Ronin Snowboards

Aloha! The seventh edition of the Snowpark Tour which is inspired by the spirit of Hawaii is about to start tomorrow at Corviglia Mellow Park St. Moritz.

Instead of dancing the hula at the beach though, the participants of the biggest rookie tour for snowboarders and freeskiers will do the slopestyle at the best snowparks of Austria, Switzerland and Germany. At ten tour stops, the snow surfers on one or two boards will have the opportunity to qualify for the finals at the DC Central Park at Kitzsteinhorn, Zell am See-Kaprun (AUT), on March 15 and 16 2008.

The Snowpark Tour particularly addresses itself to young amateur riders who want to gain contest experience. A membership in an association is not necessary for the participation which is also free. In addition, the riders are coached by international pros at the first day of the two-day tour stops.

The relaxed jam session contest format takes a lot of pressure from the young riders as they don?t have to go for broke in one or two runs. Within the given time, each rider is allowed to do as many runs as he wants to ? only the best run counts for the ranking. The organizers Mellow Constructions attach great importance to a perfect preparation of the snowparks to ensure fun and safety on the rails and kickers. International pros of the Rossignol, Quiksilver and Roxy teams are present as judges and coaches.

The leading snowparks of the Central Alps were again chosen as the venues for the Snowpark Tour 08. The four Swiss tour stops will take place at Engadin/St. Moritz, Adelboden, Flumserberg and Saas-Fee. As in previous years, Germany is represented by Fellhorn/Oberstdorf and Zugspitze/Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And in Austria, the Snowpark Tour will visit Sillian, Lech am Arlberg, Flachauwinkl and the Kitzsteinhorn/Kaprun.

The winners of the finals will again be rewarded with non-cash prizes and precious wild cards for pro events ? maybe the beginning of a pro career. The best snowboarder of the Kitzsteinhorn finals will travel to the TTR event Nanshan Open 2009 in China. The best freeskier will get a wild card for the Candide Thovex Invitational 2008 in La Clusaz (FRA) and the best female snowboarder will take part in the 6-star TTR event Roxy Chicken Jam 2008. Additionally, the winners of the finals will be interviewed by snowboard magazines Onboard, Snowboarder MBM and White Out  and the ski magazine Skiing.

And also at some of the tour stops, there?s not only non-cash prizes up for grabs but also wild cards for pro events: each of the snowboard winners of the three Snowpark Tour stops at the Engadin, Lech and Garmisch-Partenkirchen  will  get a wild card for the TTR event Ästhetiker Wängl Tängl 2008 in Mayrhofen (AUT). The best snowboarder of the Flachauwinkl tour stop will qualify for the TTR event Absolut Park Spring Battle 2008. And the best skier of Flachauwinkl will participate in the Austrian Open 2008 in Mayrhofen.

For more information and registration please see www.snowparktour.com

Schedule  Snowpark Tour 08:

January 12/13 2008  Engadin St. Moritz (SUI)

January 19/20 2008  Sillian (AUT)

January 26/27 2008  Lech am Arlberg (AUT)

February 02/03 2008  Adelboden (SUI)

February 05/06 2008  Zugspitze/Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)

February 09/10 2008  Flumserberg (SUI)

February 23/24 2008  Flachauwinkl  (AUT)

March 01/02 2008  Saas Fee  (SUI)

March 08/09 2008  Fellhorn/Oberstdorf (GER)

March 14 2008  Kitzsteinhorn/Kaprun (AUT) (Tour stop)