Check some more end-of-season Finnish funboarding in this video recap of the haps at Antti Autti’s annual Anttisworld CUP.

Along with the video we received this brief communique from Antti, who is currently in Bali… the rat.

The event took place in Ounasvaara, Finland during April 2013. Finnish top riders were competing in banked slalom and pipe masters contest. It was good times and great parties with Lapland style for the whole weekend.

Winners:
Banked Slalom: Miikka Hast, Saana Pehkonen
Pipe Masters: Joel Lahti, Jeppe Rontti, Tero Poikajärvi, Enni Rukajärvi
Best Junior: Pyry Orava

In April and May the Ästhetiker were shredding Hintertux Glacier with their ShredSchool protégés having loads of fun at the Betterpark Hintertux!

We saw many happy faces during both Shred Däy weekends with the Ästhetiker this spring at Hintertux Glacier. No wonder, since just in time for the action, the Betterpark Hintertux showed off with it´s majestic spring setup in perfect condition and with bluebird and sunshine. For the ShredSchool Workshops, Ästhetiker pros and legends Friedl Kolar, Rudi Kröll and Steve Gruber spent two days cruising around the park together with a great bunch of motivated shred heads between 8 and 38 years. With photo shootings and filming sessions the up-and-coming talents experienced how it feels to be in the boots of a professional snowboarder. For their latest tricks, the riders were finally rewarded by Billabong and Hotzone.tv with great prizes at the Goodie-for-Trix Sessions. Not only the ShredSchool participants, but many other snowboarders showed up at Hintertux Glacier to test the latest LibTech, Gnu and Roxy snowboards of the upcoming season 2013/2014.

The season is not over, yet! The Betterpark Hintertux will remain open in summer with an XXL setup, consisting of the popular pro line, perfectly shaped medium line and easy kicker line and an extended jib line. For daily updates check www.hintertuxergletscher.at.

All infos on www.aesthetiker.com and www.hintertuxergletscher.at

[Words: Tuukka Tams]

As usual, Wappulounas was absolute madness. Three days of snowboarding on weird obstacles and partying all night long like the past 15 years, that’s what it’s all about. The best Finnish riders such as Roope Tonteri, Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa and Antti Autti gathered at Ruka to end the season, and this is what happened.

Chef’s Team Special – The Best a Man Can Get

Wappulounas 2013 presented by DC was set to go in the conditions that could not have been better. The halfpipe at Ruka itself is a piece of art, but to Wappulounas it was reshaped. There were two bowls, hips in ’n’ out and other obstacles were just here and there as the team challenge was about to start.

The teams did what they were expected – they killed it. Teams consisted of three riders were showing off with not just by their riding but also with their outfits. B-maajoukkue (Joel Lahti, Saku Tiilikainen and Hans Kestilä) were dressed like those jackass patriots, Lapinpolthajat (Antti Autti, Tuukka Tams and Jari Salo) hit the jumps like true Lappish people, Cooking With Gas (Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa and Lauri Heiskari) were cooking the whole playground and there were a bunch of others too who got the crowd smiling. Special cheers go to Joel Ahola who was riding like maniac with his 20+ years old Burton Air and to Meri Peltonen and her comeback. Congrats to everyone!

But there were two teams that were above others. In men American Horse Show (Tero Poikajärvi, Tuomas Alapieti and Jeppe Rontti) were going faster and further than everyone else. Their tricks were insane! In women the best was Battery Sisters (Kristiina Nisula, Merika Enne and Vilina Koivisto). They were flipping and spinning like true masters. Yet there were other masters at the hill, too. Riku-Matti Jurmu and Jyri Keskiaho (caamos.fi) did an amazing skidoo show by jumping over the whole halfpipe. You should’ve seen the faces from the crowd…

With a huge amount of lines straight from Napoli Wappulounas got a man from The Dudesons, HP, to be one of the judges. This is what he had to say about the first day and how to head to the overall victory and Asenne surf trip–that’s what the winner gets: – “Although riding at Wappulounas is important, if you want to be the champion, it’s necessary to represent at every stage – wheter it was afterski, nightlife or the morning after. Especially having fun is most important, because you can’t come to Wappulounas to win–you come to enjoy. If it ends up with winning a trip to Indonesia that is just bonus.” Wise words, my friend.

Chef’s Recommendation Powered by Battery – There’s Something In It

And Wappulounas continued, and with good vibes as usual. Chef’s Recommendation went through in a great weather, and bands such as J. Kiesi Grandes and Jam-A-Holics weren’t a weight in rider’s legs. The playground from last day was on fire. Two different stages served two sessions. The day consisted great riding combined with impressive usage of the playground. Riders were pushing it to the limits, but yet the joy was truly touchable.

In men the best rider was Jeppe Rontti, who was in the winning team the other day. He found lines no one else did, and his tricks were beyond. In women the best was Merika Enne, from the winning team also. She was pushing it with rock ’n’ roll attitude throughout day and bigger than anyone else. Yet other riders were also awarded. Antti Autti was Mr Old School with his great lines and deep tweaks, but young guns were killing it, too. This time Ville Mustonen was awarded as Best Rookie, but there were also bunch of others. Ville wasn’t shy at all riding with the big boys–he was going huge!

Of Chef’s Recommendation HP had this to say: “Wappulounas day two was personal overshoot from the beginning–actually from the night before. But what was really warming my heart was seeing old masters like Antti Autti and Risto Mattila showing to younger dudes how to pull it–fast as shit day and night!”

Oskari Heikkinen & Arktinen Voodoo pulled an awesome show at the terrace and at the nightclub Piste with Jätkäjätkät, where people eventually ended after numerous before-parties. About the best of them one must be mentioned. DJ Chili hosted an incredible party at one hotel room with quite thirsty crowd: over 800 cans of refreshments were enjoyed at their party. There must’ve been couple of people partying there!

DC Knockout Jam – And the Winner Goes to Bali

Countless days of partying wasn’t showing at the riding as D Knockout Jam forced riders to do their best. Tight course made them truly thinking about their runs–and that’s what they really did. As knockouts went face-to-face it was off the hook. For example Lasse Ihalainen, Antti Komulainen and Antti Autti were riding better than well. Few scary moments were also seen as the course ended up riders upside down and never back.

Eventually it was Joel Lahti and only 13-year-old Rene Rinnekangas who made to the final, and it was Joel aka DJ Chili who ended up being number one. But yet Rene didn’t let Joel win easily. He’ll be one you’re about to hear a lot! In women Kristiina Nisula and Sanna Niilola were against each other in the final with Kristiina taking the victory.

Only one thing was left to do at Wappulounas 2013 Presented by DC: to announce the overall winners. In rookies it was Rene who made to the top, and it was a victory well deserved. Can you even imagine any other event where young gun like Rene and nearly two decades older Miikka Hast would be against each other like they were on knockout – and Rene taking a tight win. That’s what it’s all about! In women Merika Enne was riding bigger and better than the others all event, so it was no wonder she was the overall champion.

In men the overall victory and Asenne surf trip was won by Jeppe Rontti. He represented the whole event with a great spirit, helped out younger riders and of course rode like maniac! Way to go Jeppe, congratulations!

“The level of riding was amazing and creative. It was positive to see that the same spirit Wappulounas has lives on,” said head judge Timo Lahti. And that’s just damn right: Wappulounas has a spirit you can’t find anywhere else. It’s the soul of snowboarding that’s beating.

To the very end Wappulounas Houseband called The Rautavas (with musicians from J. Kiesi Grandes, Relentless and Highway Burns) pulled an amazing gig at the afterski. With a set list constisted hits like Gangnam Style and reading SMS’s you can’t go wrong. And of course, there was a night party, too, with Karri Koira & Ruudolf making people to part-ee. It was a great way to end Wappulounas that is the best a man–and a woman–can get.

RESULTS

Chef’s Team Special, men:
American Horse Show (Tero Poikajärvi, Tuomas Alapieti and Jeppe Rontti)
Chef’s Team Special, women:
Battery Sisters (Kristiina Nisula, Merika Enne and Vilina Koivisto)
Playground Line Master: Jeppe Rontti
Playground Line Mistress: Merika Enne
Beauty & Style: Merika Enne
Mr. Old School: Antti Autti
Comeback Kid: Juho Manninen
Best Rookie: Ville Mustonen
DC Knock-out Jam, men: 1. Joel Lahti
2. Rene Rinnekangas
DC Knock-out Jam, women: 1. Kristiina Nisula
2. Sanna Niilola
Overall winner, men: Jeppe Rontti
Overall winner, women: Merika Enne
Overall winner, rookies: Rene Rinnekangas

Unique Scoring Format Makes JP Walker’s inaugural Handplant Holiday at Bear Mountain a Total Success.

It was an idea that JP Walker conceived on the comfort of his couch: bring a group of snowboarding’s most talented riders together for a day-long handplant contest. But what was supposed to be “no big deal” to pull together took seven months of intense planning that culminated on April 20, 2013 in the highly successful first annual Handplant Holiday at Bear Mountain.

At Bear Mountain, world-class planters were treated to a set–up created by the innovative park crew unlike anything seen before, which included several transiton based variations ranging from a wall ride, channel, spine, hip and extension.

The riders not only got creative on the feature, they got creative with Sony Action Cams, adapting the mounts to get rare POV video and capture unique angles and technical tricks. In the end, it was JP Walker who took home $1000 of high end Sony electronics gear for Sony’s Best Shot of the Day contest by capturing his perspective of stomping an Eggflip.

What nailed the event home was a unique team aspect and jam format—which Walker came up with specifically for the event—that gave the riders a chance to ride when and where they wanted throughout the day, to session individual sections or lap several features in a row accumulating points for their team. Because of this scoring format, the vibe during the contest was relaxed and friendly—though there was never any doubt that both teams wanted the win.

Both teams benefited from the expertise of their captains, legendary snowboarders Dave Downing and Dale Rehberg. Downing and Rehberg kept track of the riders points, coached, motivated, strategized and even got in the mix throwing down some plants of their own.

Under the guidance of Dave Downing, Marko Grilc, Chris Grenier, Jeremy Jones, Cody Rosenthal and Scott Stevens got down to business early in the day to secure valuable points. Dave’s experience in transitions and coaching came into play helping his team lock in their tricks.

But it was Dale Rehberg’s Team One, which included event mastermind JP Walker, Ben Bilocq, MVP Simon Chamberlain, Tim Eddy and Snowboarder magazine Editor Pat Bridges, who threw down variations of handplants throughout the different features with a combination of talent, teamwork, creativity and experience to earn the win. Team One split the $6000 prize purse and each member received a Sony Camcorder Cradle with LCD to use with the Action Cams they used for the contest.

“Being the Captain of Team One was not only an honor, but also a damn good time. Watching these guys go through the trick list as if it was no big deal pretty much blew me away, especially since the trick list was incredibly difficult. What an insane group of talented riders, who got it done,” said Rehberg.

It was a tight race between Marko Grilc and Simon Chamberlain for the honour of Plant of Day, but Chamberlain took the win with a Switch Andrecht on the Bear Mountain wallride, which also earned him an additional 150 points and a Nixon Player XL Black SR valued at $1200.

Chamberlain also landed several handplant variations including tricks from the undoable category such as a Switch Eggplant Tailgrab and a Phillips 66 over the channel to gain a total individual score of 1270 points. With a final tally more than 400 points above the next highest score, which secured him the Most Valuable Planter award, he ultimately took home the MVP trophy. For this, he scored a Nixon Player XL Gunmetal watch that he graciously gave to Marko Grilc, who Chamberlain felt was “deserving of a win for slaying the features from morning to night.”

“Handplant Holiday was the most fun I have had all season. Team One killed it on every challenge. It’s just that much better sharing the win with your homies. Winning the MVP and best trick was such a surreal feeling. To get those awards riding with all these amazing snowboarders was for sure humbling,” Chamberlain said.

Canada’s biggest snowboard contest, the World Snowboard Tour 5-Star Monster Energy Shred Show finished off with a bang Saturday night as Max Parrot stomps the triple dipper.

Canadian Max Parrot who was an X-Games silver medalist in slopestyle earlier this year stomped a backside triple cork 12 to beat out the competition. “I was kinda nervous, I tried it in practice and didn’t land it, but with the pressure and the good crowd, everything came around and I stomped it perfectly so I was pretty happy!” said a triumphant Max just after receiving his winning cheque and crown.

The field of competitors didn’t make it easy for him though. The 10-man final was stacked with talent like last year’s winner Darcy Sharpe, The Shred Show Slopestyle winner Emil Ulsletten, and a host of perennial jump slayers like Sage Kotsenburg and Eric Willett. Ultimately though it was American Justin Morgan who ended up in third spot with his switch backside double cork 1080 and Kim Rune Hansen from Norway took second with a switch back 12. The level of riding was the best Canada has ever seen and The Monster Energy Shred Show continues to grow in stature in the international contest scene.

The slopestyle podium.

Last Friday marked the wrap up of the Monster Energy Shred Show Slopestyle, the first Canadian 5Star World Snowboard Tour event of the 2013-2014 season. Weather made it difficult for riders to fully utilize the massive Slopestyle course located in the Blackcomb terrain park. As the day went on, the weather cleared up enough for riders to throw down some impressive runs to try and claim the $15000 top prize.

With an 84.50 it was Norway’s Emil Ulsletten who was atop the podium. His run consisted of a blunt 270 on the down rail, 50/50 frontside 360 with a tuck knee grab on the step down, a frontside double 10 on the first kicker, a backside 360, and a back 9 to cab double 9 on the last feature. Ulsletten Qualified in 10th place with a 68.8; just sneaking into the finals.

In second was Eric Willett from the USA with an 83.33. Willett’s run consisted of a front 270 on the down rail, a boardslide front 270 on the Pole, a front double 10 to front board to fakie out on the rail, and a switch- back 9 to back 7 on the last jump.
Willett won the 6Star Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck earlier this season.

Tyler Nicholson from Ontario, Canada was able to round off the podium. He did a Gap front board on the down flat down, a nose tail 450 off, a cab double 10 on the first jump, a switch tail 450 on the up rail. On the second jump he did a back 10 double to a front 10 on the last jump. His run scored him a 78.33.

The Snowboarding Action will continue tomorrow night in the heart of the village with the Monster Energy Shred Show Big Air. Accompanied with live music on the main stage, this event will no doubt have the largest crowd of the festival. Make sure to watch the live scoring at http://live.eim-solutions.com/mss2013

Emil Ulsletten: “ The jumps and rails were really, really good, but the weather made it tough to complete a whole run, it was really fun. I am really really happy! This year has not been the best for me for contests, I needed this one!”

Eric Willett: “The Slopestyle course was good, we definitely had to deal with some interesting weather all day but it worked out, finals turned out really good, it was a bit slushy but that’s that springtime is all about. I am stoked on my run and am glad I ended up on the podium. “

Tyler Nicholson: “This slope contest is by far the best I have ever entered, just because of the organization was so good, it was more based on what the rider’s wanted, they were willing to switch it up if we didn’t like it. The course is just unreal, the jumps were so good and the rails were Gnarly.”

SLOPESTYLE RESULTS:
1. Emil Ulsletten 84.50
2. Eric Willett 83.33
3. Tyler Nicholson 78.33
4. Spencer Link 73.50
5. Maxence Parrot 72.50
6. Eric Beauchemin 66.83
7. Brett Moody 58.83
8. Jeremy Thompson 46.33
9. Jon Versteeg 37.17
10. Charles Reid 15.00

Beside the 5Star Slope event was also held a Big Air competition, and here’s the podium.

BIG AIR RESULTS: 

1. Maxence parrot

2. Kim Rune HAnsen

3. Justin Morgan

To follow the World Snowboard Tour 2013-2014 season visit: www.worldsnowboardtour.com

Listen up, team managers. If you want to sign a good rider onto your European team, you should turn your attention towards Finland. And while in the past this meant booking a flight to Helsinki and bothering the Finnish reps of your brand, this year all you need to do is click yourself through these videos of the Snowboarding Finnish Open, one of Finland’s two biggest events (the other being Wappulounas, of course). Our man on ground Petro Kukkonen wrote up this exclusive report for us:

Last weekend Tahko resort gathered the most noted snowboarding groups for a filming extravaganza. A competition where each team had 3 days time to film and produce 5 min short film at Tahko. A brand new park was specifically built for the video competition. Park had kickers & hips, a double pool, gaps, corner and line filled with spines and special rail features. Pipe, junior park, streets, woods etc. were also free for use. After three days of sunny shreddin & filming SFO Jam Session gathered film groups and long list of Finnish pro riders to have a nice session at filming park. The final climax for SFO TAHKO 2013 was video competition premiere & prize ceremony held at night club Piazza.

RESULTS:

SFO JAM SESSION

RAIL LINE – most creative: Antti Komulainen & Lasse Ihalainen
BOWL – best trick: Jari Tuoriniemi
CORNER – highest air: Roope Tonteri
OVERALL – best of the best: Antti Komulainen

VIDEO COMPETITION

1. BNGR MOB
2. ROISTOLA
3. EURO GAP

STORBIS
Riders: Ali Toppinen, Rasmus Tikkanen, Tuomo Suoranta, Antti Rastivo
Filming: Juho Konstig

KBR PRODUCTIONS
Riders: Petrus Koskinen, Antti Jussila, Sakari Lähdesmäki, Toni Kerkelä
Filming: Eemeli nättinen

TEAM BATTERY
Riders: Henri Laakkonen, Joel Ahola, Kristiina Nyman, Vilina Koivisto
Filming: Toni Kauppila, Merika Enne

EURO GAP
Riders: Jani Isaksson, Paavo Tikkanen, Joni Malmi, Jeppe Rontti, Jari Tuoriniemi
FIlming: Jani Fagerroos

KAIRA PRODUCTIONS
Riders: Perttel Kaira-aho, Niko Savolainen, Olli Toivanen, Allu Penttala, Erkka Siivola
Filming: Niko Niittylä

BNGR MOB
Riders: Joonas Eloranta, Antti Komulainen, Lasse Ihalainen, Tatu Toivanen
Filming: Eemeli Hepola, Pyry Lepistö

ROISTOLA
Riders: Joonas Mustonen, Tuukka Tams, Mikko Lahikainen, Otto veijola, Jukka kiistala
Filming: Rami Vuorinen

Last weekend the Vans Hi Standard hit Scotland for the last stop of the 2013 series, and it went out with a bang; the last Van Doren Style Dollars have been spread, the most stylish moves rewarded and the blow from the Worst Slam softened by a little recognition.

The weather in the Scottish Highlands is notoriously unpredictable, but luckily the sun was shining down on us all day. The park crew had created a truly epic set-up, matching the likes of the European resorts and made for a comp of very high standards.

Amongst the more established riders, young rippers and rail kids from across the country were out in force, making the most of the opportunity to shred on a real mountain instead of in a fridge. Over 50 riders signed up for the event the youngest being only 8 years old.

This last stop of newly established Vans Hi Standard series started with a kicker session on the big booter where Scottish locals Jamie Trinder and Danny McCormick were killing it, after a quick lunch the comp moved on to the rails. Ten year old Will Gimore was impressing the crowds with his no fear approach and Yorkshire local Ian Ashmore threw down his trademark gap to front boards on the down-flat-down.

The event closed with the big and popular Van Doren BBQ and prize giving at the infamous “doo”, where a great after-party was taking place. Celebrating the Vans Off The Wall spirit at its best riders and spectators partied in to the small hours.

Results

Paul Edwards – Best Slam
Danny McCormick – Best BS180 from Dragon and Best over 16
Jacob Roberson – Best under 16
Best Lady – Rio Peterson

From 5th to 7th of April K2 Snowboarding hosted their inaugural Kranked Slalom in Kleinwalsertal/Austria. Friends, riders, families, and select media all showed up to celebrate K2′s 25th anniversary of their foray into snowboarding. The weather conditions couldn’t have been much worse (fog, icy course, rain on Sunday). However, 38 teams (of three riders each) showed up to battle it out on a course full of banks, bonks, jibs and jumps. And while banked slaloms seem to be all the rage these days, this one had its very own twist on fun and creativity. The teams of three had to ride it at the same time, making it a good mix of slopestyle, slalom, and boardercross madness. Rumor has it that some teams even used their creativity to find some shortcuts in the opaque fog…

Team “Original Zillertal”, consisting of Alex Walch, Georg Huber and Tom Trammitz, could cope best with these conditions, scored first place and are now happy winners of a Japan Powder Adventure with elooa Camps. Second became the local team “Handsome” with Clemens Paul, Florian Geiger and Roland Matt, followed by the “Gnarlberg Steinbocks” around Chris Schnabel, Simon Holzknecht and Irian van Helfteren.

More behind the scenes footage with the last bonus edit made by Advita for the first edition of The Overall that took place in Les Diablerets last December featuring VonZipper, Nixon and Advita in an ultimate battle for victory.

Advita Team : Fred Couderc, Kuba Dytkowski, Mizhael Ståhlberg and Stepan Rokos.

Check all the Overall videos on this tag.