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Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

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

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

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Events News WSPL

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

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.


Augustinho Texeira making history.


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.


Kira Kimura taking home the victory.


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

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

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

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

  1. Emine Grundvold-Mathisen, NOR
  2. Marie Kuhlmann, GER
  3. Hana Joichi, JPN

SLOPESTYLE Rookie Women

  1. Ava Beer, NZL
  2. Livia Schatzer, AUT
  3. Stella Accati, ITA

SLOPESTYLE Grom Men

  1. Martin Lopez Rodriguez, ESP
  2. Niilas Posio, FIN
  3. Sora Horigome, JPN

SLOPESTYLE Rookie Men

  1. Yingxu Zhao, CHN
  2. Dmytro Luchkin, UKR
  3. Harry Dabrowski, SWE

HALFPIPE Grom Women

  1. Leila Viererbe, GER
  2. Ella Ricjetson, FRA
  3. Lyn Causevic, SUI

HALFPIPE Rookie Women

  1. Lisa Demke, SUI
  2. Lina Kälin, SUI

HALFPIPE Grom Men

  1. Finn Ledergerber, SUI
  2. Liun Kleger, SUI
  3. Zeno Glück, GER

HALFPIPE Rookie Men

  1. Leonardo Saraiva, SUI
  2. Reef Matt Hasler, SUI
  3. Emil Hope, SUI

 

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

 

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

Categories
Events News WSPL

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

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.

 

Sena Tomita

 

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.

 

Sena Tomita

 

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.

 

Top 3 Women

 

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.

 

Yuto Totsuka

 

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.

 

Ayumu Hirano

 

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

Categories
Events News WSPL

Happy faces at the 3rd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop on March 8th & 9th, 2025

Happy faces at the 3rd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop on 8th and 9th of March 2025 at PenkenPark Mountopolis – Mayrhofen-Hippach in the Zillertal

 

The third Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop hosted by Blue Tomato went down with bluebird and sunshineat PenkenPark Mountopolis in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region on 8th and 9th of March 2025.

 

With its unique combination of international snowboard slopestyle competitions, free freestyle coachings and the popular Blue Tomato presents: Penken FunCross Battle, the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY, one of the leading snowboard freestyle junior tours, attracted many young snowboarders from all over Europe to travel to the Zillertal for the twelfth time in a row. Watch the highlight video here.

 

For the 3rd VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop, the PenkenPark, on of the top 5 snowparks in Europe and ‘home park’ of the Ästhetiker snowboard crew, presented itself as always with its perfectly prepared XXL setup in the sun. On Saturday, the open slopestyle contest was held with over fifty snowboarders between the ages of 4 and 25 on the ‘Advanced and Medium Line’. In perfect conditions. Participants from all over Europe put on a top-class freestyle show. To the delight of all athletes and spectators, Blue Tomato offered free hot dogs, drinks and snacks in the Riders Lounge right next to the snowpark.

 

 

The top winners of the day were Oliver Šťastný and Anna Tomanova from the Czech team. Both won the gold medal in the rookies age group (U18) with a strong performance. They also both secured overall victory as the best participants in the competition in the men’s and women’s open class. Arnor Thoroddsson from Iceland caused a stir with his stylish ‘FS Double Cork 1080 Indy’ and saved himself the highly coveted Horsefeathers Best Trick Award as well as the silver medal in the open men’s category. In the grom girls class (U16), Olivie Pouchova (CZE) was delighted to take first place and also took home the silver medal in the overall standings.

 

In the grom boys (U16), Leo Schab from Team Germany was delighted with his comeback from injury and rode straight to first place. 10-year-old Riley Sharpe from Team Great Britain defended his gold medal in the super grom Boys class (U12) from last year unchallenged, while another 10-year-old, Klaudie Pouchova from the Czech Republic, claimed the top spot on the super grom girls podium. Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY newcomer Finn Wallis from the British team (WhyAintYou) was crowned ‘Most progressive Grom’ by the aesthetes.

 

On Sunday, the programme continued with free freestyle coaching sessions, where everyone could take part. Shortly before midday, the starting signal was given for the Blue Tomato presents: PenkenFunCross Battle. Over fifty snowboarders had registered for the fun competition, which was held on the FunCross race track atPenkenPark. Two snowboarders competed against each other in a knockout system. The faster one advanced to the next round and so it went on until victory. The organisers of the Ästhetiker Snowboard Crew were also keen to take part, and managing director and Välley Rälley production manager Rudi Kröll was delighted to take first place in the men’s open class. Luca Webster (GBR) was the fastest of the ladies. Aris Kyriazis (GER) won the FunCross Battle in the U18 class, Kanoa Steidle came first in the U12 age group and Olivie Pouchova (CZE) was happy with her first place in the girls’ under-16 category. Blue Tomato rewarded all the winners with packed goodie bags and there were many happy faces at the end of another successful VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop.

 

Andreas Pramstraller from Mayrhofner Bergbahnen is delighted with a successful tour stop: ‘So many motivated starters from all over Europe show that the Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY is still one of the most popular snowboard tours for young snowboarders in the Alps. Thanks to the passion for snowboarding and the experience of the Ästhetiker crew, it becomes more special every year. The third tour stop in Mayrhofen in the perfectly shaped PenkenPark offered action, airtime and plenty of fun. A special highlight was the Penken FunCross Battle on our newly built FunCross,track, where young and old competed for the best time. We’re already looking forward to next year!’

 

 

With the third of four contest results, the cards in the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Overall Ranking were reshuffled in Mayrhofen. The VÄLLEY RÄLLEY overall tour winners will finally be crowned the new Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Royal Family 2025 after the fourth and final tour stop on the 3rd and 4th of May 2025 on Hintertux Glacier.

 

By participating in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region, the snowboarders collected valuable points on theinternational World Snowboard Point List (WSPL), which they can use to qualify for European Cups and World Cups. Rookies (U18) are credited points in the World Rookie Ranking. As the current leading rookies in the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY overall ranking after the 3rd tour stop, Kristina Holzfeind (AUT) and Oliver Šťastný (CZE) each win a wildcard for the World Rookie Finals from 23th to 28th of March in Kaprun. Congratulations! The tour stop is also a recognised ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association) Austriacup.

 

All results, tour ranking, photo & video gallery: https://valleyralley.at/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valleyralley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zillertalvalleyralley/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zillertalvalleyralley

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zillertal_valley_ralley

 

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Gustav Hersmann

Categories
Events News World Rookie Tour WSPL

Coming up: 2025 World Rookie Snowboard Finals. Who will be the next stars?

2025 World Rookie Snowboard Finals. Who will be the next stars?

Kitzsteinhorn Zell am See−Kaprun, Austria, 23rd – 28th March 2025

 

After travelling all around the world in Europe, from North America to Japan seeing the most motivated riders battling to conquer a spot in the World Rookie Snowboard Finals in Kitzsteinhorn Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria, the Black Yeti is looking forward to seeing the next World Rookie Tour Champions.

 

Only the best young guns from the previous World Rookie Tour stops will join this legendary event. The event will assign the 2025 World Rookie Champions title for Snowboard Halfpipe and Slopestyle plus, tons of amazing prizes: Surprise Ticket to World Class Event 25, Absolute Park Spring Battle, Stubai Prime Park Session, Kitzsteinhorn Pipe Training Weeks − surf experience in Santander offered by SurftoLive.com, and many other prices offered by our sponsors Nitro, TSG, Blue−Tomato and Red Bull.

 

From the 23rd to the 28th of March riders from all over the world will gather in Austria for a unique sports and lifestyle event in a great international scenario. The program of 2025 World Rookie Finals will include a Slopestyle and Halfpipe contest and many lifestyle activities: social dinners, workshops with Gummi Love, the World Snowboard Federation and much more.

 

Workshops

 

If you are a snowboard fan or if your dream is to start a professional carrier, then Kitzsteinhorn Zell am See− Kaprun, Austria, is the place to be!

Registration, info and bookings online under: https://worldrookietour.newcommerce.tirol/ till latest 20.03.2025.

 

Kitzsteinhorn Snow Park

 

Follow the World Rookie Tour online:

Web: www.worldrookietour.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/worldrookietour

Facebook fanpage: www.facebook.com/worldrookietour

Vimeo channel: vimeo.com/channels/worldrookietour

Mail: info@blackyeti.info

 

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Andreas Amplatz, WRT

Categories
Events News WSPL

The Spring Battle 2025 Slopestyle Awards go to Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL) and Liam Brearley (CAN)

Recap Absolut Park Spring Battle & FIS Snowboard World Cup Flachau 2025 – March 09th – 14th, 2025, Shuttleberg Flachauwinkl/Kleinarl (Austria)

 

“It was a really big week”. The Spring Battle 2025 Slopestyle Awards go to Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL) and Liam Brearley (CAN).

 

Two ideologies should come together: The declared mission was to complement the independent elite snowboard competition, which has existed since 2002, with a FIS Snowboard World Cup. The Spring Battle Award Show marked the culmination of a week of high-level freestyle action in Absolut Park. Zoi Sadowski Synnott from New Zealand and Canadian Liam Brearley made the most of the innovative format, winning the Spring Battle with the best slopestyle runs ever performed. Local hero Anna Gasser took third place in slopestyle and also won the Best Rail Trick. It turned out that Spring Battle 2025 awarded the most WSPL points given in a competition in recent years.

 

“What’s important is that the freedom, flexibility, and innovation we have at Absolut Park and at the Spring Battle are preserved as much as possible. That was the premise for the whole project, and we saw that it works,” summarizes Absolut Park founder Seppi Harml. Even in spring weather, the first part of an intense week at Absolut Park was the Spring Battle. Without a thick rulebook, 100 men and 60 women had four competition days to film their best slopestyle run on video. Filmed with follow cams and high-speed drones, the format enabled freestyle snowboarding at the highest level. The demand for absolute perfection was the driving force for the riders, but it also showed the special challenges: “The Spring Battle is really cool, it’s something different, and you can be more creative. At the same time, it’s not that easy, to be honest, because you’re aiming for perfection and performing at the highest level for four days, constantly trying to improve the run. So it’s also a different kind of stress compared to traditional competitions, where you have to perform in a short time. Here, you’re trying to get the best out of your run for four days,” explains Anna Gasser.

 

Anna Gasser

 

Zoi Sadowski Synnott is also thrilled with the Spring Battle format: “The format is really sick, it’s different compared to the World Cup or X-Games. It took a while to get it going and I knew some of the other girls had already landed some runs. So once I landed, I was pretty hyped. It’s on your terms and you kind of just go how you’re feeling on that day and kind of give it your best, when you are ready, which is super sick.”

 

And how the 24-year-old New Zealander gave her best: With a Frontside Bluntslide 450 on the High Rail, Cab on to Flip off the Cannon Rail, followed by a Frontside 1080 and Backside 1260 to finish off over the two kickers, Zoi Sadowski Synnott clearly won the women’s slopestyle ranking ahead of Mari Fukada (JPN) and Austria’s Anna Gasser. She also now leads the overall snowboard world ranking WSPL with a perfect score of 1000 points.

 

Zoi Sadowski Synnott

 

The men’s field was also filled with top riders, with 100 participants, including Olympic champions Red Gerard (USA) and Yiming Su (CHN), 24-time X-Games medalist Mark McMorris and his Canadian colleagues Liam Brearley and Cameron Spalding, as well as the strong Japanese team with Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara. Nobody wanted to miss the spectacle.

 

Liam Brearley landed his submitted run on the second last day and said: “It’s super sick, you have multiple days to film the line, so everyone comes into the contest thinking they have so much time to film a line. You know, it’s pretty chill, and then it ends up being pretty intense trying to get that line. Super sick to see all the creative and different lines go down. It’s an amazing contest and you are having fun riding with everyone, that’s the best part.”

 

With a 270 to 5-0 Stall on the Wallride, a Backside 180 on to the Cannon Rail with a Cab 7 off, followed by a Switch Backside 1440 double grab and a Cab 1800 on the kickers, 22-year-old Liam Brearley showed the hardest run in the Spring Battle setup and took the win. In addition, the Canadian took the lead in the WSPL ranking. Dane Menzies from New Zealand placed second, ahead of Norwegian Oyvind Kirkhus.

 

Oyvind Kirkhus

 

Not only was there the slopestyle competition, but the Spring Battle Best Rail Trick was also held at the custom-built setup right in front of the Chill House. Many of the riders took the opportunity and tried their skills on the rails after their slopestyle runs, while others focused only on that. Both snowboarders and freeskier were judged. Anna Gasser managed a perfect Switch Lipslide Transfer 270 on her first attempt, winning her the title ahead of Paula Benito (ESP) and Laura Zaveska (CZE). “Winning the rail trick is definitely the highlight of the week for me. A lot of people don’t really see me as a rail rider. It’s cool to be up there with the best,” Anna said about her somewhat unexpected success. In the men’s snowboard category, Petr Ershov (RUS) won closely followed by local hero Clemens Millauer.

 

Spring Battle Award Show – Winners 2025

 

During the week at Absolut Park, not only did two snowboard worlds collide, but the weather couldn’t have been more different. After spring during the Spring Battle, winter returned for the FIS Snowboard World Cup Flachau. Snowfall and poor visibility made it impossible to hold the men’s contest, so there was a final result only for the women’s competition. Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL) struck again and won the World Cup ahead of Annika Morgan (GER) and Mari Fukada (JPN).

 

The Spring Battle Award Show on Friday evening seamlessly transitioned into the afterparty at the new Dips&Drops Sports Hotel in Flachau, where the beats of scene DJ Stylewarz played throughout the night. 

 

The Spring Battle 2025 is now history, but the 25-year success story of Absolut Park in Flachauwinkl is far from over. To see all the runs and tricks in detail again, it’s best to check out the replay of the Spring Battle Award Show on the Absolut Park YouTube channel.

 

More information and full results: www.absolutpark.com.

 

 

Photo-Credits: Markus Rohrbacher – Absolut Park, Markus Fischer – Absolut Park

Categories
Banked Slalom Events News

Landing Snowboard Banked Slalom in Baqueira-Beret (Spain): Registration is open

Baqueira-Beret (Spain) will host the competition on Saturday, March 29, during a weekend packed with activities.

 

This season, Val d’Aran will once again become the epicenter of snowboarding in the Pyrenees with the fourth edition of the Landing Snowboard Banked Slalom, an event that has firmly established itself as a must-attend for the snowboarding community. From March 28 to 30, 2025, riders of all ages and skill levels will have the opportunity to enjoy a weekend where the focus is on snowboarding and sharing the experience with friends.

 

On Friday, March 28, the event kicks off with a village in Salardú, where registered participants can collect their race bibs and enjoy an unbeatable atmosphere with live performances by Laguna Goons and Emeka, as well as food and drinks available for all attendees. On Saturday, March 29, the highlight of the weekend will take place with the fourth edition of the Landing Snowboard Banked Slalom in Baqueira-Beret. Eight categories, ranging from Groms to Legends, both male and female, will compete on a specially designed course built to ensure maximum fun and flow. Prizes worth over €10,000 in Quiksilver and Salomon Snowboards gear will be distributed, ensuring fair recognition across all categories. To wrap up the event, on Sunday, March 30, riders will have the opportunity to participate in the Freestyle Session at Era Marmota Snowpark – a perfect space to ride with no pressure, land new tricks, and close the weekend in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

 

 

Javi Guimont, Technical Director of the event, comments:
“We’re back for another season, eager to celebrate the Banked Slalom, an event that has already become a classic of the season and reflects the energy of the snowboarding community.”

 

As every year, the event organizers, in collaboration with the resort, will build a course designed to be both technical and fun, accessible to riders of almost all levels, making it an inclusive and exciting competition.

 

Registration is now open through the Landing Snowboard website, with a €30 fee that includes a Welcome Bag and competition insurance. Additionally, participants will have access to special lift ticket prices at Baqueira-Beret: €44.9 for Saturday and €84.1 for the entire weekend, as well as exclusive accommodation packages.

 

The Landing Snowboard Banked Slalom 2025 is made possible thanks to the support of Quiksilver and Salomon Snowboards as main sponsors, along with the backing of REFU, Mombisurf, Ajuntament Naut Aran, and Baqueira-Beret.

 

Don’t miss your spot and get ready for an unforgettable weekend on the snow!

 

 

 

About Landing Snowboard: Founded in 2004 as a snowboard teaching project on the glacier of Les Deux Alpes, Landing Snowboard continues to thrive today with its base at Baqueira-Beret. Co-founded by Javi Guimont, Landing is a snowboard school in Baqueira that offers experiences that go beyond simply riding a board. At its core is the Snowboard Club, where kids aged 6 to 18 can train and have fun while progressing in snowboarding.

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Andoni Epelde

Categories
Events News WSPL

The Snow League Kicks Off Its First Global Season

The inaugural season spans three continents and takes place in world-class winter sports resorts during 2025-26: Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, USA; LAAX, Switzerland; and Yunding Secret Garden, China.

 

The Snow League, the first professional winter sports league dedicated exclusively to snowboarding and freeskiing, has officially announced the schedule and locations for its debut global contest series. Founded in June 2024 by three-time Olympic halfpipe champion Shaun White, the league aims to redefine competitive winter sports in these iconic ski resorts across three continents.

 

On March 7-8, 2025, 36 world-class halfpipe snowboarders will inaugurate the league at Aspen Snowmass Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, USA. The next stop takes place on December 4-6, 2025, at Yunding Secret Garden, China, the site of the 2022 Olympics, where 16 of the world’s top freeski athletes will join the competition for the remainder of the inaugural season.

 

After the 2026 Winter Olympics, the league will return to Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen from February 26-28, 2026. The season will culminate in the iconic LAAX Halfpipe in Switzerland from March 19-21, 2026, where the first-ever Snow League World Champions will be crowned.

 

Reto Gurtner, Chairman of LAAX, stated: “Innovation and progress are deeply rooted in LAAX’s DNA—both in snowboarding and in how we celebrate and develop freestyle sports and their communities. We are excited to host The Snow League and continue pushing the boundaries together.”

 

 

Shaun White, founder of The Snow League and three-time Olympic halfpipe champion, added: “The Snow League brings to life the kind of global competition format I could only dream of during my career. We’ve assembled the best athletes, and now we are delivering on our promise to hold world-class events in elite resorts. Each stop has been carefully selected to meet the needs of the riders. As for the halfpipes, I’ve had the personal pleasure of riding in all of them over the years.”

 

Sandy Macdonald, Sports Director, emphasized the world-class caliber of these venues: “A true world champion deserves a championship-worthy stage. These resorts feature the best halfpipes in the world, built by the industry’s top shapers. Their commitment to maintaining competition-ready, state-of-the-art facilities sets the standard for excellence—exactly what The Snow League demands.”

 

 

With a record-breaking prize pool of $1.6 million, The Snow League is setting new benchmarks for professional snowboarding and freeskiing competitions. Each event will award $370,000 to the competitors, including a $5,000 participation fee for every athlete, plus an additional $160,000 for The Snow League World Champions.

 

Athletes will earn points at each event based on their contest results. At the end of the season, these points will determine The Snow League World Champions in halfpipe snowboarding and freeskiing.

 

The Snow League Events – Inaugural Season:

Event 1: March 7-8, 2025
Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, USA
Discipline: Snowboard Halfpipe

Event 2: December 4-6, 2025
Yunding Secret Garden, China
Disciplines: Snowboard and Freeski Halfpipe

Event 3: February 26-28, 2026
Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, USA
Disciplines: Snowboard and Freeski Halfpipe

Event 4: March 19-21, 2026
LAAX, Switzerland
Disciplines: Snowboard and Freeski Halfpipe

 

About The Snow League

Founded in June 2024, The Snow League is the first professional winter sports league dedicated exclusively to snowboarding and freeskiing. Established by three-time Olympic halfpipe champion and entrepreneur Shaun White, the league’s inaugural season features a global competition format with four events. The debut event takes place on March 7-8, 2025, at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, followed by stops at premier winter sports destinations worldwide. In its first season, all four events will feature men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe competitions. Starting from the second event in late 2025, freeski halfpipe will be introduced and remain an integral part of the league. Athletes accumulate points at each event, with the highest scorers being crowned The Snow League World Champions at the end of the season.

 

For more information, visit www.thesnowleague.com and follow The Snow League on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

 

#TheSnowLeague

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Ruggli, Stadler

 

Categories
Events News WSPL

Coming up: 3rd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop in Mayrhofen/AUT

All eyes are now on the PenkenPark in Mayrhofen. This is where the 3rd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Tourstop hosted by Blue Tomato will take place on 8 and 9 March 2025. With a unique combination of international snowboard slopestyle competitions, coaching sessions and side events, the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY is one of the leading junior series for young snowboarders from all over Europe. A special highlight on Sessions Day is the Blue Tomato presents: Penken FunCross Battle, where everyone can get involved. Registration for the contest and coaching sessions is now open at https://valleyralley.at/.

 

The PenkenPark in Mayrhofen is the ‘home park’ of the Ästhetiker Snowboard Crew. As one of the most popular freestyle parks in the Zillertal, it is also one of the top 5 snow parks in Europe. At the 3rd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY tour stop, the programme includes the open snowboard slopestyle competition as well as many side events. On contest day, snowboarders of all ages will be competing on the advanced and medium line. Plenty of medals and prize money await the day’s winners. The best trick will also be rewarded with a prize from Horsefeathers.

 

 

Depending on weather conditions, the competition will take place on Saturday or Sunday, with coaching and Penken FunCross Battle on the other day. The Ästhetiker crew will announce the final schedule by Thursday before the event. On both days, Blue Tomato will be catering for the well-being of all participants in the Riders Lounge with free hot dogs, snacks and drinks. With the third of four contest results, the tension in the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Overall Ranking will finally rise in Mayrhofen. The overall tour winners will be crowned the new Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY royal family after the fourth and final tour stop at Hintertux Glacier in the beginning of May. By participating in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region, snowboarders will collect valuable points on the international World Snowboard Point List (WSPL) to qualify for European Cups and World Cups. The tour stop is a recognised ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association) Austria Cup and rookies (U18) are credited points in the World Rookie Ranking. The two leading rookies in the Overall VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Ranking each win a WildCard for the World Rookie Finals.

 

Further information on the international points system can be found at http://www.powdern.com.

More about the event: https://valleyralley.at/

 

 

Photo-Credit: (c) Gustav Hersmann

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