Categories
Events News WSPL

NEW: WSF Fantasy League X FLYP Fantasy

The WSF is excited to partner with FLYP Fantasy for the new WSF Fantasy League. FLYP Fantasy is breaking new ground bringing fantasy sports to the world of action sports. It’s easy to play and completely free of charge, with cool prizes to win. And trust us, it’s a lot of fun. Users assemble their team of riders competing in live events and earn points based on their performances. Get the FLYP app today and join the WSF Fantasy League kicking off with the LAAX OPEN this week.

 

Link to WSF Fantasy League.

 

 

About FLYP Fantasy

FLYP Fantasy is breaking new ground as the first fantasy app exclusively for action sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, freeskiing, mountainbiking and BMX. Designed to create stronger connections between fans and their favorite sports, FLYP Fantasy provides an engaging platform for users to interact with real-life events, athletes, and brands.

 

How It Works

FLYP Fantasy currently offers a “Daily Fantasy” mode, where users can select athletes competing in live events and earn points based on their performance. Prizes range from monthly rewards to event-specific and public league-based prizes, making the platform as rewarding as it is fun. The app is entirely free to play. Users can also create customized private leagues, inviting friends to join in and compete for bragging rights. The platform fosters community engagement while celebrating the unique culture of action sports.

 

Why It Matters

Fantasy games are known to increase fan engagement, encouraging players to follow events live. By integrating with real-life competitions, FLYP Fantasy bridges the gap between the sports community and its fans, and offers a new way to experience action sports.

 

Athletes’ Stamp of Approval

FLYP Fantasy has earned praise from some of the top athletes in the action sports world, including Tom Schaar, Laurie Boulin, Luca Harrington, Valentino Guseli and Eli Bouchard. Their unanimous sentiment? “Finally, fantasy has arrived in our sports!

 

Available Now

FLYP Fantasy is available for download on iOS and Android. With an exciting roadmap of new features and updates ahead, FLYP Fantasy is just getting started.

 

Categories
Events News WSPL

LAAX OPEN CELEBRATES 10th EDITION WITH A GREAT PROGRAM FOR EVERYONE

Halfpipe esthete Scotty James takes on the Asians and the next generation give the beat in snowboard slopestyle, while Freeski queen Mathilde Gremaud meets superstar Eileen Gu, that’s how exciting the FIS World Cup in LAAX will be in early 2025.

 

Plus, an open rail contest for everyone called Red Bull Rail Riot and live on stage at the free rocksresort in the valley: Annie Taylor, Phenomden and MOBB DEEP. The destination Flims Laax is proud and ready to host the most prestigious freestyle event in Europe. Let’s celebrate the 10th edition of LAAX OPEN! 

 

Freestyle at its best! From 14-18 January 2025, the LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando will bring together the crème de la crème of snowboarding and freeskiing contest riders with the freestyle community. It’s all about surfing in the snow. The hub of the outdoor activities is the Crap Sogn Gion mountain at 2,252 metres above sea level – on which the mountain station is emblazoned like a galactic spaceship, the GALAAXY. Some of the performances of the professional riders who compete in the FIS World Cups in freeski slopestyle, snowboard slopestyle and snowboard halfpipe are also like something from another realm. CHF 210,000 in prize money is up for grabs for the best of the best but who will win LAAX OPEN titles number 39-44? Olympic champions, world champions, newcomers – 250 riders from 25 countries are keen to finish at the top at the tour’s most favourite event. From Tuesday, 14 January 2025, men and women will be competing round for round in the same top-high-tech facilities for a place in the final. The highlights are sure to be the finals on Friday, 17 January 2025 and Saturday, 18 January 2025.

 

Pure adrenaline rush! From the mountain top down into the valley, where the side event program will also be sporty and stylish. The Red Bull Rail Riot will take place at the rocksresort on the Stairset Rail, specially designed by the Snowpark LAAX crew. The contest is open to freeskiers and snowboarders aged 16 and over. The newly opened Freestyle Academy LAAX with skate bowl, vert, street and trampolines is just a stone’s throw away, waiting to be rocked.

 

Who’s in the house? LAAX art + culture is once again putting on a first-class program. The free open air acts at the rocksresort in LAAX Murschetg near the valley station will kick off on 17 January, 2025 with female fronted rock band Annie Taylor, known for their high-energy performances. On Saturday, 18 January 2025, after the halfpipe night finals, Phenomden will get the crowd in the mood for something really big: MOBB DEEP, the birthday act of the 10th LAAX OPEN: Iconic hip hop from New York. It’s a treat when MOBB DEEP takes to the stage with HAVOC and BIG NOYD & DJ L.E.S.! For the hardy partyers afterwards, Temry at the Riders Club is the place to be.

 

To the event website. 

 

 

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

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour

SUCCESSFUL PREMIERE OF THE WORLD ROOKIE CAMP AT HINTERTUX GLACIER

The organizers of the World Rookie Tour, which has been successfully nurturing young talent for 20 years, are thrilled with the success of the first World Rookie Camp presented by Ästhetiker & World Snowboard Federation in Hintertux (November 13-17, 2024). The camp was designed for freestyle talents from around the globe, whether on one board (snowboard) or two (skis). Its primary focus was on park and pipe riding, with specialized training to prepare participants for the upcoming season.

 

A total of 25 kids and teenagers between 11 to 18 from seven different countries took part in the camp. Betterpark Hintertux at the Hintertux Glacier offered ideal conditions for participants. Professional coaches were on hand to provide guidance and support. The accompanying program was not only exciting but also educational: participants explored the unique Spannagel cave together, a truly-one-of-a-kind experience. They also visited the Kaboom Trampoline Hall and attended the SafeShred Workshop by the World Snowboard Federation, which highlighted crucial topics like bullying and more. It was an incredible week for the young riders from around the world, who not only improved their riding skills but also forged new friendships. The video contest not only offered cool prizes from the partners but also tickets to the World Rookie Tour Finals at the end of the season. With their video contributions, Alice Tholen (Snowboard/SWE), Kasten Jostrand (Snowboard/USA), and Jacqueline Kanzler (Ski/USA) have already secured their tickets to the finals!

 

 

Meinhard Trojer, co-founder of the World Rookie and event organizer, expressed his satisfaction: “I couldn’t have gone any better.” Balasz Gyorki, Snowboard Hungary coach, agreed: “The camp was amazing, with perfect weather. My kids learned a lot and grew as riders. They made new friends, and that’s the most important thing. Plus, they had so much fun. We’ll definitely be back!” Euan Baxter of Snowsports Scotland shared a similar sentiment: „It’s fantastic that our riders from Scotland can come here and connect with kids from all over Europe and even overseas. Snowboarding is more than just a sport – it’s a culture and lifestyle we need to support. That’s why it’s great to be here and contribute to that.” 15-year-old skier Jacqueline Kanzler travelled all the way from the USA for the World Rookie Camp: “The time in Hintertux was amazing. We had so much fun, and the weather was perfect. I made new friends, and it’s so cool that everyone comes from different parts of the world.”

 

For more information: www.worldrookietour.com

 

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Ania Grzelka

Categories
Banked Slalom Events News

THE WSF BANKED SLALOM TOUR IS BACK FOR WINTER 2024/25. BE A PART!

The tour unites independent Banked Slalom organizers under the WSF roof. Banked Slalom combines the roots of snowboarding: surfing and skateboarding. The original sensation of that surf/skate banked turn on water and on land. We all experienced that feeling and we all shared that moment. Banked Slalom brings every snowboarder together in the original contest format. For all ages, and it really is all about having fun.

 

The WSF would like to invite organizers of banked slalom events around the world and National Snowboard Associations to join the WSF Banked Slalom World Tour, a network of organizers and a communication platform to make it happen.

 

All Banked Slalom organizers: Register your event now to be part of the WSF Banked Salom Tour. Find out more about requirements, recommendations, costs and benefits.

 

More info and calendar. 

 

Register your Banked Slalom event.

 

 

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Roby Bragotto, Somaland

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 20th WORLD ROOKIE FEST LIVIGNO & GROMS OPEN ROOKIE FEST IN MAYRHOFEN.

It’s here: the 2025 World Rookie Tour is about to kick off, and the first stops are ready to deliver unforgettable moments on snow. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this amazing season: the registration for the 2025 Livigno World Rookie Fest is still open.

 

2025 Livigno World Rookie Fest

 

The 2025 Livigno World Rookie Fest (Jan. 11 – 18th, 2025), one of the most iconic events on our tour, is the perfect starting point for riders from all over the globe. Participating means competing on a course shaped by the expert team at Mottolino Snowpark and soaking in the unique atmosphere of Livigno, already gearing up for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Don’t miss this chance to kick off 2025 in the best possible way!

Send the registration form to registration@worldrookietour.com

 

 

Groms Open Rookie Fest

 

The tour gets even better with the Groms Open Rookie Fest in MayrhofenAustria. Taking place from January 5th to 6th, 2025, this event is hosted at the iconic Penken Park, a dream destination for freestyle enthusiasts.

Whether you’re a rookie or a grom, this event is your chance to showcase your skills, meet riders from around the globe, and push your limits in one of Europe’s most spectacular snow parks.

✔ Dates: January 5–6, 2025

✔ Location: Penken Park, Mayrhofen, Austria

✔ Why join? High-energy competition, thrilling challenges, and a supportive community of freestyle athletes.

Register here.

 

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Mayrhofen, World Rookie Tour

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

2025 LIVIGNO WORLD ROOKIE FEST CELEBRATES 20th EDITION

The Black Yeti – the World Rookie Tour mascot – is excited to announce the 20th edition of the 2025 Livigno World Rookie Fest, the longest-running and most anticipated event of the World Rookie Tour. It will take place from January 11th to 18th, 2025, in the stunning alpine setting of Livigno (Italy).

 

Once again, the event will feature both freeski and snowboard competitions, but with a major twist: this year, the order of the competitions has been reversed compared to last year! The event will kick off with freeskifrom January 11th to 14th, followed by the snowboard competitions from January 14th to 18th. This is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill and excitement alongside riders and fans worldwide.

 

2025 Highlights:  all riders on rookie and grom podiums of both disciplines will secure a spot in the World Rookie Tour Finals:


– top freeskier will head to Madonna di Campiglio (Italy) from March 29th to April 3rd
– top snowboarders will compete in Kitzsteinhorn – Zell am See Kaprun (Austria) from March 24th to 29th.

 

 

In other news the Livigno World Rookie Fest 2024 is part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation’s national sports program. The event reflects the values of the Italia dei Giochi 26 project.

 

The Livigno World Rookie Fest will also feature plenty of side activities, making for a week packed with fun, friendship, and adrenaline!

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

  • Freeski Slopestyle: January 11th – 14th, 2025
  • Snowboard Slopestyle: January 14th – 18th, 2025

 

Stay tuned for more information coming soon. In the meantime, get ready for an unforgettable experience in Livigno!

 

www.worldrookietour.com

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Teo Trabucchi

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
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