be done all the time. Look at Terje Håkonsen and what he has done...


What are your strongest memory from The Oakley Arctic Challenge?
Besides the riding, that must be the social life. Of course we all remember Jody Koenders slamming and Terje´s insane world record jump.
TAC is about pushing your limits and beeing safe at the same time!

Anything else you would like to say to the TAC web readers?
Life is beautiful! Come watch the competition! Don´t watch it at home!
We might see a new world record, at least some good tries.