[VIDEO] Elite Freeskiers Converge on Denmark’s Waste Powerplant Ski Slope for 3rd Annual Scandinavian Team Battle

For the third consecutive year, freestyle skiing elites gathered on Denmark’s CopenHill, the innovative waste-to-energy power plant, for the Scandinavian Team Battle. CopenHill is an artificial 1,500 feet ski slope built on the roof of Amager Bakke, a waste-to-energy (WTE) power plant in Copenhagen.

The annual contest attracts teams from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK. They compete on the iconic slope, which concludes with a snow park, adding a unique twist to traditional skiing competitions.

Jakob Ebskamp, CopenHill’s Marketing Manager, celebrated this year’s event as the “biggest CopenHill has ever organized.”

The competition format includes teams of two from each country, each aiming to captivate the audience and judges with a diverse and challenging array of tricks. Favorable weather, open access to the slope for spectators, and smooth event organization contributed to a high turnout.

The Swedish pair Emil Granbom and Jesper Tjäder once again dominated the event, clinching their third consecutive victory in the Scandinavian Team Battle. Team Denmark leveraged its home advantage, with Isabella Tvede, the only female competitor, demonstrating her prowess on the rails. Jakob Ebskamp was the sole participant to conquer the challenging gap to the down-tube switch.

Team UK’s duo Chris McCormick and Felix Klein impressed with synchronized blind 630s out of the big cannon, while Team Switzerland secured third place, highlighted by Nicola Bolinger’s speedy descent. Team Norway claimed second place with standout performances from first-time dry-slope skier Robert Ruud and fellow Norwegian Johan Berg, who nailed an impressive cork 450 out of the cannon tube.

CopenHill offers varied skiing experiences with its green, blue, red, and black pitches, the red being equivalent to North America’s blue-black slopes. Skiers can access the hilltop via three magic carpets and a T-bar. The year-round ski facility, covered in synthetic bristles, is known as a dry ski slope, popular in snow-scarce European regions. With Denmark’s highest vertical drop of 250 feet (75 meters), CopenHill provides a thrilling ski experience. Additionally, an 280 foot (85-meter) climbing wall graces Amager Bakker’s exterior for non-skiers.

The power plant is central to the city’s ambitious goal to become the world’s first zero-carbon metropolis by 2025. To maximize its efficiency and to mitigate any potential controversy over its city-center location, authorities innovatively dual-purposed the facility as a recreational hub, featuring the artificial ski slope and climbing wall.