Author: Birgit

Zillertal Välley Rälley 2024/25 is a wrap – overall tour winners crowned in Hintertux

Post author By Birgit
Post date May 13, 2025

Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY hosted by Blue Tomato 4th stage – Crowning of the overall tour winners at Hintertux Glacier in Tux-Finkenberg: 03-04 May 2025

The grand final of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY 2024/2025 hosted by Blue Tomato took place at Hintertux Glacier in the beginning of May with the 4th and final tour event. Young snowboarders from all over Europe had travelled to Tux-Finkenberg for the last contest of the season and crowning of the overall tour winners.

Oliver Štastný from Czech Republic and Marie Kuhlmann from Team Germany ultimately took the overall victory of this year’s Zillertal snowboard Amateur Series, which was held in the Olympic discipline ‘Snowboard Slopestyle’ at Betterpark Hintertux on May 3rd and 4th 2025.

Just in time for the final Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY event, Betterpark Hintertux started into the spring season with a large setup at the bottom of the impressive Olperer mountain on Hintertux Glacier. Wille Kaufmann and his Betterparks shape team had conjured up a versatile setup for all ages and skill levels for the 4th stage of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY. On Saturday, 3rd of May 2025, over fifty ambitious snowboarders showed up to show off their best tricks on Betterparks´ medium line at the last Slopestyle competition of the season.

Enzo Valax (FRA) and Marie Kuhlmann (GER) were both delighted with their 1st place in the open class. Enzo also saved himself the highly coveted Horsefeathers Best Trick Award with a sensational ‘SW BS 900’, while Marie claimed another gold medal in her own age category (Grom Girls). In the Rookie category (U18), Anna Tomanova (CZE) and Dima Luchkin (UKR) delivered the best performances, earning themselves the win. Aris Kyriazis (GER) won the Grom Boys (U16) competition, while Klaudie Pouchova (CZE) and Riley Sharpe (GBR) both took victory for their solid performances in the youngest age group of Super Groms (U12).

The results of the 4th and final VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop in Hintertux finally also determined the overall tour leaders. The lucky winners were crowned the new Kings and Queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY 2024/2025 at the festive conclusion of another successful snowboard event series. Congratulations to the new winners:

Open Class:

Queen: Marie Kuhlmann (GER) – King: Oliver Šťastný (CZE)

Rookies (U 18)

Queen: Anna Tomanova (CZE) – King: Oliver Šťastný (CZE)

Groms (U 16)

Queen: Marie Kuhlmann (GER) – King: Aris Kyriazis (GER)

Super Groms (U 12)

Queen: Klaudie Pouchova (CZE) – King: Riley Sharpe (GBR)

For full results and rankings of the last tour stop and the overall tour rankings, videos and photo galleries head here.

Ines Eberl from Marketing at Hintertux Glacier was delighted with the successful event: ‘It’s a pleasure for us to see how much enthusiasm and ambition the young athletes have for their sport and we are very proud to be able to make a contribution to youth development by being part of the game.’

Sunday was all about the pleasure of snowboarding together. Motivated freestyle newcomers learned new tricks in small groups with the Ästhetiker coaches. Everyone was invited to get involved into the Ästhetiker Style Sessions and throw down their best style tricks. Among the girls, the overall winner´s little sister, Tilda Kuhlmann was delighted to receive a special award. Nunu Kunert (CZE) got rewarded the grom boys style award for his ‘Frontside 360 Tail’. And while Fabian Nehring (GER), participant since the 1st ever VÄLLEY RÄLLEY eleven years ago, came second with his stylish ‘JapÄn Air’, Niko Lemark (SLO) was delighted to win the overall Ästhetiker Style Award in the men’s category by throwing down a ‘Frontside 260 Lien.

’To finish of this year’s Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY in a perfect way, Tux-Finkenberg sponsored sausages and fries for everyone. What a season – it´s a wrap! A big shout out goes to the riders, coaches, parents, the Zillertal and all partners and sponsors of the Zillertal Välley Rälley tour stop at Hintertux: Zillertal Tourismus GmbH, Zillertaler Gletscherbahn with the Betterpark Hintertux, Tourismusverband Tux-Finkenberg, Blue Tomato, Red Bull, Horsefeathers, World Snowboard Federation (WSF), Austrian Snowboard Federation (ASA), World Rookie Tour (WRT), as well as Betterparks. at, Boardriding.com, x-aces.com and Freestyle Events Austria.

The Betterpark Hintertux will remain open until the 1st of June 2025 now. All information about actual conditions and opening hours.

All results, tour ranking, video and photo galleries.

Photo-Credits: (c) Adrian Formella

Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

Coming up: Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY final with crowning of the overall tour winners 2025

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 28, 2025

4^th stage and great Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY final with crowning of the overall tour winners at Betterpark Hintertux – Hintertux Glacier – Tux-Finkenberg going down from May 3rd to 4th, 2025.

The great Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour finals hosted by Blue Tomato will go down at Hintertux Glacier in Tux-Finkenberg on the first weekend of May. And just in time for the kick-off into the probably best freestyle season of the year, Betterpark Hintertux opens its gates with a great new setup on the 26^th of April 2025. With its unique combination of international snowboard slopestyle competitions, freestyle coachings and side events, the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY has become one of the leading grassroots contest series for snowboarders from all over Europe. In addition to the winners of the 4^th tour stop, the overall tour winners will be crowned new ‘Kings and Queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY’ in Hintertux. The Online registration for contest and coachings is now open until Thursday, 01 May 2025. Save your start spot and reach for the crown: https://valleyralley.at/

The infamous Betterpark Hintertux has woken from winter dormancy. With its popular XXL setup, the snowpark at the bottom of the ‘Olperer’ will ring in the spring season on April 26^th. The schedule of the 4^th and final Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop in the beginning of May includes a contest day and a training day, freestyle coachings and the popular Ästhetiker Style Session, where also non-contest-competitors can get involved.

On the contest day, snowboarders of all age groups will compete in their respective categories. Young talents will show off with their best freestyle tricks at the slopestyle contest on Betterpark´s medium line. As at all previous tour stops, the day’s winners will be awarded with plenty of medals, prize money and the last VÄLLEY RÄLLEY overall ranking points of the season. The best trick will be honoured with a special prize by Horsefeathers Clothing. Depending on the weather, the contest will take place on Saturday or Sunday. The organizers will announce the final schedule until Thursday before the event. During the contest, there might be restrictions on the medium line for non-participants.

With the last of four contest results, the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY overall tour winners will be set in Hintertux. The new Kings and Queens of the Zillertal VÄLLEY will be crowned the new ‘Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY royal family 2024/2025’ after the regular prize giving at Hintertux Glacier.

On top of all this, the contest participants will be collecting valuable points on the international World Snowboard Point List (WSPL). The tour stop counts as an ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association) Austria Cup and rookies (U18) will be credited extra points in the World Rookie Ranking. Don´t miss the last gathering of the Zillertal VÄLLEY Family in Hintertux and register now!

The partners of the 4th tour stop are:

Zillertal Tourism, the Zillertal Glacier Mountain Railway Company with Betterpark Hintertux, Tux-Finkenberg Tourism, Blue Tomato, Red Bull, Horsefeathers, the World Snowboard Federation (WSF), the Austrian Snowboard Federation (ASA) and World Rookie Tour (WRT) as well as Betterparks.at.

You haven´t saved your accommodation yet?

Then have a quick look at https://www.tux.at/ and https://www.zillertal.at/

All information about the age groups and registration can be found here: https://valleyralley.at/

Photo-Credit: (c) Gustav Hersmann, Matt McHattie

News

Learn to Freestyle with WSF Shred Queens & Kings

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 25, 2025

Get to know freestyle tricks with the WSF. Step by step, trick by trick, challenge by challenge.

We are proud to introduce WSF Shred Queens & Kings, an online training series hosted on the CHALL app. Even the season in the Northern Hemisphere is coming to an end, it’s always snowing somewhere! Be it on snow, in an indoor hall, on a dry slope, on a training setup in your room, you can participate from wherever you are in the world. Everyone is invited to join in, no matter your age or gender. Aiming at beginners, the series starts with basics like an Ollie and Nollie with increasing difficulty level challenge by challenge. The WSF is teaming up with Snowboard Addiction, who offer excellent training videos.

Get the CHALL app now to find out more about the first challenge, the Ollie Challenge.

WIN WIN WIN:

Next to Snowboard Addiction subscriptions for every participant (!), cool products are up for grabs, like Nidecker bindings for the first challenge and Snowboard Addiction training sets for the overall winner.

What is Shred Queens & Kings all about?

It is we an open-age and all-gender virtual training & competition video series of the World Snowboard Federation for a world-wide time-delay participation. The series focuses especially on the idea NOT to use a fixed setup on a snow park or any other constructions. The participants just need their snowboard and a little bit of snow under the board – in winter. The series is divided into a summer and a winter series. Each series will be composed of 4-6 challenges.

About CHALL:

“Chall is the go-to platform for digital challenges and competitions, designed to make it effortless for anyone to create, participate in, and share challenges across sports and beyond. We built Chall to empower individuals and organizations to engage their communities in a whole new way—fostering growth, motivation, and connection through competition. Our ambition is to become the leading global platform for structured and unstructured challenges, activating audiences across industries. Partnerships like the one with the World Snowboard Federation showcase how Chall can unite athletes worldwide, inspiring them to push their limits and elevate their performance.”

About Snowboard Addiction:

Snowboard Addiction exists to help you become the best snowboarder you can be.Through world-class snowboard tutorials and innovative training products, our mission is simple: to improve your riding.

17 Years Strong (and Counting) – More than just a business, Snowboard Addiction is a community of passionate snowboarders and industry professionals. Our strength comes from continuously innovating, improving, and most importantly—riding as much as possible. Everything we do revolves around making snowboarding more accessible, safer, and fun for riders everywhere.

Photo-Credit Header: (c) Snowboard Addiction

Events News WSF Team WSPL

Save the Dates: WSF Meetings 2025

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 24, 2025

A winter season packed with highlights and great events is coming to an end.

Therefore, we would love to invite you to join us online for our After Season Meeting end of June (28th). This is a 1 ½ hour online meeting open to everyone. All WSF members: please make sure to attend this online meeting and register for it.

We will gather again in person in September in Zurich (SUI) for the annual WSF Pre-Season Meeting from September 19 – 22, 2025. Please join us in person to catch up on all WSF related topics and to get ready for the new winter season. Find out more about the latest updates reg. WSPL, WRR and the calendar and final shape of standards & rules. The pre-season meeting is open to anyone interested in the status quo of independent snowboarding and the WSF efforts. Federations, event organizers, riders and brands are all welcome.

Mark both dates in your calendar already and please register for the After Season Meeting, see link below.

WSF After Season Meeting 2024/25:
Date: Saturday, June 28^th, 2025
Time: 4 – 5:30 pm CET – Online
Please register online for the meeting here.
A link will be shared in time.

Block the dates:

WSF Pre-Season Meeting 2025/26:
Date: Friday, 19.09. – Monday, 22.09.25
Place: Zurich, Kloten (SUI)
Format: In-Person

Photo-Credits: (c) Andreas Amplatz

Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

Spring vibes & rookie rides: World Rookie Camp Les Deux Alpes 2025

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 24, 2025

Spring vibes & rookie rides: World Rookie Camp Les Deux Alpes 2025 is back with snowboard & skateboarding from May 12th – 18th, 2025 in Les Deux Alpes, France.

The World Rookie Camp Les Deux Alpes 2025 is back for its third edition, ready to take over the French Alps from May 12th to 18th with a full week of snowboarding and skateboarding – packed with action, progression, and next-level fun for the next generation of riders.

The camp is open to snowboarders and skaters, offering daily sessions, coaching with experienced pros, and tons of extra activities to make this spring adventure truly unforgettable.

Snowboard: shred the glacier

Ride one of Europe’s top glaciers with a crew of international rookies! Enjoy perfect spring conditions and get coached while riding the exclusive Rookie Prime Line, with videographers capturing your best tricks. Whether you’re a beginner or aiming to level up, the setup is perfect for progression at the World Rookie Camp Les Deux Alpes 2025.

Skateboarding kicks off the summer tour

Skateboarding has always been part of the Les Deux Alpes camp, and 2025 is no different. Skaters will enjoy daily street sessions and also get the chance to take part in the French Fries Rookie Fest, the first qualifying stop of the World Rookie Tour Skateboard 2025. A unique comp where style meets fun, and winners earn their spot in the World Rookie Skateboard Finals 2025.

Doubles competition bonus

During the week, Les Deux Alpes will host two official World Rookie Tour competitions:

French Fries Rookie Fest – World Rookie Tour Skateboard 2025 qualifier.
Spring Rookie Fest – World Rookie Tour Snowboard 2026 qualifier.

The best skaters and snowboarders of the week will earn direct access to the respective World Rookie Finals, making this week not only super fun but also a huge opportunity for anyone chasing the dream.

More than a camp: a full-on experience

Beyond the riding, the camp includes swimming, laser tag, summer sledging, downhill biking, workshops, and community moments with rookies from all over the world. The most fun you can have is in the mountains.

Join!

If’re ready to push your limits, ride hard, and live an epic spring adventure, the World Rookie Camp Les Deux Alpes 2025 is calling your name.

Spots are limited – you can register at the following LINK

Photo-Credits: (c) French Fries Rookie Fest, French Kiss Rookie Fest

initative News ZERO

Empowering the Next Generation of Riders: The ZERO Climate Education Course

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 16, 2025

Curious about what climate change is? Curious about how it is affecting what we love most—Snowboarding and winter sports? Curious about what you can do about it? Then dive in to find out the answers to each of those questions and become a part of the solution.

In the face of a changing climate, knowledge is power—and action starts with education. That’s the mission behind the ZERO Climate Education Course, offered through the WSF Academy, a dynamic and accessible program designed to empower individuals, educators, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to address the climate crisis head-on. Available in seven languages.

What is the ZERO Climate Education Course?

The ZERO Climate Education Course is an online learning experience built to equip participants with a foundational understanding of the climate crisis and the skills to address it – an innovative, science-based curriculum aimed at fostering global climate literacy. Whether you’re a student, educator, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this course provides the foundation to understand the root causes of climate change—and more importantly, what we can do about it.

Key Features of the Course

Science-Based Curriculum: Learn the fundamentals of climate science, from greenhouse gas emissions and global warming to biodiversity loss and environmental justice.
Action-Oriented Learning: Go beyond the classroom with real-world strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy.
Global Perspective: Understand climate issues from both local and global contexts, helping to foster a sense of shared responsibility.
Interactive & Inclusive: With videos, quizzes, and reflective activities, the course encourages critical thinking and collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
Free and Accessible: True to the ZERO name, this course is free of charge — because climate education should be a right, not a privilege.

Who is it For?

ZERO is built for everyone. No prior expertise in climate science or environmental studies is required. It’s ideal for:

Secondary and post-secondary students
Teachers looking to integrate climate education into their classrooms
Professionals in any field aiming to become climate-conscious leaders
Anyone who wants to be part of the solution

What You’ll Learn

The course is structured around engaging, easy-to-follow modules that cover:

Climate Science Basics: Understand how climate systems work and the evidence behind human-caused climate change.
Global Impacts: Explore how climate change affects ecosystems, economies, and societies across the world.
Climate Justice: Delve into the social dimensions of the crisis—why it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and how we can build a fairer future.
Solutions and Action: Discover real-world solutions and how individuals, communities, and nations can take meaningful action.

Why ZERO Matters

This course isn’t just about facts—it’s about empowerment. ZERO is designed to spark critical thinking, inspire local and global action, and support a generation ready to tackle the biggest challenge of our time. As climate anxiety rises, education offers a hopeful, actionable path forward.

The climate crisis touches every part of our lives—and solving it requires all of us. Whether you’re just starting your climate journey or looking to deepen your understanding, the ZERO Climate Education Course is your gateway to becoming an informed, empowered climate advocate.

Enroll now for free: ZERO Climate Education Course

Photo-Credits: (c) Andreas Amplatz

Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

Coming up: Ursus Big Air at Madonna di Campiglio (ITA)

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 11, 2025

Ursus Big Air: the end-of-season contest you don’t want to miss.

From April 18 to 21, riders from all over will gather in Trentino to enjoy long, sunny days, golden sunsets, and take part in the most exciting end-of-season event of the year.

If there’s a place to wrap up your winter in the best possible way, it’s Ursus Snowpark: a top-level park, shaped to perfection, nestled in the heart of the Trentino Dolomites, within the stunning ski area of Madonna di Campiglio. A destination that blends world-class riding with springtime vibes and unforgettable scenery.

This is where the Ursus Big Air will go down – a contest open to both snowboarders and freeskiers, and a key stop on the international calendar.

And this isn’t just any competition:

Official FIS Big Air, valid for FIS points and the World Rookie Rank
The first chance to qualify for the World Rookie Tour 2026 Finals, both snowboard and freeski
Open to all – no FIS code required. You just need the skills to ride a Big Air jump (18 to 27 meters)

What makes Ursus Big Air truly unique is that it’s not just a contest – it’s part of the Ursus Spring Break, the ultimate spring season-ender for snow lovers… and not only. From April 18 to 21, you’ll enjoy four unforgettable days where snow action meets music, parties, and a laid-back mountain vibe.
It’s also the perfect time of year to take advantage of longer days and golden sunsets – with the sun setting late, there’s more time to ride, chill, and enjoy the view.

More about the event.

Photo-Credit: (c) World Rookie Tour

Events News WSPL

Austrian & German Masters 2025 at Kitzsteinhorn with Surprise Winner from Brazil

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 9, 2025

FREESTYLE SNOWBOARDING AT ITS BEST: Austrian & German Masters 2025 at Kitzsteinhorn with Surprise Winner from Brazil

Austrian and German Championship Titles 2025 Awarded

The fourth edition of the joint Austrian & German Masters wrapped up successfully from March 30 to April 3, 2025 in Zell am See-Kaprun (AUT). The ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association), Snowboard Austria, and Snowboard Germany are pleased, as the combination with the FIS Europa Cup proves once again to work. A total of 120 riders from 25 countries competed across three disciplines – Big Air, Halfpipe, and Rail.

RAIL EVENT – Tuesday was all about the jibbers, who took on the rail setup at the Kitzsteinhorn Snowpark amid snowfall and freezing temperatures. In the women’s event, Lena Müller (SUI) impressed the judges, followed by Herry Meije (FRA) in second and Marie Kuhlmann (GER) in third. In the men’s competition, 15-year-old Ukrainian Dmytro Luchkin came out on top, securing second place in the 2024/25 Rail Europa Cup standings: “It was so much fun riding with all my friends. The weather didn’t even matter.” Leo Framarin (ITA) took second place, with 13-year-old Polish rider Gustav Nawarkiewicz-Wisniewski finishing third. The Austrian championship titles in the Rail discipline, awarded for the first time, went to Selin Lakatha and Till Strohmeyer.

HALFPIPE – On Wednesday, the sun finally made an appearance, creating perfect conditions and high spirits for the halfpipe riders. Anne Hedrich (GER) delivered the technically best run of the day in the women’s event, featuring an Inverted Front 7. She not only claimed the Europa Cup win but also secured the German national title in the halfpipe for the second year in a row. In the men’s event, the riding level was off the charts – back-to-back doubles and nines dominated the show. Battling for victory were Germany’s Christoph Lechner, who recently placed an incredible fourth in the Big Air at the World Championships, and Brazil’s Augustinho Teixeira, showcasing his skills on European snow for the first time. The showdown remained tense until the end – both riders landed all their tricks cleanly – but 20-year-old Augustinho edged ahead with slightly more amplitude and cleaner execution. A historic win, as no Brazilian snowboarder had ever won a Europa Cup before. Christoph Lechner took home the German national halfpipe title for 2025.

BIG AIR – On the final day, the Kitzsteinhorn once again delivered perfect conditions for the Big Air event, inspiring the riders to give it their all. Head Judge Iztok Sumatic was thrilled: “That final was World Cup level. It’s amazing to see how much the riding level keeps improving at the Europa Cups every year.” The Italian women impressed across the board. Marilu Poluzzi claimed victory with a Switch Frontside 10, her teammate Alessia Vergani took third, while Switzerland’s Yuna Scheidegger secured second place. In the men’s competition, the Japanese riders dominated completely, filling the entire podium. Brothers Kira Kimura (1st) and Yuto Kimura (2nd), along with their compatriot Kaito Ichinese (3rd), all threw down flawless Switch Frontside 16s. A standout performance also came from newly crowned World Rookie Tour Champion Xu Zhao Ying (CHN), who placed fifth with a Switch Frontside 18. Austrian national Big Air titles went to Livia Schatzer and Till Strohmeyer, while Janina Walz and Damian Millinger took home the German Big Air titles.

This was the fourth edition of the Austrian & German Masters co-hosted by ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association), Snowboard Austria, and Snowboard Germany. The youngest participant was just 10 years old, the oldest 54 – all united by one thing: a passion for snowboarding and the one board that means the world to them.

More info: www.powdern.com

Photo-Credits: (c) Andreas Amplatz

Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

Up- and coming stars shine at World Rookie Snowboard Finals 2025 at Kitzsteinhorn

Post author By Birgit
Post date April 8, 2025

UP-AND COMING STARS SHINE: THE WORLD ROOKIE SNOWBOARD FINALS 2025 AT KITZSTEINHORN CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY – THE WORLD ROOKIE TOUR CHAMPIONS 2025 HAVE BEEN CROWNED

From March 23 to 28, 2025, Kitzsteinhorn was all about the snowboard youth. The 20th anniversary edition of the World Rookie Snowboard Finals gathered the best upcoming riders from 24 countries in Zell am See-Kaprun.

For 20 years, the World Rookie Tour has provided a springboard for the stars of tomorrow, helping them transition from amateur to professional athletes. Some of the world’s top riders celebrated their first successes on the World Rookie Tour, including Kokomo Murase (JPN), the newly crowned 2025 Big Air World Champion. Kokomo won the World Rookie Finals three times, from 2016 to 2018. At the 20th edition, 120 snowboarders between the ages of 10 and 18 came together and impressively demonstrated that the future of the sport is in good hands.

SLOPESTYLE – In the Rookie category (under 19), Yingxu Zhao impressed and brought the Slopestyle title home to China with a Cab 14 Doublegrab on the kicker and outstanding tricks on the rail. In second place was Dmytro Luchkin (UKR) with the best Big Air trick of the day, followed by Harry Dabrowski (SWE) in third. Head judge Spiken Jones said: “The top 5 Rookies really stood out, and a bright future lies ahead for them.” In the women’s category, New Zealand’s Ava Beer claimed the 2025 World Rookie Tour Slopestyle Champion title. In second place was Austria’s Livia Schatzer, and Italy’s Stella Accati secured third place. The Groms (under 15) demonstrated a high level of riding overall. Emine Grundvold-Mathisen (NOR) and Martin Lopez Rodrigues (ESP) became the champions in the Groms category.

HALFPIPE – A Day of celebration for the Swiss youth riders! The Swiss team clearly dominated the Halfpipe event with 8 out of 12 podium spots. In the Groms category, Leila Viererbe (GER) and Finn Ledergeber (SUI) finished on top. In the Rookie category, Lisa Demke (SUI) and Leonardo Saraiva (SUI) became the new World Rookie Halfpipe Champions 2025. Leonardo, in particular, made a lasting impression on the judges with back-to-back 7s, consistent riding, and high amplitude.

Despite challenging weather conditions, it was all about good vibes. Whether it was table tennis sessions or skateboarding, the side events were a colorful mix. From a cool tattoo workshop to an informative climate workshop by the World Snowboard Federation in cooperation with Protect Our Winters (POW) about how to take action, to an inspiring talk with snowboard veterans Max Plötzeneder (AUT) and Marc-Andre Tarte (CAN), who shared their experience and valuable tips with the kids, there was something for everyone.

This was the successful 20th edition. The World Rookie Tour Finals once again showed that it’s about much more than “just” the sport. Meinhard Trojer, WRT co-founder, summed up the week: “It’s not always just about performance and results, but also about passion and the sense of belonging to the snowboard family. Some of the friendships the kids made in the last few days will stay with them for many years. And we are truly proud of that.”

RESULTS WORLD ROOKIE SNOWBOARD FINALS 2025

SLOPESTYLE Grom Women

Emine Grundvold-Mathisen, NOR
Marie Kuhlmann, GER
Hana Joichi, JPN

SLOPESTYLE Rookie Women

Ava Beer, NZL
Livia Schatzer, AUT
Stella Accati, ITA

SLOPESTYLE Grom Men

Martin Lopez Rodriguez, ESP
Niilas Posio, FIN
Sora Horigome, JPN

SLOPESTYLE Rookie Men

Yingxu Zhao, CHN
Dmytro Luchkin, UKR
Harry Dabrowski, SWE

HALFPIPE Grom Women

Leila Viererbe, GER
Ella Ricjetson, FRA
Lyn Causevic, SUI

HALFPIPE Rookie Women

Lisa Demke, SUI
Lina Kälin, SUI

HALFPIPE Grom Men

Finn Ledergerber, SUI
Liun Kleger, SUI
Zeno Glück, GER

HALFPIPE Rookie Men

Leonardo Saraiva, SUI
Reef Matt Hasler, SUI
Emil Hope, SUI

Follow the World Rookie Tour Black Yeti!
Web: www.worldrookietour.com

Photo-Credits: (c) Ania Grzelka, Andreas Amplatz

Events News WSPL

Sena Tomita and Yuto Totsuka Take Historic First Wins at The Snow League’s Debut at Aspen Snowmass

Post author By Birgit
Post date March 26, 2025

Sena Tomita (JPN) and Yuto Totsuka (JPN) made history by winning The Snow League’s inaugural event at Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass (March 7-8, 2025) in the women’s and men’s snowboarding halfpipe competition. Each earned a first-place prize of $50,000 out of a total prize purse of $370,000 for the event. Tomita and Totsuka took the lead in the Snow League World Championship Standings, claiming 100 points each, with three events remaining in Season One.

The Snow League founder, Shaun White, reveled in seeing his vision come to life. White, who was on stage with the athletes to present the inaugural Snow League trophies, designed by Tiffany & Co., said, “I’ve never been so excited for a competition. There was so much drama, so much excitement,” he beamed. “I don’t know when I’ve been this excited for a competition—as a spectator watching the sport I love, it’s been so amazing to see.”

The first event at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colorado showcased a completely reimagined halfpipe finals format with eight men and eight women athletes pitted in head-to-head battles.

The women’s final saw a dramatic back-and-forth contest between the top athlete from qualifying, Maddie Mastro (USA) and Tomita. Each claimed a winning run in the best of three run format—first Tomita and then Mastro. This led to a third and final run, where Tomita rose to the challenge, overtaking Mastro by a mere 0.5 points to win. Tomita’s final run saw her throw a huge 12-foot frontside 1080 tailgrab, into a switch frontside 720, linking up a pair of 540s, finishing strong with a frontside 900 melon grab, and a final Method.

Speaking through a Japanese translator, Tomita shared, “I’m so happy to win the inaugural Snow League event—this feels like the start of something big!” When asked what the victory meant to her, she said, “It’s hard to put into words, but this is so awesome!” The 25-year-old was emotional, revealing that it had been a challenging season leading up to the event. Despite the nerves, she delivered when it mattered, claiming the win in front of a cheering crowd in Aspen.

In the third-place matchup, it was 16-year-old Gaon Choi (KOR) claiming the win—Choi had shown a fierce competitiveness earlier in the day, going back-and-forth with Tomita in the semifinals before falling to her in the third run. In her head-to-head battle with Mitsuki Ono (JPN), Choi won both of the first two runs to take third place, with Ono finishing in fourth.

In the men’s semifinals, a showdown of a trio of Japanese stars and a rising American battled it out for the top spots on the podium. Ayumu Hirano (JPN), the top qualifier coming into the finals, was relegated to the third-place matchup after losing an exciting semifinal battle against Totsuka. In the other semifinal, 16-year-old Alessandro Barbieri (USA) lost out to Ruka Hirano (JPN), with the Japanese star winning the first two runs to claim victory.

The final featured Totsuka (JPN) going against Ruka Hirano in a matchup that saw both athletes put down immaculate first runs, with Totsuka edging out Hirano. It was in the second run that Totsuka soundly defeated Hirano, posting the highest men’s run score of the day at 96.5. Totsuka dropped in on the right side, firing into a nearly 13-foot switch backside double cork 1080 Japan, into a backside 900 mute, and linking up back-to-back 1440s, going frontside triple cork 1440 Indy into a switch frontside triple cork 1440 Indy that had the crowd go wild.

Speaking in his native Japanese, Totsuka said through an interpreter, “To win [the Snow League] in these conditions was incredible.” When asked what it was like to be the winner of the first-ever Snow League event, Totsuka said it was an incredible feeling, and the fact that the legend, Shaun White, had created this event and to be able to win it was so much fun.

Ayumu Hirano faced the young Team USA athlete Alessandro Barbieri in the third-place matchup, who, in a valiant attempt to beat Hirano, put together a run that he had never stomped before. Barbieri said, “Just landing that run was enough for me to throw everything [he threw his helmet and snowboard in excitement]. Even if I didn’t win the round, I was still buzzing from it.” Hirano answered back to beat Barbieri in both runs to take third place on the podium.

Beyond the prestige of a podium finish, the Snow League Finals Day presented athletes with a high-stakes opportunity to earn a share of the groundbreaking $1.6 million purse spread across the four snowboarding events. Competitors vied not only for the inaugural Snow League title and critical World Championship Standings points but also a share of the $370,000 prize purse in Aspen, divided equally between genders.

Men and women’s podium finishers earned $50,000 for first, $20,000 for second, and $10,000 for third. All finalists earn prize money, with $5,000 for fourth and $2,500 each for fifth through eighth. Additionally, each of the 36 athletes receives a $5,000 appearance fee, further reflecting The Snow League’s commitment to advancing snowboarding competition.

The first event of The Snow League in Aspen Snowmass set the bar for the remainder of a groundbreaking first season of competition. Up next will be Event Two at Yunding Secret Garden in China, to be held December 4–6, 2025. The stars of snowboarding will face off again to earn points and challenge for the top spot in the Snow League World Championship Standings. Additionally, freeskiing will make its debut as the ski athletes are set to join the snowboarders in China, as the future of winter sports competition expands to a new discipline.

Fans can enjoy on-demand replays of the inaugural Snow League event in Aspen available on Peacock and are also invited to watch the Encore Presentation of Event One of The Snow League on the NBC network in the United States on Saturday, March 29 at 1:00 p.m. ET and on Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear channels in Europe on Tuesday, March 25, at 8:00 p.m. CET.

About The Snow League: Launched in June 2024, The Snow League is the first professional winter sports league dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing. Founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur Shaun White, Season One features a four-event global format boasting a $1.6 million prize purse, with athletes competing to earn points to determine the overall champions. The season kicks off at Buttermilk in Aspen Snowmass (March 7–8, 2025) and then moves to Yunding Secret Garden, China (Dec. 4–6, 2025), where 16 of the world’s top freeskiers will join the roster at the Beijing 2022 Olympic venue. The League returns to Aspen (Feb. 26–28, 2026) and concludes at LAAX, Switzerland (March 19–21, 2026), where the first-ever Snow League World Champions will be crowned.

Photo-Credits: (c) Blotto, Dasha Nosova, Adam Moran for Snow League

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