Sweden's Simon Ax wowed 2500 fans with a silky smooth cab 900 under sun drenched Mt. Bachelor skies Sunday to win the Paul Mitchell Progression Session Big Air. The win was Ax's second consecutive on the season, fourth podium finish and secured the 20-year-old the World Cup Big Air title.

"I always ride best when it's sunny and there's a lot of fans for support," said Ax, who flies to Italy Monday, where he will compete in the World Cup Finals on the 2006 Olympic mountain. "The crew did a great job shaping the kicker between runs and the lip held up well despite the warm weather - I really didn't expect to win today because everyone was riding so good."

Also making the final cut of 10 was U.S. riders Brent Meyer (Wheaton, IL), Nik Batko (Minneapolis, MN) and Nate Farrell (Dorset, VT) who finished 6-7-9 respectively.

"I drove all the way out here, eight hours by myself from Tahoe to compete in this event," said Batko, who is coming off a win on his 21st birthday from the Chevrolet Slopestyle Exhibition at the final U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix stop in New Jersey. "You couldn't have asked for better weather, the kicker was so nice and the landing was super soft - it was perfect."

Rounding out the podium was Austrian Florian Mausser and Andreas Jakobsson of Sweden, each stomping their own respective cab nines, but it was the combination of Ax's cab nine with a huge switch backside 720 off the 15 foot tall kicker and over the 40 foot gap that secured the win.

"I was so nervous after my last trick because I had to wait and watch the scoreboard for Florian's score," said Ax who scored 51.9 points in the best two of three jump format. "Now I couldn't be happier, I was really hoping to get the World Cup Crystal Globe and now it looks like I have it."

On a weekend that saw every weather condition from blasting snow and wind to frigid temps and perfect blue bird skies, the Paul Mitchell Progression Session wrapped up an outstanding weekend of World Cup action from Mt. Bachelor.

"It's great to not only see all of these counties represented with 140 riders from all over the world, but I'm excited that we were able to cap the weekend with a huge raucous crowd and perfect weather for the Big Air. This was really the right way to send the World Cup off to Italy," said Mt. Bachelor Communications Manager Chris Johnston.

FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Big Air Finals

1. Simon Ax, Sweden, 51.9
2. Florian Mausser, Austria, 49.5
3. Andreas Jakobsson, Sweden, 48.1
4. Neil Connolly, Canada, 46.6
5. Petek Matevz, Slovenia, 45.0

6. Brent Meyer, Wheaton, Ill., 36.9
7. Nik Batko, Minneapolis, Minn., 36.5
9. Nate Farrell, Dorset, Vt., 31.2

— Courtesy, US Snowboard Team