Author: Birgit

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

THE ULTIMATE PRE-SEASON TRAINING EXPERIENCE – WORLD ROOKIE CAMP HINTERTUX

Are you ready to start your winter season with a bang? The World Rookie Camp Hintertux, taking place from 13th to 17th November 2024 at the picturesque Hintertux Glacier in Austria, is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Hosted by Ästhetiker and the World Snowboard Federation, this camp is open to freestylers of all levels, offering professional coaching, incredible park and pipe conditions, and a variety of lifestyle activities. This camp is the ultimate pre-season training experience!

 

The World Rookie Camp Hintertux is the ideal way to prepare for the new winter season, including the World Rookie Tour events with top-level competitions for both snowboard and freeski. Whether you’re a beginner eager to learn the basics or a more experienced rider aiming to sharpen your skills before the big competitions, this week offers you best pre-season training opportunities.

 

The camp includes training sessions in halfpipe and slopestyle, as well as a video contest where participants can win a spot for the World Rookie Finals. Riders will also get a taste of the snowboarding lifestyle through activities like a photo-shoot at the spectactur Nature Ice Palace and trampolining at Kaboom Hall Kaltenbach. The camp ensures that participants leave fully prepared for another intense competition winter.

 

Film crews and photographers will capture every moment, so you’ll have professional footage of your best runs, ready to share through your channels or use for training.

 

More about the camp packages and prices. 

Register for the camp.

 

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Thomas “Beckna” Eberharter

Categories
Events News WSPL

HELLO SNOW LEAGUE! WELCOME TO THE WSF.

The WSF is proud to welcome Shaun White’s “Snow League” as its newest member. Launched in June 2024, The Snow League is the first professional winter sports league entirely dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing. Founded by three-time Olympic gold medal winning snowboarder and entrepreneur Shaun White, the league’s first season will feature a four-event global competition format, with the inaugural competition kicking off at Aspen Snowmass’ Buttermilk Mountain on March 7-8, 2025 and continuing at top winter resorts worldwide.

 

White hopes The Snow League’s format will allow fans around the world to follow athletes throughout the season, where they can discover new superstars, underdogs, and fierce rivalries in the world of snowboarding and freeskiing. White, drawing from his own experiences, hopes to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes by creating a platform that highlights their skills and stories.

 

 

How will athletes be chosen?

The Snow League’s snowboarding field will be made up of the top 20 men and 16 women in the world. Riders will be chosen using a modified ranking from the World Snowboard Points List. The WSPL is the definitive universal, transparent and fair ranking system for competitive snowboarding globally.

 

Shaun White says the following about joining the WSF: “We are grateful that the WSF has recognized The Snow League as an official member and that all Snow League events will be included on the WSPL. The WSPL is the truest representation of global snowboarding events, recognizing the best riders in the world. With their help, The Snow League will identify top talent and the next generation of rising stars and provide a clear and transparent pathway into The Snow League.”

 

Competition and Season Format

 

The competition structure and format will be different than what has been seen before. The Snow League is the first ever competitive platform where the world’s elite athletes can compete consistently throughout the year and season over season. The first season will feature men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe competitions at all four events. Freeskiing will be introduced during the league’s second event in late 2025, and will be included in all future events.

 

The league’s structure, including a points-based ranking system and head-to-head championships, ensures a competitive and engaging experience for both participants and spectators.

 

A prize purse will be awarded at each event. Athletes will also earn points for their results, which will be cumulative at the end of the season where an additional prize purse will be distributed to the league’s top finishers. The total prize purse for the first season will be at least $1.5 million, representing the richest prize purse in both sports.

 

The snowboarding competition will include a training day and two days of competition with innovative formats:

 

●  Day 1: Training day

●  Day 2: Qualifying day – 20 men and 16 women will be seeded into four qualifying heats, each with abest of two run format. The top qualifier from each heat will advance to championship day. The next two best scores from each heat will also earn a chance to compete for the last four championship spots in another heat using an additional best of two run format.

● Day 3: Championship day – 8 men and 8 women move on to championship day which features a head-to-head bracket format, seeded from qualifying day with quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals rounds. A rider must win two of three runs to advance to the next round in the bracket.

 

Follow Snow League.

 

 

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Snow League/Dawsy

Categories
News WSPL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAAX OPEN

Ten years of LAAX OPEN is what the Flims-Laax-Falera destination will be ringing in the New 2025 Year with.

Although the history goes back to the 1980s, the LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando, has now established itself as a globally unique freestyle event, cohesive with all facets of freestyle culture, perfectly integrated and therefore, perfect as a whole — from the short distances to the perfectly shaped contest locations, to the views at Crap Sogn Gion, the sustainable accommodations, the party locations, live stage, superpipe, slopestyle, snow parks, slopes and parks! This harmonious festival, where the audience is just as happy as the pro riders and artists is where everyone is welcome, and it will be on show from 14-18 January 2025, taking place for the 10th time in a row.

With its dedicated crew, LAAX provides the basis for all of this and is delighted to welcome guests and participants to celebrating its 10th birthday anniversary, together.

LAAX OPEN packages for the highlight days are now available online at laax.com/open.

 

Photo-Credits: (c) LAAX OPEN, Stadler, Lämmerhirt

Categories
News WSF Team

THE WSF IS HIRING: APPLY NOW FOR THE OFFICE MANAGER POSITION

You are looking for a job that combines your passion for snowboarding and gives you the opportunity to live in the heart of the Alps? Apply for the Office Manager position now.

Find the job description below or download it here: WSF Office Manager

 

OFFICE MANAGER (Geschäftsstellenleiter)

(Innsbruck, Austria)

About the World Snowboard Federation (WSF)

The WSF is the world umbrella organization for snowboarding with a membership comprising 48 national snowboard associations and promoters of snowboard events across the globe. The WSF is the international authority for grassroots and development of snowboarding. It offers guidance, tools and initiatives to increase the participation of snowboarding at all levels, focusing on health, youth, education and inclusion.

What does it mean to be a WSF Officer Manager?
  • to be a part of an enthusiastic team;
  • to build and navigate in an international network of snowboard and sport passionates;
  • to represent the WSF in various events and activities;
  • to lead the WSF Headquarters in Innsbruck
  • to support the leadership to make visions perceptible
  • to work from the WSF office in Innsbruck, at the heart of the Austrian Alps with flexible time & location arrangements.

Please note that this is a part position (20 hours a week) located in Innsbruck, Austria that includes participation in activities abroad, mostly in Europe. The office manager salary depends on the federal regulations. The position is expected to start on the 1st of September 2024.

What is expected from a WSF office manager?

In this position, the WSF Office Manager leads the WSF Headquarters in Innsbruck. The WSF HQ manages the day-to-day business of the Federation. It supports, plans and implements the visions and missions of the WSF leadership and manages the federations business activities. The main tasks are the following:

  • Lead the WSF HQ;
  • Membership management and administration (applications, information to/from BoD/Members)
  • Administration and Finance management (accounting, payments and invoicing and budget control, payroll, contracts administration and insurance)
  • Work closely with the President, Vice-President Finance and General Secretary
  • Coordination of other administrative staff
  • All preparation for GA / annual reports / presentation / logistics etc – procedures
  • Bookings and organization of meetings (for BOD meeting and for WSF GA)
  • Visits to NSAs / other meetings / presentations to be done
  • Identification of meaningful international partners, preparation of MoU and maintaining relationships overtime
  • Project Management of key WSF activities
  • Other related tasks.
Qualifications and skills needed:
  • Excellent written and oral English and German;
  • Knowledge and experience in international project management
  • Strong administrative and time management skills;
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
  • Knowledge in the fields of sport or international federation management ;
  • Experience in snowboarding would be valuable assets
Application:

Deadline:  1st of August 2024

Application process: CV and cover letter (no more than 500 words) should be submitted to office@worldsnowboardfederation.org

Applicants selected for interview will be contacted shortly after the application period.

 

Categories
News WSF Team

WSF TECHNICAL MEETINGS 2024 IN ZURICH ARE COMING UP

Here comes everything you need to know about the upcoming WSF Technical Meetings in Zurich (SUI) from September 21st – 23rd. We hope to catch up with many of you in person. Get ready together with us for the upcoming winter season.

Please register here as soon as possible: Registration WSF Technical Meetings 2024

Dates: September 21-23, 2024

Location: Hotel Allegra, Kloten, Zurich

Agenda WSF Technical Meetings 2024

Saturday, 21.09. 
9:00 – 11:00: ExCom Meeting (closed Meeting)
11:00 – 12:30: Board Meeting + Staff (closed meeting)
12:30 – 14:00: Lunchbreak
14:00 – 14:15: Welcome (President)
14:15 – 14:30: Agenda + General Instructions (General Secretary)
14:30 – 15:00: Outlook Communications (Communications Team)
15:00 – 15:15: Outlook Operations (Office Team)
15:15 – 15:30: Coffee break
15:30 – 15:40: Presidents outlook (President)
15:40 – 15:50: GS’s outlook (General Secretary)
15:50 – 16:00: VP Finance outlook (VP Finance)
16:00 – 16:10: VP Sport Dev. Outlook (VP Sports Dev.)
16:10 – 16:20: VP Youth Competitive (VP Youth Competitive)
16:20 – 16:30: VP Grassroots (VP Grassroots)
19:00: Zurich City Tour & Common Swiss Dinner

Sunday, 22.09.
9:00 – 12:00: Workshop Youth Competitive (Events & Ranks) with Denis Giger (VP YC)
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch break
13:00 – 14:00: Workshop digital challenges with Dominic Kuhn (President)
14.15 – 15:45: Workshop Grassroots Activity’s with Meinhard Trojer (VP Grassroots)
16.15 – 18:00: Workshop E+ with Ivana (E+ Manager)

Monday, 23.09.
10:00 – 13:00: boat trip Zurichsee
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch @ clubhouse
14:00 – 20:00: Meet & Greet with BBQ @ boathouse

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Andreas Amplatz

Categories
Events News

LEGENDS WORLD TOUR CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL PREMIERE SEASON

The first ever Legends World Tour (LWT) was a big hit, in Vermont, USA, Soda Springs, California USA, and Stuben, Austria. News has reached the Southern Hemisphere and there is a request to expand the tour next year.

 

Uber Legend Paul Graves: “The time has arrived where snowboarding Legends and Pioneers are finally getting an opportunity to return to slopes worldwide to interact with fans as well as compete again!  With multiple events in the USA, Europe, Japan, Australia and South America slated for the 2024-25 season there will be various opportunities to participate.”

 

Keith Kimmel and Laurie Asperas were the first legends riders to have attended all tour stops.  Here’s what they said: “You really get to experience the birth of snowboarding at its grassroots best when you go to an iconic legends event”, said Laurie Asperas, “I went to all three stops and can appreciate the cultural value of each stop on the tour. All the stops were unique in the terrain, how they competed and celebrated the sport. Competing on a world tour motivated me to train, try new technologies, and rethink what it means to be a competitor. I’m 62 this year and stoked more than ever”. As Keith Kimmel puts it: “It’s amazing to see all the cultural icons of snowboarding throughout the world, to unite as a community and appreciate the sport we all helped to create.  To feel the spirit of competition and comradery amongst longtime friends”.

 

 

Spreading the love and sharing the stories in person seems to have inspired movement in the global legends community. Riders who discovered the existence of the LWT have expressed a desire to participate in other events on the tour so that they can re-live the old times, visit the early competition sites, see old friends, meet their families, make new friends and envision the future of Legends Snowboarding.

 

A great big thank you to Paul Graves, Micheal Chantry, Dani Kiwi Meier, Paul Gruber, the WSF and legends riders for supporting this movement and providing the opportunity for innovation in a growing demographic- The Legends Rider!!! The LWT is truly one of the next steps in snowboarding.

 

Overall legends Legends World Tour Results

1st Laurie Asperas USA 280 points

2nd Keith Kimmel USA 230 points

3rd  Place tie 100 points

Solomon Arthur USA

Tom Burt USA

Scott Downey USA

Ruthie Goepel Canada

Steve Hayes USA

Amy Herman USA

Chriss Molello USA

 

 

For more details on individual Tour stops and results please visit legendsworldtour.com. 

 

 

Photo-Credits : (c) Sam Oetiker, Longboard Classic Stuben & Laurie Asperas

Author: Laurie Asperas

Categories
Events News WSPL

ZILLERTAL VÄLLEY RÄLLEY ANNOUNCES TOUR DATES FOR 2024/25

One of the most popular snowboard tour for young up-and-coming athletes from all over Europe celebrated its 11th anniversary last winter with four tour stops in the Zillertal, Tyrol/Austria. After three exciting competitions in Hochzillertal-Kaltenbach, in the Zillertal Arena and in Mountopolis Mayrhofen-Hippach, the overall tour winners were crowned the new ‘Kings & Queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY’ at the last Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop on the Hintertux Glacier. Cheers to the new Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY royal family:

 

Open Class: Queen: Adèle Vankerschaver (POR), King: Petr Ershov (RUS)

Rookies (U 18): Queen: Kristina Holzfeind (AUT), King: Roahan Duncan (GBR)

Groms (U 16) Queen: Livia Schatzer (AUT), King: Dymtro Luchkin (UKR)

Super Groms (U12) Queen: Adèle Vankerschaver (POR), King: Gustav Nawarkiewicz-Wiśniewski (POL)

 

“We would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s VÄLLEY RÄLLEY here in the Zillertal,” says Ronald Felder, Managing Director of Zillertal Tourismus GmbH, title sponsor and main supporter of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY. “It is always a great pleasure to have so many upcoming talents here in the valley. That’s why we’re really looking forward to the start of the 2024/2025 tour in December and wish the participants every success and all the best.”

 

Zillertal Välley Rälley tour stops 2024/25:

 

1st tour stop 21-22 December 2024 Hochzillertal-Kaltenbach, First Holiday Region in the Zillertal

2nd tour stop 25-26 January 2025 Zillertal Arena, Actionpark Kreuzwiese

3rd tour stop 08-09 March 2025 Mountopolis, Penken Park Mayrhofen, Mayrhofen-Hippach in Zillertal

4th tour stop 03-04 May 2025 Hintertux Glacier, Betterpark Hintertux, Tux-Finkenberg

 

 

About the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY hosted by Blue Tomato: Eleven years of Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY under the auspices of the snowboard club ‘Die Ästhetiker.’ What began as a small, local snowboard tour is now one of the leading snowboard events in Europe. The Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY offers young athletes a platform to test their skills against their peers. Today, the snowboard tour serves many young snowboarders as a springboard into international professional sport. The competitions are held in the Olympic discipline ‘Snowboard Slopestyle’ and are linked to the international points systems of the ‘World Snowboard Point List’ and ‘World Rookie Ranking’. In addition, young people under the age of 18 have the chance to win a coveted wildcard for the World Rookie Tour Finals every year. All tour stops also count as Austria Cups of the Austrian Snowboard Association.

 

Special thanks to our partners for their support of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY:

First and foremost, thanks go to Zillertal Tourismus GmbH and the Zillertal tourism associations, Bergbahnen Hochzillertal-Kaltenbach, Zillertal Arena, Mayrhofner Bergbahnen and Hintertux Glacier, as well as the event host Blue Tomato. Red Bull, Horsefeathers, the World Snowboard Federation (WSF), the Austrian Snowboard Federation (ASA) and the World Rookie Tour (WRT) have also contributed to the long-term success of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY.

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Gustav Hersmann

Categories
News

COUNCIL OF EUROPE: WSF JOINS THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON SPORT (EPAS)

The WSF is very honoured to be part of EPAS: Following a decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 29 May 2024, the World Snowboard Federation, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Rugby Europe have joined the Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), bringing the total amount of members to 30.

Dominic Kuhn, president of the WSF, states: „I am very much looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport. By having a voice in the European sports movement, we will use the dialogue between public authorities, sports federations, and NGOs to make our sport more ethical, more inclusive and safer. Not just in Europe – this will hopefully also have a global impact.”

As members of the Consultative Committee these three sports federations will be, together with 27 other organisations, in a privileged position to contribute to the work of EPAS, fostering dialogue between the members of sports organisations and public authorities.

The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport is composed of three statutory bodies – the Governing Board, the Consultative Committee and the Statutory Committee – all of which strive to implement the programme of activities aimed at making sport more ethical, inclusive and safe. The Consultative Committee is composed of European sport organisations representing the grassroots sports movement and wider, including international federations, sports bodies, etc.

 

 

What is EPAS?

The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) provides a platform for intergovernmental co-operation. It facilitates dialogue between governmental representatives, the sports movement, other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), athletes, coaches and referees, corporate business and local authorities.

EPAS puts its know-how at the disposal of member states, sports organisations and NGOs to help them develop their policies and practices with the aim of making sport more ethical, more inclusive and safer.

EPAS promotes a multi-stakeholder approach to sport. Recognising the value of such an approach, the European Sports Charter (ESC) actively encourages the development of multi-sectoral partnerships and the leveraging of multi- stakeholder platforms to implement initiatives and policies.

 

What does EPAS do?

Develops policies (e.g. on safe sport) and international standards, such as the ESC, and supports their implementation.

Facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogue by offering platforms for discussion and helps with capacity- building and the exchange of good practices.

Organises Conferences of Ministers responsible for Sport to discuss and decide on important sport-related issues.

Organises thematic conferences and seminars on various subjects concerning sport.

Publishes handbooks, guidelines and research papers on sport and sport policy making.

More information.

Photo-Credit: (c) Council of Europe

Categories
Grassroots Projects News ZERO

WSF ZERO PARTNERS GATHER IN INNSBRUCK FOR THE THIRD IN-PERSON MEETING

From May 27 – 29, 2024 POW Europe hosted the third in-person meeting for all 11 ZERO project partners in Innsbruck to discuss the status quo and to kick off the 2nd year of the Erasmus+ project.

ZERO stands for “Zero Emission Rides Objectives” and is aiming to develop innovative practices of grassroot snowboarding to increase accessibility and participation of young people in sport activities while empowering them in the fight against climate change towards “zero emission rides”.

The time was well spent with updates on the past year including the “Report on Sustainability” or the “Collection of Best Practices”.  The German Sport University Cologne delivered their analysis of the sustainability survey which was answered by kids all over Europe to find out how much awareness they have for all topics related to the environment and what actions they take in their day-to-day life. POW Europe presented an overview of the workshop for kids held across Europe in collaboration with the respective project partners. The learnings from year 1 will now be integrated to make the workshop experience in year 2 even better for all participants.

One day was spent hiking above Innsbruck for a creative brainstorming session for the upcoming deliverables including a downloadable board game which is planned for the upcoming winter season.

Follow the WSF channels for regular updates on the status quo and find out more about ZERO here.

Categories
Events News WSPL

ZILLERTAL VÄLLEY RÄLLEY 2024 KINGS AND QUEENS ARE CROWNED

Crowning of the overall tour winners on the Hintertux Glacier in Tux-Finkenberg: 27-28 April 2024

 

On 27 and 28 April 2024, the fourth and final Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop 2023/2024 hosted by Blue Tomato took place on the Hintertux Glacier. Over sixty snowboarders didn’t miss out on the last event of this year’s snowboard tour. In addition to the winners of the day, the overall tour winners for 2023/2024 were crowned the new kings and queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY in Tux-Finkenberg. Petr Ershov from Russia and Adèle Vankerschaver from Portugal both took the overall victory of this year’s Zillertal grassroots Snowboard Tour.

 

Just in time for the last Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop, Betterpark Hintertux got ready with its XXL set-up. Wille Kaufmann and his Betterpark shape team had conjured up a versatile setup for all age groups and skill levels for the 4th tour stop of the popular snowboard amateur series, in which the youngest participants were 4 years old. On Saturday, the young snowboarders showed off their best tricks at the Ästhetiker Rail Jam in the Betterpark Hintertux. The winners of the day were Livia Schatzer (AUT) and Dmytro Luchkin (UKR), who both took 1st place and the coveted Ästhetiker Style Award.

 

Due to the strong foehn storm, the slopestyle competition on Sunday could not take place as planned in the Betterpark Hintertux. Instead, there was plenty of fun and many happy award winners at the Ästhetiker Side Hip Session on the Sommerberg. ‘The weather on the glacier is sometimes unpredictable,’ explains Pia Schroeter, organiser from the Ästhetiker crew. ‘When it became clear that we wouldn’t be able to hold the slopestyle contest as planned, our team quickly came up with a great alternative. After all, all the participants, including the coaches and parents, had a lot of fun snowboarding together without the pressure of competition. And that’s what really matters in the end.’ Rudi Kröll, Production Manager and Managing Director of the Ästhetiker Crew, adds: ‘Everyone helped to shape the side hip on the Sommerberg and it was an amazing end to the season of this year’s Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY for all riders.’

 

The award for best male snowboarder went to Petr Ershov (RUS). In the ladies’ category, Adèle Vankerschaver (POR) was delighted to receive the award for best female rider. Ladislav Hrska (CZE) was honoured as the best coach in the side hip session by the Ästhetiker judges. Matyas Krejci (CZE) earned the best trick in the Grom (U16) category and Riley Sharpe (GBR) won the ‘Best Grom’ award. Finally, Niko Lemark (SLO) took the title for his ‘Highest Air’.

 

 

After the competition, the overall tour winners were crowned the new Kings and Queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY 2023/2024 based on the results of the first three tour stops. Congratulations to the happy winners:

 

Open Class:
Queen: Adèle Vankerschaver (POR)
King: Petr Ershov (RUS)

 

Rookies (U 18):
Queen: Kristina Holzfeind (AUT)
King: Roahan Duncan (GBR)

 

Groms (U 16):
Queen: Livia Schatzer (AUT)
King: Dymtro Luchkin (UKR)

Super Groms (U12) Queen:
Adèle Vankerschaver (POR)
King: Gustav Nawarkiewicz-Wiśniewski (POL)

 

The complete results and rankings of the last tour stop as well as overall tour rankings, videos and photo galleries can be found at https://valleyralley.at/results/season-23-24/

 

 

Ines Eberl and Lena Kuhlkamp from Hintertux Glacier Marketing agree: ‘It is a pleasure for us to see how much enthusiasm and ambition the young athletes put into their sport, regardless of the wind and weather. It makes us very proud to be able to make a contribution to youth development and to be ‘part of the game’.’

 

Betterpark Hintertux will remain open until 2 June 2024 for freestyle winter sports enthusiasts with its XXL setup and will be shaped daily. All information on current opening times can be found at https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/de/betterpark-hintertux/

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Adrian Formella