Volkl World Rookie Fest showcase snowboarding future stars coming from 12 countries at the last Swatch TTR 3star event of the season, hosted in Ischgl, Austria. With massive switch bs7 and cab9, the norwegian Gjermund Braaten obtained the title of World Rookie Champion 2008. In the grom category, (under the 14 years), Dimi De Jong resulted the best with impressive tricks live fs900 tail grab while Kari Opsal Maeland won among the girls.
The set up of the last World Rookie Fest of the season, powered by Volkl, was impressive with 2 table top and several rails in the slope style. The first day of the event was kissed by the sun and after the training Pieps organized a free avalanche clininc with both pratical and theorical parts. The competition format was based on overall impression on both rail and kicker lines with 3 runs. On the qualification day 35 selected youngsters from 12 countries challenged for the last spots of the finals of which 8 were already assigned from the previous world rookie fests in Italy and Czech Republic and several 1 and 2 star rookie events world wide.
The level of riding was sick and culminated in a great showcase during saturday finals. Gjermund Braaten resulted the most impressive rider of the event and winning the World Rookie Champion title, a ticket to Nokia Air&Style rookie challenge in Munich, a road trip in Canada featured in the next Pirate Movie Production ?Boarbegged? offered by Tobis Travel Solutions and a fresh meat on Method Mag.
As best trick a huge bs7 on the 20m kicker from the finnish Petja Piironein. Giorgio Ciancaleoni from Italy combined several 720 on the kikers with the sickest rail trick of the day (270in on the kinked) conquering the second overalla position. Kari Opsal Maeland impressed the jury with back loops and sick rail triks obtaining an invitation to a photo shooting in Italy by Snowpark.it. As usual, Norway resulted the best team of the rookie fest obtaining an holiday on Garda Lake, Italy. Many of the finalist won tickets to the World Rookie Fest 2009 in Livigno and for the best groms Dimi de Jong and Maria Delfina Maiocco a Golden Card to join every WRF 2009 for free.
More info at WSF website, and here’s a short clip from WRF in Ischgl:
Leave a Reply