Snowboarding News - March 2007

<

1 2 3 >

Ready, steady, go! The Kitzsteinhorn offers perfect conditions for the Volvo X OVER RIDE 07 from April 6 to 9, 2007. At the Easter weekend, all freeriders and slopestyle artists on skis and snowboards will have the opportunity to show their skills at the off-piste terrain at Langwied an ... Read Full Story d at the new Central Park. Their rewards will be fat prizes and extensive after contest parties at the Castle Kaprun.

From Good Friday to Easter Monday, freeriders, slopestylers, ski and snowboard crossers will gather at the Volvo X OVER RIDE 07 to spend some fine days together, to test next season's skis and snowboards and to compete at the Freeride Cross and at the Slopestyle Contest.

The winners will get a whole bunch of Easter presents like precious non-cash prizes and an € 9,000 overall prize-money. Riders who start in both categories will have the chance to be crowned the "Ruler of the Hill" who will travel to Nalu Surf Camp in Portugal for one week. In addition, style and outfit will also be rewarded: At the "Almdudler Ride with Style" contest, the best trick and the most original retro outfit will be awarded lavishly.

Freeride Cross and Slopestyle Contest
Two days, two contests: Easter Saturday will see the Freeride Cross with four contestants riding the unprepared slope at the Langwied chairlift at the same time. The two fastest riders will enter the next round until the finalists are fixed. On Sunday, the best freestylers will compete at the Slopestyle Contest at the Central Park. The organizers look for the best skiers and snowboarders, female and male alike.

Almdudler Ride with Style
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Almdudler thought out a special kind of competition: on Easter Sunday, the Almdudler Ride with Style Contest will take place. Along the lines of, "How would a freeskier have looked 50 years ago?" both the best historic outfit and the best trick will be rewarded in combination. Every freeskier outfitted in retro style may start at the 30-minute box session. The judges will evaluate on the basis of 50% tricks and 50% outfit. The substantial prize money of € 2,000 will be divided up among the winners (1st place receives € 1000, 2nd place € 700 and 3rd place € 300).
Party showdown at Kaprun Castle
At night, the Volvo X OVER RIDE will celebrate down in the valley. Then, parties with live gigs, Heineken beer and good music will take place at Kaprun's Castle. On Saturday, the Slovenian band Multiball will mark the beginning with their fast punk rock. After the prize-giving ceremony on Sunday night, Swiss punk rockers Slimboy and Boston's ska punk reggae combo will turn the heating right up. DJs Vale, Chris Rock, Paddauz and Tom Tom will round the mixture off.

Packages from € 133
Sensational packages for the Volvo X OVER RIDE 07 at Kitzsteinhorn may be booked starting as low as € 133. Packages include lodging, lift pass, extensive ski and snowboard tests, entry fee, access to party and many other additional events. For booking and more information please see www.x-over.at
SCHDULE VOLVO X OVER RIDE 07, April 6 to 9 2007, Kitzsteinhorn/Kaprun (AUT)
Friday, April 6, 2007
Whole day - Arrival & Check-in, Tourist information Kaprun
14:30-16:00 - Training Freeride Cross, Langwied/Kitzsteinhorn

Saturday, April 7, 2007
Whole day - Arrival & Check-in, Tourist information Kaprun
08:30-16:30 - Freeride Cross, Langwied/Kitzsteinhorn
09:00-15:00 - New School Ski & Snowboard test season 07/08
10:00-15:00 - Ortovox avalanche rescue field
20:00 - After Contest Party, Castle Kaprun

Sunday, April 8, 2007
Whole day - 50 years Almdudler Style Contest
08:30-16:30 - Slopestyle Contest, Central Park Kitzsteinhorn
09:00-15:00 - New School Ski & Snowboard test season 07/08
10:00-15:00 - Ortovox avalanche rescue field
20:00 - After Contest Party, Castle Kaprun

Monday, April 9, 2007
Bad weather day

 

---

Three in four Canadians believe that attending the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver would be "the experience of a lifetime," according to a recent study commissioned by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). These initial results of on ... Read Full Story going market studies provide valuable research as VANOC continues to develop its ticket sales plans, which will be released in 2008.

"The 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver are perceived to be the premier event ticket for Canadians," says Gord Hendren, President of Charlton Strategic Research Inc., "scoring the highest of all major sport and entertainment events tested, including the Stanley Cup Finals and the SuperBowl in terms of overall experience."

The study, conducted by Charlton Strategic Research Inc. among adults aged 18 and older, finds that three in four (75%) agree that "attending the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games would be the experience of a lifetime."

"We expected encouraging results from this study - but this data is stronger than we anticipated and confirms the significant interest from Canadians to watch the best athletes in the world compete in Vancouver and Whistler in 2010," said Caley Denton, VANOC's vice president, ticketing and consumer marketing. "We are continuing to develop our ticketing program and look forward to releasing details to the public in 2008."

Interest in attending the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is strong across the country with 37% of Canadians aged 18+ saying that they are "very interested" in attending the Games (another 29% are "somewhat interested"). At least three in ten residents of all provinces across Canada are very interested in attending, with the highest interest coming from BC residents (48% "very interested").

Likelihood of purchasing tickets to attend the Games is understandably highest among residents of BC (31% "very likely"). VANOC was particularly encouraged however by study results from other provinces; approximately one in ten residents of Alberta (11%) and Ontario (9%) also say they are "very likely" to purchase tickets. In other regions of Canada, those saying they are "very likely" to purchase tickets ranges from 5-7% in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces.

VANOC anticipates selling approximately 1.8 million tickets for Olympic and Paralympic sport events and Opening and Closing Ceremonies and approximately 800,000 tickets to the nightly medal award ceremonies in Vancouver and Whistler.

Ticket prices for the 2010 Games are still under development. VANOC is planning to offer a wide range of ticket prices and will take into consideration a number of factors, including the prevailing prices for major events in Canada and worldwide and the goal to extend the opportunity to enjoy the Games to a wide cross-section of the public.

"Knowing the level of intense Canada-wide interest in attending the 2010 Games, we want to get the system right," said Denton. "The purchase of a ticket is often the first and most important encounter that the public has with the Games Organizing Committee. We're committed to ensuring that experience is a positive one," said Denton.

VANOC plans to make full use of the internet and other technology to deliver its ticket sales program while also maintaining traditional delivery systems. In the meantime, public interested in receiving ticket information directly can register at vancouver2010.com.

VANOC will engage a ticketing service provider to assist in offering fair and equitable distribution of tickets and friendly customer service. In January, VANOC issued an expression of interest for a ticketing service provider. The successful ticketing agency will work with VANOC to develop a fair ticket sales, service and distribution plan, as well as policies and procedures to manage inventory and sell tickets for the 2010 Winter Games. A decision on the ticketing services provider for the 2010 Games is expected to be announced this summer.

This article is courtesy of www.vancouver2010.com.

 

---

Two weeks of freestyle fun and spring sun: that's what SPRING IN THE PARK is all about. For the second time, this camp will take place on Zugspitze at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, from March 31st to April 15th 2007. For two weeks, freeskiers and snowboarders will get their money's w ... Read Full Story orth at the Funpark Zugspitze. With free coachings, equipment tests, special girl's offerings and an old school contest on April 7th 2007, the camp supported by K2 and RIDE will be the spring highlight on Zugspitze. In addition, special offerings for accommodation and lift tickets will tempt the riders to come to Germany's highest mountain.

Ladies first: The Girl's Week
At the coaching, top ski and snowboard pros of the K2 and Ride teams will advise riders how to perfectly perform their tricks on rails and kickers. At the Girl's Week from March 31 to April 6, Michelle Parker (USA) will coach the slopestyle ski girls while Martina Tscharner (SUI), Madeleine Schrank (GER) and Alex Hlawitschka (GER) will take care of the female snowboarders. Additionally, from April 2 to 6, a female fitness trainer will do some stretching with the riders to warm themselves up – something that most riders forget to do before they ride the park. And on Thursday evening, April 5, the girls can meet and chill at the Get Together at Lodge Music bar near Hausberg. For sure, also the boys are welcome to the funpark at this first week of SPRING IN THE PARK.

Coaching & free photo download
From April 8 to 15, K2 team rider Andreas "Mone" Monsberger (AUT) and RIDE pro Reto Kestenholz (SUI) will coach the male snowboarders, K2 rider Daniel Schießl (GER) will look after the male freeskiers. This year, the camp will particularly embrace the beginners: a new Easy Park near the Relax & Test Area is waiting for them. In general, the set-up will be adapted to the terrain even better than last year.

Plus, a professional photographer will take pictures of the participants. Later, they can download the high resolution pix of their airs and railslides free from the websites www.zugspitze.de and www.snowparkguide.com.

Free tests and an old school contest
Over both weeks, the participants can lend out and test the newest ski and snowboard equipment for free at the K2 and RIDE booths: they can already try the brand new 2007/08 material!

Just like last year, an old school contest will take place at the second weekend on April 7th 2007. The inscription will happen at place at the Relax & Test Area. There will be prizes for the best outfit, for the best trick and the overall winner. The judges will look for old school tricks like Handplants and Rocket Airs but also welcome a mix of old and new moves. Pros of the K2 and RIDE teams will form the jury. There's eight twin tickets for the Zugspitze as well as prizes by K2, RIDE and Planet Earth up for grabs.

Reasonable "sleep & ride" offers
On the occasion of SPRING IN THE PARK, the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG together with Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau offers special "sleep & ride" offerings for all participants from March 31 to April 15, 2007. They include two, three, five or seven overnight stays, breakfast, ski pass and the resort tax on visitors. The offerings are available in various categories. Youth up to 20 years, per example, pay only Euro 95 for two nights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, category one. Three nights in Grainau, category two, are only Euro 115. More information and booking please see www.garmisch-partenkirchen.de and www.grainau.de

For news and information on SPRING IN THE PARK please check www.snowparkguide.com and www.zugspitze.de.
---

SCHEDULE, SPRING IN THE PARK, ZUGSPITZE, March 31- April 15, 2007

GIRL'S WEEK (March 31- April 6, 2007)
Daily: Coaching & Photo shooting, 10 - 12 am & 1 - 3 pm
Daily: K2 and RIDE test centre, 10 am - 3 pm
April 02. - 06: Wake-up stretching, 9.15 - 10 am
April 03: Outfit tests, 11 am - 3 pm
April 04: Make-up workshop, 11 am - 3 pm
April 05: Chill-out at Lodge/Hausberg from 7 pm

OLD SCHOOL CONTEST (April 7, 2007)
April 07 Inscription at Relax & Test Area, 9 - 10 am
April 07 Contest, 11 am - 3 pm

COACHING & SHOOTING WEEK (April 8 - 15, 2007)
Daily: Coaching & Photo shooting, 10 - 12 am & 1 - 3 pm
Daily: K2 and RIDE test centre, 10 am - 3 pm

 

---

At the weekend of March 17 and 18, 2007, the best freeski and snowboard rookies of Austria, Germany and Switzerland met at the Finale Grande of the Snowpark Tour 007 at Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Patrik Huber from Warth (AUT) was crowned the "most impressive rider" in snowboarding while Chr ... Read Full Story istoph Walchhofer from Eben im Pongau (AUT) won the freeskiers’ contest. Anais Cettou from Motiers (SUI) took the snowboard girls’ victory. At the team battle, the crew from Lech won over the snowpark envoys from Flumserberg and Saas-Fee.

In its sixth year, the Snowpark Tour finals were held in Switzerland for the very first time. The snow park on 2,800 m sea level delivered perfect conditions. The shapers set up a kicker line with two kickers and a quarterpipe. At the in-run, riders could choose between two rails. The additional box line offered four different slide boxes. "The park was excellent and the kickers were super smooth. Saas-Fee has built a great snow park", snowboard winner Patrik Huber stated. The 70 riders were also delighted by the nice weather and the fact that the participation in the event and accommodation were free, thanks to the sponsors Quiksilver and Atomic. "All riders staid at the same place and I got to know a lot of new people. The Snowpark Tour is big fun not only at the park!", the winner of the snowboard girls’ contest, Anais Cettou said. In addition, the riders were happy about a lot of great prizes. The winners were invited to take part in prestigious events and will be interviewed by magazines – hopefully the beginning of a successful pro career. "It’s amazing! Now I’m qualified for the European Freeski Open in Laax where I’ll compete with the world’s best riders!", freeski winner Christoph Walchhofer said.

Saturday: freeskiers and snowboard girls
On Saturday, the freeskiers showed tricks like cork 900 and 720. Christoph Walchhofer (AUT) presented the highest and safest 900s and convinced the judges with under-flips at the quarterpipe. Raphael Schweiger from Neu-Rum (AUT) got second, 18-year-old Joel Bächtold from Hasliberg (SUI) was third. And the snowboard girls liked the kickers, too. Their contest saw four Swiss girls in front. With nice 360s and smooth box slides, Anais Cettou from Motiers took victory. Elena Könz (Vna) got second, Helen Wyss (Fribourg) third and Emilie Aubry (Ipsach) fourth. "It’s great, I didn’t expect this. I’m mega happy!", the 21-year-old Cettou said. At the next Roxy Chicken Jam, she will compete against the best female snowboarders.

Sunday: Snowboard team battle
On Sunday, the snowboarders showed their skills riding in four-man teams that represented their respective snow park. Though they would have liked to have bigger kickers, they were happy. "The kickers were not big but really safe", Bernd Gutwenger from organizer Mellow constructions explained. "I’m proud and happy that we had no serious injuries at the tour stops and at the finals. And despite the lack of snow, we managed to hold all ten tour stops. I think this speaks for the snow park locations." The teams from Lech, Flachauwinkl, Flumserberg and Saas-Fee reached the super finals. With 900s and 1080s, they impressed the judges. "Judging was big fun and I’m sure we will see some of the riders again", head judge Christian Reinhard said. In the end, the Lech team was the one to cheer. Patrik Huber from Warth, Wolfgang Wanner from Seefeld, Tommi Gimpl from Leogang and Michael Macho from Pfunds showed faultless runs. The creative team from Flumserberg took second with a rapid fire show at the boxes while the Saas-Fee riders with the brothers Matthias and Sebastian Bumann from Visp got third. The three teams were invited to the TTR Bootcamp at Innsbruck.

Most Impressive Rider: Patrik Huber
At the single decision, also a rider from the Lech team was in front: Patrik Huber (AUT) took the title of the "most impressive rider". He got a wildcard for the Nanshan Open in China. "I’m looking forward to this trip. At the moment, everything’s perfect for me as last week I won the Austrian Masters and now here. Just perfect!", the 23-year-old said. Swiss Kobi Würsch who was second in front of Lukas Perteneder from Saalfelden (AUT) was happy, too: "I’m so glad I’m able to snowboard again! Last winter, I was injured and couldn’t ride." Thus, everybody was pleased and tired on Sunday: the participants because of their riding and the spectators and helpers because of the quick sessions party at the Popcorn bar where The Flying He-She’s and DJ Rocksy delivered the action.

More information, pictures and movies: www.snowparktour.com

 

---

STONEHAM, Quebec - Newly crowned U.S. snowboardcross champion Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) charged to his career first World Cup podium Saturday, finishing second in the final race of the season with fellow U.S. champ Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, AK) just off the podium in fo ... Read Full Story urth.

Taking the top of the podium was Pierre Vaultier of France and Helene Olafsen of Norway as Canadian Drew Neilson finished third and secured the men's World Cup SBX title. Double SBX World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) wrapped up the women's title last weekend after winning both State Farm U.S. Snowboard Cup races last weekend in Lake Placid, NY. Jacobellis was riding in the U.S. Open halfpipe at Stratton Mountain, VT and did not compete in Stoneham.

"It's so cool. I also could have won today but I didn't want to risk too much at the second jump because we were all so close together," said Baumgartner. "I decided to stay patient and wait for a better chance which I almost got close to the finish line."

As snow pounded much of the East, conditions for qualifiers were extremely variable said U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley. "Qualifiers were pretty slow because of all the snow, but then a wicked head wind would kick up at random and slow things down even more."

One victim of the wind was two-time X Games winner and world champs bronze medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA), who was in contention for the World Cup SBX title going into the race. Holland caught a hefty blast in his first qualifying run and then crashed in his second, yet held onto the 32nd qualifying spot. He then crashed in the first round of heats and was knocked out of contention, however with three second place results on the World Cup season, Holland reatained the second place ranking in points.

"Nate was pretty bummed," said Foley. "He's had a great season and had a shot at the title, but he had some really bad luck in the qualifiers. It was a short course with some good features and actually turned out to be pretty fast despite the snow, so you had to do a lot of speed checking. But it was a really good day for Nick, he rode super well all week and just killed it today."

World Cup Finals conclude Sunday from Stoneham with halfpipe.

SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Stoneham, Quebec - March 17, 2007
World Cup Finals
SBX
Men (32 make heats)
1. Pierre Vaultier, France
2. Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI
3. Drew Neilson, Canada
4. Ludovic Guillot-Diat, France
-
8. Jason Smith, Basalt, CO
9. Alex Deibold, Manchester Center, VT
12. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID
27. Pat Holland, Sandpoint, ID
32. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
--
Women (16 make heats)
1. Helene Olafsen, Norway
2. Diane Thermoz Liaudy, France
3. Tanja Frieden, Switzerland
4. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK
-
20. Heather Doolittle, Belgrade, ME
21. Kim Krahulec, Silverthorne, CO.

For complete results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=SB&event_id=22282

 

---

<

1 2 3 >