Category: WSPL

The 2nd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Tourstop hosted by Blue Tomato is scheduled for 25 and 26 January 2025 at the Actionpark Kreuzwiese in the Zillertal Arena near Zell am Ziller. With its unique combination of internationally recognised snowboard competitions and many side events, the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY has grown into one of the most important junior tours for up-and-coming snowboarders from all over Europe in the last decade. 

 

The Uniqueparks team around park designer Manfred Brandacher has once again done a great job and conjured up a versatile setup in the Actionpark Kreuzwiese in the Zillertal Arena. The park is already open and freestyle enthusiasts can hone their tricks every Tuesday from 11.00 am at the free coaching sessions with the Ästhetiker Shred School. On 25 and 26 January, the Actionpark Kreuzwiese will be the venue for the 2nd Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY Tourstop 2024/2025. The organisers of the snowboard club ‘die Ästhetiker’ will announce the day of the competition and when the free coaching and style sessions will take place on the Thursday before the event. Plenty of medals, prize money and prizes await the day’s winners in all 8 categories, while the best trick from Horsefeathers will be honoured with an additional award. Participants can also win vouchers from Blue Tomato at the Social Media Awards by presenting their best videos from the VÄLLEY RÄLLEY weekend.

 

 

With the second of four contest results, the cards will be reshuffled in the Zillertal Arena. The snowboarders will receive new points in the overall ranking for their participation. The overall tour winners will be crowned the new Zillertal VÄLLEY RÄLLEY royal family after the fourth and final tour stop at the Hintertux Glacier at the beginning of May. Points on the international World Snowboard Point List (WSPL) will also be awarded for participation in the amateur level competitions of the World Snowboard Federation. The tour stop in Zell am Ziller is a recognised ASA (Austrian Snowboard Association) Austria Cup and rookies (U18) collect points in the World Rookie Ranking.

 

Further information at www.valleyralley.at.

Photo-Credits: (c) Gustav Hersmann

What a freestyle festival! The 10th edition of the LAAX OPEN (Jan. 14 – 18) culminated in brilliant final days. Thrilling live music acts alternated between breathtaking tricks in the park and pipe. Three new and three proven champions raised their trophies in the clear air at Crap Sogn Gion.

 

In Snowboarding, the pipe queen is and remains Chloe Kim, who won the LAAX OPEN for the fifth time, followed by Scotty James, who has four victories at the night finals in the superpipe. The young snowboard slopestyle riders Mia Brookes and Cameron Spalding took the coveted LAAX OPEN titles for the first time. All of them pocketed the lion’s share of the CHF 210,000 prize money.

 

However, the biggest winner was freestyle. Freestyle culture, which has been lived and celebrated in LAAX for over 30 years and at the 10th LAAX OPEN presented by Zalando. The (social) media world is full of it and the celebratory mood and enthusiasm of the thousands of spectators is like an endless flower, blossoming each time they think of the LAAX OPEN 2025 experience.

 

Watch the Wrap Up Edit.

 

 

RECAP HALFPIPE: 

 

Chloe Kim and Scotty James win again the LAAX OPEN Halfpipe Titles

 

Style, style, style — rules at the jaw-dropping night final, flabbergasting a 12,000-strong crowd of spectators and raising the roof! All on the Crap Sogn Gion above LAAX. Spotlights on the world’s 20 best halfpipe riders and 70.000 CHF prizemoney FIS Snowboard World Cup.

 

2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2025 — Chloe Kim, the American 24-year-old grande dame of the halfpipe who has won everything there is to win, awes without exception and takes her fifth LAAX OPEN title with her first run, scoring 96.50 points. “I’ve been coming here since I was 9 years old, to be back in 2025 and take home the win feels really special. The progression of the sport and to be part of it means everything to me.”

 

Behind her, US team-mate 24-year-old Maddie Mastro finishes in second place, making snowboarding history as the first woman to land two double corks in one run. Booyah! The Korean 16-year-old Gaon Choi secures third place and stands on the LAAX podium for the first time. Defending champion Mitsuki Ono misses out on the podium in fourth place.

 

2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 — Australian Scotty James shows nerves of steel in the men’s event. “The atmosphere here in LAAX is always unmatched, the crowd is incredible and the pipe is always phenomenal.” The 30-year-old halfpipe veteran dazzles on an incredible second run with a cab triple cork 1440 frontside grab, for which he scores 95.75 points and righteously beams from the podium as the winner for the fourth time. As so often before, his main rivals are the forces-to-be-reckoned-with Japanese Ruka Hirano just behind him in second place, and compatriot Ayumu Hirano, 2022 Olympic champion and two-time LAAX OPEN winner (2016, 2022) completing the top three.

 

 

RECAP SLOPESTYLE

 

Mia Brookes & Cameron Spalding are the champions

 

Mia Brookes and Cameron Spalding are the LAAX OPEN 2025 Slopestyle champions at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Laax, pocketing the lion’s share of the CHF 70,000 prize money.

 

What a birthday present: Mia Brookes wins the prestigious LAAX OPEN in slopestyle! Accompanied by the roaring applause of thousands of spectators along the course and in front of a unique 360° mountain panorama, she scoops her first LAAX OPEN title and as the youngest ever.

 

Olympic champion Zoi Sadowsky-Synnott jumps into second place, Japan’s Kokomo Murase secures third place with just under a point ahead of Anna Gasser, who finishes just off the podium in LAAX for the first time in years.

 

Cameron Spalding also wins the men’s event for the first time. After third place last year, he is at the top in 2025. The winner’s picture is completed by 2018 Olympic champion Red Gerard (USA) in second place and Noah Vicktor from Team Germany, who, for the first time, finishes in the top three at a World Cup. “The course is awesome. I love LAAX, every year. It’s a course that’s anything but basic. The Snowpark LAAX crew always give it their special touch. It’s fantastic.” A top result for Jonas Hasler (5^th/SUI).

 

Mia Brookes lives temporarily in Laax, is a LAAX rider and a snowboarder through and through. The victory in Laax is a dream result for both the young Brit and the organisers. Olympian Zoi Sydowski-Synnott compliments Mia Brookes, who turns 18 on Sunday: “Mia is on fire right now, riding so smooth and stylish.”

 

Results, news and livestream are available at laax.com/open.

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Stadler, Lämmerhirt

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.

 

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

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.”

 

Follow Snow League.

 

 

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Snow League/Dawsy