The prizegiving. Photo: Stefan Voitl.

Delaying the Hochkar Open 2011 to March 5^th was really worth it: at brightest sunshine, 31 snowboarders (and some skiers) met in the Senoner´Park Hochkar to show their best tricks at the Big Air Contest. A crowd of Freestyle freaks made themselves comfortable at the Chill Area next to the Moreboards truck and a nice Sport´ Senoner Barbecue to enjoy the extra class freestyle spectacle.

When the first riders entered the Chill area of the Senoner´park Hochkar, they didn´t know whether they´re dreaming or not: a huge truck stood in the middle of the park spreading the smell of a Barbecue for breakfast. However, at second glance the Moreboards truck was still there and Albert Senoner was already preparing the first sausages and steaks.  The snowboarders met at the Chill Area accompanied by humming beats of DJ G-Dog before they made their first runs on the Big Air Kicker under a clear blue sky. Already at the training, the audience got to see a massive set of freestyle action with 7s and 9s in all variations. Throughout the whole day, local hero and speaker Felix Prankl entertained the crowd with witty charm and real insider’s information. After explaining the contest process at the riders meeting and the judges’ introduction, the qualifications eventually started out at 11:00 am.

In fact, all photos are (c) Stefan Voitl.

Hochkar Open 2011 – It´s getting serious!

All snowboarders had three runs, wherefrom the two better ones counted. The rookies and girls made already clear at the qualifications who the winners would be. The judges didn’t have an easy job though after all riders completed the qualifying. They calculated and discussed quite a lot until the results were fixed. Snowboard rookie Stefan Hager received a new Burton snowboard from Albert Senoner for his first place. At the snowboard girls, Daniela Kaindl (AUT) convinced with her switch variations above all others and her colleague Moni Oberreiter (AUT) won the Big Air Contest on two boards with a nice 540. “Totally cool, everything fitted. Nice atmosphere, Bluebird, perfect organization and heaps of motivated riders. What else could you want?” she comments on her victory.

In the meantime, parkdesigner Mike Aflenzer and his crew put the two Kickers in perfect shape again while all riders and freestyle freaks were relaxing at the Chill Area and allowed themselves sausages and steak sandwiches. Hochkar local Chris “Zuli” Zulechner was impressed by the setup and the good vibes: “Yeahh, Hochkar Open 2011, a nice Big Air Contest with good weather, lots of good riders, freaky crowd, a nice contest line and last but not least the tasty Barbecue of Albert Senoner.” Another highlight were for sure the stands of NITRO and Burton where the visitors were able to test the boards of the next season.

Another Voitl image.

Big showdown in the finals

Finally the finalists of the Hochkar Open 2011 were definite: Six snowboarders had three runs, whereas the two better runs of them counted. Kick-ass snowboarder in the males’ final: Snowboard Pro Michael “Stani” Stanschitz showed a FS 7 Backside Grab, a BS 7 Indy and a FS 9 Backside grab and jumped to the first place ahead of Marvin Salmina (AUT) on the second place and Roland Scharmer (AUT) on the third. After his victory Stani said: “Nice weather, great contest and I´m happy to be here again where I started skiing as a little child after a long time. I just came back on Wednesday from filming in Japan still having a little jetlag but everything went fine today though.”

After the prizegiving ceremony all riders enjoyed the comfy music in the last sunbeams before they headed off to the afterparty in the JoSchibar.

QParks Tour Riders Voting

Also for the third QParks Tour Stop some riders registered online to get more votes on their profile. But not only to get the most voted rider of the Tour but also to win a trip to the Balicamp. Even the Voters can win: At this Tourstop, Manuel Brandauer, the brother of freeski winner Max, certainly counted on his bro and thus has been drawn as the winner a highquality TSG QParks Helmet. At the end of the Tour, all voters have the chance to win a trip to the Balicamp including flight, accommodation and surf guiding – it definitely pays to take part!

Bluebird, smiling faces and a spectacular freestyle event, Hochkar Open – see you 2012!

Flo Galler. Sequence: Stefan Voitl

Initially planned for early February the great Lower Austrian shredfest known as the 2011 Hochkar Open will now go down on 5 March 2011. Bad weather led to the event being postponed. Having said that you should note that apart from the changed date it will be as good as always! And if nothing else you can “establish important connections to people from the scene.” Bam! That’s hard to beat. Enough quoting, let’s QParks speak for themselves now:

On 5 March 2011, the elite of international and national freestyle will meet for the 5th time for the biggest Big Air Contest in Lower Austria – the Hochkar Open 2011 – in the Senonerpark Hochkar.

Get ready for a big showdown! All motivated snowboarders this are invited to show their skills and tricks at the Hochkar Open 2011! The contest is a great chance to battle with other freestylers, to sneak some new tricks or establish important connections to people from the scene. A prize money of EUR 3.000.- and goodies sponsored by Sport Senoner and Moreboards make sure that there is no lack of motivation.

But another small but nice detail is new: the Hochkar Open are also the 3rd tour stop of the QParks Tour and all riders have the chance to grab important points for the big tour finals which take place from 7th-8th of May at the Horsefeathers Superpark Dachstein. Further information about the QParks Tour you can find online an www.qparks.com or on www.facbook.com/qparkstour.

Photo: Stefan Voitl

Being a Swatch TTR 2* event, all Snowboarders can collect important TTR points. Additionally the tour stop counts for the World Rookie Ranking which means that the best rookies can qualify for the World Rookie Finals in Ischgl. But also the best 3 in the categories ‘snowboard rookies’ and ‘snowboard overall’ have the chance to qualify for the Shred Down Austrian Masters 2011 in Westendorf.

The participation for all riders is free. You can register online one week before the contest at www.senonerpark-hochkar.at or at www.qparks.com or on site at the Senonerpark chill area starting from 09:30. The judging is split in two categories:

1. Category: boys & girls “rookies” (16 and younger)
2. Category: boys &girls (from incl. 17 years)

Aside the contest, the Senonerpark will be open for all jibbers and freestyle fans. The Senonerpark Hochkar offers a sweet mix of easy and pro obstacles, starting from butter boxes, double-kinked box, rainbow box, down box over to picknick tables and rails. No visitors should miss this action – not only because of the high-class freestyle action, but also because of the tasty barbeque by Sport Senoner!

EVERYBODY CAN WIN
No matter whether you’re on the rider or the spectator side, anyone can win at the QParks Tour! All riders who register online at www.qparks.com do have the chance to collect “votes” on their profiles. The rider with the most votes in the end of the tour wins a 2 weeks Balicamp trip. But also the “voters” won’t come away empty handed: there’s another 2 weeks Balicamp waiting for one of you guys voting on the riders, along with heaps of goodies at each tourstop!

See you @ the Hochkar Open 2011!