Markus Eder wins Nine Knights Big AirMarkus Eder won the Big Air title at Nico Zacek’s Nine Knights Freeski Invitational in
Oberstdorf last Saturday.
The young Italian had only gained access to the prestigious event as the “Wanna Be A Knight?” online qualifier, but proceeded to beat some of Europe’s best freestyle skiers on his way to the championship.
The Nine Knights Freeski Invitational is undoubtedly the most important freeskiing event in the German speaking Alps. Since two years Nico Zacek has been creating his very own snow castle in Oberstdorf and gathered nine of Europe’s best freestyle skiers for a week of exclusive sessions.
New for this season, Nico decided to give a newcomer the chance to be part of his spectacle, too.
Every talented skier could send in a video edit in the “Wanna Be A Knight?” Contest and the best
one would earn a spot among the nine knights.
When Nico Zacek received the entry of Markus Eder, the Marker Vo?lkl international team rider 
barely knew his team mate who had been on the Italian regional team so far. But Nico was
immediately impressed: “I was blown away with the great variety of tricks the edit showed and I
knew immediately that Markus had a great chance to make it to Oberstdorf.”
Though many more videos followed by lots of talented riders, the young Italian’s effort still stood strong at the end. When the lad from Southern Tyrol finally arrived among the knights, he was stoked: “It is great to
have the chance to ride with all those guys on such a great obstacle.”
Markus didn’t show any signs of hesitation in the presence of his famous peers and the impressive jump. In fact, he was one of the leading protagonists throughout the week of Nine Knights, performing incredibly well on the kicker and being the first to check in the intimidating jib obstacles like the several meters high
rainbow box in the shape of an axe and the massive wallride. His audacity finally earned him the
title “Best Jibbing“ at Nine Knights.
Markus Eder’s most shining day was still to come, however. It was the final day of Nine Knights, when the official big air contest went down in front of a big crowd up on Nebelhorn. 16 invited riders jammed the 22-meter-kicker for 90 minutes, before the five finalists were announced.
Markus Eder were given three more runs to surpass his co-chosen competitors, Bene Mayr from Germany, Austrian Luggi Brucic, Swedish shooting star Kristoffer Edwall and Paddy Graham from Great Britain. And he did! With two great tricks in his first two jumps, a Kangaroo Flip Japan and Double Cork 1260° High Mute, he even could afford to show another crowd-pleasing wall ride at last and still take home the title. What a great victory and the start to a very promising career on the highest international level. It will be interesting to see Markus Eder return within freeskiing’s top class next season.
Posted by Online Editor - Wed, 28/04/2010 - 5:52pm
Markus Eder won the Big Air title at Nico Zacek’s Nine Knights Freeski Invitational in
Oberstdorf last Saturday.
The young Italian had only gained access to the prestigious event as the “Wanna Be A Knight?” online qualifier, but proceeded to beat some of Europe’s best freestyle skiers on his way to the championship.
The Nine Knights Freeski Invitational is undoubtedly the most important freeskiing event in the German speaking Alps. Since two years Nico Zacek has been creating his very own snow castle in Oberstdorf and gathered nine of Europe’s best freestyle skiers for a week of exclusive sessions.
New for this season, Nico decided to give a newcomer the chance to be part of his spectacle, too.
Every talented skier could send in a video edit in the “Wanna Be A Knight?” Contest and the best
one would earn a spot among the nine knights.
When Nico Zacek received the entry of Markus Eder, the Marker Vo?lkl international team rider
barely knew his team mate who had been on the Italian regional team so far. But Nico was
immediately impressed: “I was blown away with the great variety of tricks the edit showed and I
knew immediately that Markus had a great chance to make it to Oberstdorf.”
Though many more videos followed by lots of talented riders, the young Italian’s effort still stood strong at the end. When the lad from Southern Tyrol finally arrived among the knights, he was stoked: “It is great to
have the chance to ride with all those guys on such a great obstacle.”
Markus didn’t show any signs of hesitation in the presence of his famous peers and the impressive jump. In fact, he was one of the leading protagonists throughout the week of Nine Knights, performing incredibly well on the kicker and being the first to check in the intimidating jib obstacles like the several meters high
rainbow box in the shape of an axe and the massive wallride. His audacity finally earned him the
title “Best Jibbing“ at Nine Knights.
Markus Eder’s most shining day was still to come, however. It was the final day of Nine Knights, when the official big air contest went down in front of a big crowd up on Nebelhorn. 16 invited riders jammed the 22-meter-kicker for 90 minutes, before the five finalists were announced.
Markus Eder were given three more runs to surpass his co-chosen competitors, Bene Mayr from Germany, Austrian Luggi Brucic, Swedish shooting star Kristoffer Edwall and Paddy Graham from Great Britain. And he did! With two great tricks in his first two jumps, a Kangaroo Flip Japan and Double Cork 1260° High Mute, he even could afford to show another crowd-pleasing wall ride at last and still take home the title. What a great victory and the start to a very promising career on the highest international level. It will be interesting to see Markus Eder return within freeskiing’s top class next season.