The high-riding antics of the male slopestyle qualifiers during day two of the Open were put to the test as low cloud and strong winds threatened to derail yesterday's event.
New Zealand riders took four of the 15 qualifying spots, with Nick Brown (Queenstown), Nick Hyne (Queenstown), Connor Harding (Wanaka) and Neville Lapwood progressing to join invited riders Mitch Brown, James Hamilton and Stef Zeestraten in this morning's semifinals.
The high winds and poor visibility delayed the start of yesterday's slopestyle qualifiers and also forced a scheduling change for the women's event, with all 22 qualifiers instead now progressing into the next round.
Slopestyle judge Steen Webster said the "two Nicks" - Brown and Hyne - "killed it" during their qualifying runs and displayed precision rail riding and solid air.
Hyne won the New Zealand Open Slopestyle three years ago and Webster said it was good to see him back in form and riding at the Open again after a year's absence because of injury.
The top-scoring qualifier was Sam Hulbert (USA), whose repertoire of tricks were seemingly immune to the testing conditions, Webster said.
Hulbert edged second placed Brown by 0.17 of a point, while Hyne was third in the qualfying sessions.
Burton Open
Men's qualifiers
Sam Hulbert (USA) Nick Brown (NZL), Nick Hyne (NZL), John Murphy (USA), Robbie Walker (AUS), Mario Kappeli (SUI), Graham Scott (USA), Kiichiro Kazumi (JPN), Masaharu Ando (JPN), Nathan Johnstone (AUS), Elliot Catton (CAN), Roland Morley-Brown (NZL), Jye Kearney (AUS), Nick Poohachoff (USA), Clint Allan (AUS).
