Just 2 weeks before the VW Big Air in Antwerp, my trainer mailed me that I was on the list for competing in Antwerp. Which made me nervous and stoked at the same time. It was going to be my first World Cup Big Air ever. Antwerp was the perfect start for riding Big Airs. What made me stoked as well was that I just got my new bindings before the Big Air. So on the 9th of November I drove to Antwerp. Took me like 1 hour to get there. Arriving at the Big air was really impressive. It’s such a big structure. The nervs were coming up by seeing the Big Air and to imagine to stand on top that night. I prepared myself and got al my stuff together and walked to the venue. It started to get dark when the training started. Lights turned on and the first one was ready to drop. I looked at a couple rides going down the Big Air. It looked really smooth and I was really nervous. Than I got over it and strapped in. Roope Tonteri dropped before me so I looked at his speed. Than it was up to me. Sliding down 2 meter and than I pointed my board straight down. Going through the transition and it felt really good and landed sweet spot. After one more straight air I felt comfortble enough to spin. First I did a FS 3 and after that a FS 7. The training was over. I did watch the battle between Belgium and Holland after my training and went to the hotel to sleep. I woke up the next morning and it was raining. Rocco had to qualify in the first heat. Joris, Jesper and me were in the second heat. I got a good breakfast and packed my stuff and walked to the venue to see Rocco riding. He fell on both his runs. Than it was my turn to show what I’ve got. I was really cool to stand on top with all the people screaming for you. I dropped in and did a FS 7 Tailgrab as my first run. Stomping it and getting an 58 as score. Not that high but it was good for 12th place after run 1 in my heat. I went up again. Looking at al the other riders who were riding really strong and consistent. It was my turn again. Dropped in and did a FS 10 Melon. Not a real clean landing. That was a bummer but still I was happy about my riding at the first Big Air ever. Really stoked. Which got me in 16th place in my heat. Joris did really good and made the semi finals. He did good in semi finals as well so he was in the finals. Fell on his first run doing a BS 10 double cork. But landed that on his second run. In his last run he tried a FS 10.
On Sunday we traveled to Landgraaf for the Europe cup on Wednesday. I took a day to rest. Monday was the first official training. The course was looking really nice. 2 kickers and 3 rails in one run. I was feeling the course right away so started to think about my run. Did the same on Tuesday. On Wednesday it was on! Did my first run with Cab 5 Mute, Fs 7 Melon, Fs 270 gap, Back lip and ending with a fs lip 270 out. Got the first place after run one so that promised alot. My second run was Bs 7 Indy, Fs 7 Melon, Fs 270 gap, Back lip and ending up falling on the last box which sucked alot. I got in to the finals.
There I did those same 2 runs ending up on the 8th place. Big up to Jesper Kicken for winning and Joris Ouwerkerk for getting second and to al the other dutch guys who made me proud to be dutchie.
For Thursday till Saturday we still trained on the EC Slope. And had fitness training, meetings and al kind of other cool stuff.
I would like to thank: Audi, Europeeshe verzekeringen, Lotto, Flow Snowboards, Monster Energy Drink, 686 Outerwear, Frends Headphones, BigAirBag, Pow Gloves, Nxtz and last but not least Adidas Eyewear for making this al possible.
Aston Egelmeers 
