Category: Features

Iztok Sumatic is the new WSF Judge Coordinator

Post author By silvia
Post date July 30, 2014

WSF is happy to announce Iztok Sumatic (SLO) to be the WSF Judge Coordinator.

Iztok has been involved in the international snowboarding scene for more than 20 years as judge, coach, manager and event organizer.
Thanks to his highly appreciated expertise and wide spread network, Iztok will be able to advice WSF members and event organizers with all kind of issues about judging, such as:
·         Judging events (WST system, points list, budget)
·         Recruitment of judges for events (all levels)
·         Judge clinics
·         Material about judge education

The appointment of Iztok as WSF Judge Coordinator is one big step closer to the WSF goal of establishing a platform for judges around the globe which should ensure the development of a united judge system, as well as the creation of transparent and fair judging systems on regional, national and international level for both, riders and judges.

For questions, please feel free to get directly in contact with Iztok:
Email: iztok.sumatic@gmail.com
Phone: 00386 31 341 076

WSF is looking for a host for the WSF/TTR Judge Clinic 2014
As every year, WSF and TTR are planning to organize a judge session on national and international level in autumn 2014 and are still looking for a host nation.

http://www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/education/wsf-clinics/

If you are interest in hosting the WSF /TTR Judge Clinic 2014, please get in contact with us.

Tags Iztok Sumatic, judge coordinator, WSF judge clinic

Events Features

The O’neill Boardzone Rookie Camp 2014 in China

Post author By silvia
Post date July 21, 2014

2014_ONEILL BOARDZONE ROOKIE CAMP_wheel ollie

2014_ONEILL BOARDZONE ROOKIE CAMP_QIAOBO

The O’NEILL Boardzone Rookie Camp 2014 is taking place at the Qiaobo Ice & Snow World. The indoor resort is located on the outskirts of Beijing, Shunyi district, and boasts two slopes and a nicely built and groomed terrain park. Named after female Olympian Ye Qiaobo, the building complex features a hotel, restaurants and a Spa.

Qiaobo plays host to the O’NEILL Boardzone Rookie Camp already for the third consecutive time.

The brainchild of Beijing resident Mark Mi, a native Inner Mongolian who dedicates his life to board sports, represents the only consistent training program for young riders in China.

Mi says he started the camp just after entering the industry in his current role as sales manager for a leading distribution company. While out and about in the resorts and making friends, he realized that many people simply don’t have easy access to resorts. “I found there were a lot of young people who loved snowboarding and were obsessed with the sport. But some of them come from remote areas, and they have no real chance to progress. The camp is perfect for those who have a passion for learning, training and also like to compete.”

The pioneer of Snowboarding in China, Wang Lei, who is spearheading CSbA and leading the camp as head instructor, is stoked that the program brings such a positive resonance with parents and kids: “Every year we get more applications, and the riding level of the kids is already good when they enter our month long camp. I love to work with kids, it’s a very rewarding job that I get to do here in Qiaobo.”

The median age of a rider in China is in his twenties, and it already dropped in the last few years. What it takes to get kids on boards, is a trustworthy program, good coaches and a sense of safety. Mi elaborates on the potential, kids around 8-12 years have: “Since 2012 we also work with very small kids. The potential of some of the groms has garnered a lot of attention and brand support. I believe more and more hopefuls will emerge and improve the overall level of youth riding. It will play a big role in the development of snowboarding in China. It’s a great way of promoting snowboarding, too.”

His vision is to turn the camp into the source of new Chinese talents, and continuing to work on making it the most professional and influential training opportunity of the country.

Supported by the most progressive and successful brands in the Chinese market, and led by qualified instructors, the kids are given a fun and safe environment to progress their skills.

The month long program includes weekly contests and a 2* WST event at the end. The big final, the “NEW STAR CHALLENGE” will be held on August 10 2014.

Take a look online, and watch out for the weekly recap videos: http://camp.boardzone.cn

Check out what happened in 2013: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzM0NTQ1NTM2.html

Tags Beijing, China, O’neill Boardzone Rookie Camp

Events Features

European Freeride Festival – News

Post author By silvia
Post date July 15, 2014

Livigno announces the European Freeride Festival 2015 provisional program, which will take place from January 31st to February 4th, and opens the application for volunteers to join the event staff.

Following the Livigno Freeride Project launched in autumn 2013, a ground breaking touristic concept on the Alps with open Freeride areas to everyone, the Valtellina top resort is thrilled to host the European Freeride Festival 2015. The provisional schedule of the event promises a week full of exciting powder days and a bunch of sport and lifestyle activities throughout the week.

‘FREERIDING FOR ALL is the slogan for this first edition of the European Freeride Festival’ states Luca Moretti, President of the Livigno Tourist Office.’This event will offer everyone a chance to enter and experience the world of Freeriding with awareness, offering a fantastic program of activities’.

The program includes events around all possible Freeriding disciplines, such as ski, snowboard, telemark, ski-alp and as well as entertaining and educational activities for both beginners and experts. Business to business highlights will make the event an attractive happening for shops, industries and media.

With an extraordinary 5-days-program, everyone is welcome to celebrate the world of Freeriding in the breath taking resort of Livigno, also known as the ‘Italian small Tibet’.

22 activities are confirmed already: a Snow-Ski Alp contest and a qualification event for the Freeride World Tour; the first European Freeride Forum for media, industries, agencies and athletes will be hosted – an interactive session developed in association with Outdoor Sport Valley and the Swiss Institute for Avalanche Research; the Freeride Film Festival will present 8 hours of films in 4 different panels; more than 20 brands will be present at the Freeride Test Village; workshops, clinics, camp, party and live music will be announced soon.

Moreover the European Freeride Festival opens the application process for voluntary workers who want to be part of the event staff to live a unique experience and connect with other freeride lovers. If you are interested to become a volunteer, please send your application and CV to info@europeanfreeridefestival.com. The main requirements are a good knowledge of English spoken language, a positive attitude, team workskills and, most important, passion for freeriding.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAM EUROPEAN FREERIDE FESTIVAL 2015
(by place/activity)
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Everyday from 9.00am to 3.00pm Freeride trip with guides and heli (to be booked)
Everyday from 9.00am to 3.00pm Freeride Camps

Saturday (January the 31st )
from 9.00am to 1.00pm site inspection for Snow-Ski Alp race

Sunday and Monday (February the 1st and 2nd)
from 9.00am to 12.00am Snow-Ski Alp Race (only Sunday)
from 9.00am to 3.00pm Freeride Test Village and Artva Clinics
from 9.00am to 3.00pm Telemark Experience + Sliptboard Experience

Monday and Tuesday (February the 2nd and 3rd)
from 9.00am to 3.00pm Freeride Contest
from 7.00pm to 10.00pm spritz time & dinner

STAGE AREA
Everyday from 3.00pm to 4.00 pm: presentations, prize givings, spritz time and live music.
Monday the 1st February : Lumberjack Triathlon

PLAZA PLACHEDA – BOOKING DESK
Everyday from 9.00am to 6.00 pm: Check-in, welcome kit and passes, booking activities, Bus Ticket

PLAZA PLACHEDA – RACE OFFICE
Everyday from 9.00am to 6.00 pm registrations, info riders, riders meeting, media office

PLAZA PLACHEDA – CONFERENCE HALL
Sunday (February the 1st)
from 4.00 pm to 6.00pm Workshop Custom Made
from 9.00pm to 10.00pm social dinner with music and party

Monday (February the 2nd)
from 3.00pm to 5.00pm Photo Workshop
from 5.00pm to 7.00 pm Freeride Forum
European Freeride Festival Contacts:
web: www.europeanfreeridefestival.com
mail: info@europeanfreeridefestival.com
fb: www.facebook.com/EuropeanFreerideFestival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/europeanfreeridefestival#
TW: www.twitter.com/europeanFF
phone: 0039.059. 9783397

Tags European Freeride Festival, livigno

Features News

Minutes of WSF General Assembly 2014

Post author By silvia
Post date June 11, 2014

Have a look here if you missed the General Assembly of WSF that just happened in Barcelona (ESP) few weeks ago and do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Tags Barcelona, GA, minutes, TTR, WSF

Features News

WSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2014 – THE BIGGEST EVER

Post author By silvia
Post date June 5, 2014

WSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2014 – THE BIGGEST EVER
The World Snowboard Federation (WSF) and TTR Pro Snowboarding hosted once again their General Assemblies in Barcelona and breaking news have been revealed.

About 100 people from the international snowboarding scene around the globe took part in the meetings and many inputs have been given to WSF and TTR to push snowboarding in a new direction.

(photo credits: Philippe Reiff)

BIGGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL GA IN THE HISTORY OF WSF
For WSF, it was the biggest GA ever, with people from as many countries as never before: 25 nations welcomed the new National Snowboard Associations (NSAs) that will be part of WSF starting from the coming up season: Iceland, Mongolia and the re-organized Czech Republic association are the three new WSF members, of 44 members in total.

PROMISING FUTURE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SNOWBOARDING SCENE
Updates for the upcoming World Championships of Snowboarding 2016 in Yabuli have been shared and input from all the delegates have been given on future strategies for a closer cooperation between WSF, TTR and the riders.

Remi Forsans, CEO of Outdoor Sports Valley, presented super interesting results from a survey about the European snowboard market that automatically generates the future goals of WSF: Freeriding, Banked Slalom and recruitment of kids.

TTR announced their plans about the new structure of World Snowboard Tour 2.0 which has been actively supported by the pro-riders Ståle Sandbech, Torstein Horgmo and Kjersti Buaas who were joining the meetings announcing their plans of establishing a Riders’ Association.

As well, the WSF and TTR GAs also welcomed the FIS delegation to share their vision for the future of snowboarding.

“The annual WSF General Assembly hosted in conjunction with our partner organization TTR World Snowboard Tour is a unique opportunity for the development of the independent snowboard communities” stated Marco Sampaoli, World Snowboard Federation President. “The GA in Barcelona offered 70 delegates from all over the globe, representing National Snowboard Association, industry, media and event organizers a change to shape the future of our sport and create great networking moments.”

NEW WSF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014.15
The WSF is happy to announce the newly elected and very internationally Board of Directors for the upcoming season:

Marco Sampaoli (ITA)    President
Meinhard Trojer (AUT)   Vice-President
Cecilia Flatum (NOR)     Vice-President
Shigeru Ishihara (JPN) Treasurer
Miriam Hanna Deller (CHN)        Board Member
Gian Luca Zanetti (ITA) Board Member
Sandro Garcia (PER)              Board Member
Olle Danielsson (SWE)   Deputy Board Member

10th BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD ROOKIE TOUR
Next season, the World Rookie Tour will celebrate the 10th anniversary with special features.

Stay tuned on the new WSF website for upcoming news about the snowboard scene and to read the minutes of the WSF GA that it will be online soon.

Tags Barcelona, GA, Kjersti Buaas, Stale Sandbech, Torstein Horgmo, TTR, WSF

Features News

WSF and TTR Pro Snowboarding GA 2014

Post author By silvia
Post date May 26, 2014

One week left to the General Assembly 2014 in Barcelona (30th May – 1st June 2014) where more than 20 nations from all the world will sit together to plan the next year season.
Welcome the new national associations, present the World Championships of Snowboarding (WCS) in Yabuli 2016, the launch of the new WSF website and Remi Forsans from OSV (Outdoor Sport Valley) are just few of the topics in agenda.
Download here the official document and get in contact with us if you would like to take part to GA.

Please note that slight modifications of the program might occur. if you plan to visit us to attend a specific meeting, please get in contact with: annamaria@worldsnowboardfederation.org

Tags GA, TTR, World Snowboard Tour, WSF

Features Reports

1Star Urban Rail Jam – São Paulo – Brasil

Post author By silvia
Post date May 23, 2014

Winter season lazily started in the South Hemisphere and Associação Brasileira de Snowboards (ABS) already organized the first stop of Brazilian Snowboard Tour, that coincide also as the first event of the South America Snowboard Tour 2014.
Urban Rail Jam took place on May 18th, 2014 as the first indoor rail contest, on synthetic carpet, in the huge city of São Paulo, during a traditional sport fairtrade.
Riders coming from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro provided a great contest, showing one more time that there is a cool growing up snowboard community also in this tropical state!
First place on the brasilian podium the local rider Rafael Ramos, Gabriel Becker from Rio de Janeiro placed 2nd and 3rd place goes to Rodrigo Esposito.

Next stop of South America Snowboard Tour will be a 3Star slopestyle contest at La Hoya ski resort in Agentina.

Tags Associação Brasileira de Snowboards, indoor, rail

Features News

WSF New Website Announcement

Post author By silvia
Post date May 21, 2014

After months of brain-storming, dedication and hard work to prepare, WSF team is proud to announce the re-launch of the newly redesigned website.  You’ll see things are looking pretty spiffy around here and it’s all been completely re-coded from the ground up.

It has been crafted to reflect what riders and national snowboard association told us they need now but also builds upon technology capable of addressing future needs.  A few of our goals with the new website were to make it faster, easier to navigate for users, and easier for us to update. Three things you’ll love about it right now:
•    responsive layout: you can check our website from tablet and smatphone
•    easy access to contents
•    more videos and photo gallery to watch and share
If you take a gander around the site I think you’ll get a pretty good idea of what we have done to improve visibility to each contests and activities regarding snowboarding in general. We will continually be expanding our online content to bring you daily news about what’s going on around the globe, so check back often and connect with us on Facebook to receive news even faster.

If you would take a brief moment to share your thoughts about the website, don’t hesitate to send back your feedback.

SAVE_THE_DATE:  Two weeks left to the WSF and TTR Pro Snowboarding General Assembly 2014 in Barcelona (31st May – 1st June 2014). More news will be distributed soon.

Tags website, WSF

Events Features

European Freeride Festival

Post author By silvia
Post date May 16, 2014

Livigno announces a brand new project to be added to the rich event calendar of the Italian top resort. The European Freeride Festival first edition will take place next winter 2015 from January the 31st to February the 4th. A unique event dedicated to passionates and curious all over Europe, already confirmed until 2017.
With the Livigno Freeride Project being launched last autumn 2013, the powder culture has been already significantly strengthened in the resort: the backcountry routes have been increased with a particular focus to the discipline preparatory areas, the daily avalanche bulletins, new itineraries for snow rackets and ski touring, heliski services and free workshop with the local Mountain Guides in order to find out the equipments and the self-help techniques. An exclusive and innovative initiative among the European alpine resorts which expresses Livigno’s willpower to make freeride accessible to everyone.

‘Organising an international event dedicated to freeride is the natural evolution of our effort in this direction.‘ stated Luca Moretti, President of Livigno Touristic Promotion company. ‘Hosting the European Freeride Festival we would like to give everyone the opportunity to approach the freeride world, spreading the culture and awareness of this practice with safety‘.

The European Freeride Festival will be open to everyone. Snowboard, ski, telemark, ski touring and further disciplines will be added starting from the second edition in 2016. From expert athletes to curious newbies, every powder-passionate will find a place during this groundbreaking event.

The programme will offer competitive moments with freeride and ski touring contests open to ski, snowboard, telemark, men and women, pro and amateur categories, as well as guided tours over the resort itineraries and the possibility of Heliski tours for the most exigent partecipants. A Freeride village will be hosted in cooperation with the Pro Shop Test to try all the season tecnhnical products, Freeride Camps for all levels, from basics to advanced workshops with guides and experts to learn how to deal with the most difficult paths. The Freeride Film Festival will enliven the evenings and there will be parties and other social moments to meet other passionates from all over Europe as well as international guests.

The 2015 European Freeride Festival date has been strategically placed between the end of Burton European Open in Laax and the start of ISPO trade-fair in Munich (February 5-8), during the Freeride World Tour european stops, in order to allow passionates, professionals, media and pro athletes to partecipate. The organisation will offer a bus service from Livigno to Munich on February the 4th to support the sector professionals in their travel to ISPO.

An international teamwork is working on the organisation of 2015-2017 European Freeride Festivals in Livigno, with the mission ‘Freeriding for All’ to promote the mountain culture with safety for everyone. Save the date: the countdown has started.

European Freeride Festival Contacts:
web: www.europeanfreeridefestival.com
mail: info@europeanfreeridefestival.com
fb: www.facebook.com/EuropeanFreerideFestival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/europeanfreeridefestival
TW: www.twitter.com/europeanFF
phone: 0039.059. 9783397

Tags festival, freeride, livigno

Features World Rookie Tour

The Final Video of the 2014 Völkl World Rookie Finals Is Out Now

Post author By silvia
Post date April 9, 2014

After seven stops all around the globe, the World Rookie Tour 2013 / 14 came to an end with a big slam during the 2014 VÖLKL WORLD ROOKIE FINALS. From April 2^nd to 6^th, 2014 more than 110 of the world’s best young snowboarders travelled from all over globe to the Austrian Alp town Ischgl in order to live up a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

2014 Völkl World Rookie Finals Ischgl – Chuck Barfoot Workshop + Finals from Board.tv on Vimeo.

In a WST 3star slopestyle competition, the young shreadheads showcased a lot of massive runs like they have never been witnessed before in the nine-years-old history of the World Rookie Tour.

Keita Inamura (JPN) and Katie Ormerod (GBR) are the big winners of the season having conquered the titles of the male and female World Rookie Champion 2014. Throughout the week, the Rookies and Groms enjoyed a unique side program with several social activity workshops by Chuck Barfoot, Gummi Love and Viva con Agua.

Download all the pictures from Ischgl here: www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/xdownload-data/WRT2014/2014_V%F6lkl_WRF_Ischgl.zip
Watch the video of Qualification Day 1 (Groms)https://vimeo.com/90919384
Watch the video of Qualification Day 2 (Rookies)http://vimeo.com/91036497
Have a look at the result lists www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/xdownload-data/WRT2014/2014%20V%F6lkl%20World%20Rookie%20Finals%20EVENT%20RESULTS.pdf

10^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD ROOKIE TOUR
In the next season, the World Rookie Tour will kick off for its 10^th edition inlcuding stops all around the world. Stay tuned – the Black Yeti will be waiting with some amazing suprises at the events.

Follow the Yeti online @
web: www.worldrookietour.com and www.worldsnowboardfederation.org
facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/worldrookietour
vimeo channel: www.vimeo.com/channels/worldrookietour
Mpora WRT channel: www.mpora.com/worldrookiesnowboardtour/
Instagram: @worldrookietour #worldrookietour

2014 World Rookie Tour – Official Calendar
WSF World Rookie Fest – Livigno, Italy – 06.11 January 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle DONE
Transilvania Rookie Fest – Arena Platos, Romania – 17. 19 of January 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle DONE
French Fries Rookie Fest – Avoriaz, France – 01.03 February 2014 – 2* TTR SS and HP DONE
Trentino Rookie Fest – Monte Bondone, Italy – 19.23 Feb 2014 – 2* TTR SS and HP DONE
Indy Park Banzai Rookie Fest – Nokoma, Japan – 22.23 February 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle CANCELLED
East Rookie Fest – Vitkovice, Czech Republic – 07.08 March 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle CANCELLED
Bulgarian Rookie Fest – Pamporovo, Bulgaria – 22.23 March 2014 – 3* TTR SS and HP DONE
Völkl World Rookie Finals – Ischgl, Austria – 02.06 April 2014 – 3* TTR slopestyle DONE
Australian Rookie Fest – Thredbo, Australia –August 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle
South America Rookie Fest – Valle Nevado, Chile – August 2014 – 2* TTR slopestyle and freeride

all photos by Gustav Ohlsson

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