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Norwegian Rider Lands World’s First Switch Backside Quad 1620

Originally posted on SNOWBOARDER | By Josh Sullivan | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 2:27 PM ET

If you’re a spin-to-win hater, you might want to just move on to the next story.

Norwegian snowboarder Oyvind Kirkhus landed the world’s first switch backside quad 1620 at the Swatch Nines. For those keeping score at home, that means he went into the jump switch, spun backside, did four flips in the air, then landed regular.

“It felt unreal riding away from it,” he told Reuters. “I was in disbelief when I was riding away. I didn’t think I’d actually manage to do it, but I did it.”

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The Swatch Nines were held at Schilthorn Piz Gloria, which is part of the Jungfrau ski region in Switzerland. The event combines the top skiers and snowboarders together to help unleash progression and self-expression. Mia Brookes, Patti Zhou, and LJ Henriquez are among some of the riders in attendance.

Kirkhus is a member of Burton’s European team. He got his start in snowboarding by working as a lifty at an indoor snow dome in Norway. He’s competed at DIYX and Rock a Rail, as well as the FIS World Championships in big air and slopestyle. Kirkhus had a fifth-place finish at the Kreischberg Big Air contest back in January.

This article first appeared on SNOWBOARDER and was syndicated with permission.

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