Iouri "IPod" Podladtchikov Wins World Championships!

It's official – Iouri Podladtchikov is the inaugural 2012 World Snowboarding Championships Halfpipe Champion! On Saturday, Feb. 18th, Iouri bested the competition in Olso, Norway to take home the win and the $40,000 first place prize. His run of a Backside Double Cork 1260 to a massive Front 1080 Double to Cab 1080 Double to Front 1080 was enough to put him on top of the podium and secure the win despite Matt Ladley and Louie Vito's valiant efforts, which landed them in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. After his second place finish at both the 2012 Winter X Games and the overall 2012 Dew Tour, IPod has been building up to this event and dialing in his run all season long.



"The halfpipe is very perfect, it's amazing," said Iouri midway through the contest. "Sitting at the bottom [waiting for the other riders] was interesting and breathtaking. I was so nervous! My family is here, they surprised me, so I'm super happy to see my parents here."



After it was all over, Iouri was asked what he thought it was going to take to win the contest. "It was definitely going to take a bunch a nerves... it's making me quite nervous, I'm still nervous! I feel like it's not over yet," exclaimed Iouri with a big smile on his face. "It took a lot of doing these corks in my head a hundred million times before I went up there and actually went for it. I guess I'm still spinning."



When asked what it meant to win this event, Iouri replied, "It means a lot, especially with my parents here, it’s the first event they’re coming out to watch this year. And this being the World Championships… it’s just a sweet, sweet happening."



“I think this halfpipe was everyone’s favorite for this year for sure," said Iouri "It was so fast, the rain just made it faster at first, and everyone was just going huge! You don’t see that of everyone, usually. You know, you see a couple of guys go massive and then a couple of guys go lower, but here everyone was at the top of their trick lists and throwing new stuff down… amazing."



Next up on Iouri's world domination tour is the 2012 US Open followed by the 2012 Winter X Games Europe. Congratulations again to Iouri and good luck to the rest of the Vans Team Riders competing in the event.









Photos: Thomas "Beckna" Eberharter