Rowan Coultas on his way to first place. All Phots: Christian Eberl.

The young Brit bags the win at this year’s edition of the grommet contest in Mayrhofen.

The Hotzone.tv Groms Open was held as ever in the Vans Penken Park, Mayrhofen, Zillertal, on the St. Epiphany on Sunday 6th January 2013. The competition offers young and upcoming riders (aged under 18) a platform where girls and boys can simply join their first contest or compete against people in the same age bracket for money, honor and fun. Riders joined the competition from several different countries. Competitors from Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Russia showed up in Mayrhofen on this epic bluebird day.

Roland Tschoder

The slopestyle run consisted of optional down rail or down box, followed by a kicker with about 12m table and a kicker with about 14m table in the end. After a heavy snowfall on Saturday and Sunday night, Sven Toller and his shaping crew did an amazing job cleaning the park so the competition was able to start on time.

After a one hour jam session, the judges Thomas “Beckna“ Eberharter, Roman “Fenky“ Fankhauser and Andy Lehmann chose the 8 best riders for the finals, with Philipp Kundratitz from Innsbruck in the leading position after showing some nice tricks like frontside 7, backside 7 and a backside 9.

Maximilian Preissinger

In the end it was the British rookie, Rowan Coultas, who took home the first place – showing some really technical tricks on the rails, clean and smooth style over the kickers with 270 to frontside boardslide, a frontside inverted 5 at the first kicker and a cab 9 melon at the second kicker. A 14-year-old Maximilian Preissinger from Staubing in Bavaria took second and also won the title of “Best Grom“ with blunt slide 270 out on the rail, a cab 5 and a backside 9 at the kickers. Third place went to Vladislav Khadarin from Russia. He impressed the judges in the finals with backside 50/50, backside 7 and frontside 9. The unlucky fourth place went to Roland Tschoder from Ischgl (Austria), the same as at the Groms Open in 2011. The first place in girls category went to Kaja Verdnik from Slovenia, right in front of her rival and team mate Eva Kralj.

Look how small Jordy Keesmeekers is!

Prize giving was held at the Grillhofalm, just next to the park. The successful participants were awarded a prize amount of 1000€ (in total), a wild card for the World Rookie Fest in Ischgl and outerwear from Vans.

Not only was the level pretty high in the contest, but also in the Vans opening Party in Scotland Yard Pub. Many motivated people showed up to celebrate the upcoming season together with the Disco Dogs.

Check out the full results here: www.gromsopen.com

Podium

Iou Staub. Photo: Christian ‘Eli’ Eberl

Sunday, 06.01.2013, the Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen will once more welcome a slew of young talent to throw down in the Hotzone.tv Groms Open. 

Already in it’s 6th Edition, the Hotzone.tv Groms Open in Mayrhofen offers young, motivated snowboarders the chance to meet, shred and compare their skills with peers of the same age. Set to be held on the Medium Line of the world famous Vans Penken Park, the renown skills of Head Shaper, Sven Toller, are already at work creating a testing, multi-feature Contest Line with plenty to challenge all ages and skill levels.

Under the discerning eyes of Head Judge, Thomas “Beckna” Eberharter and his experienced Judging crew, winners and prizes will be awarded in the categories of:

- Under 16
- From 16 to18
- Girls Only

All riders are up for a piece of the Hotzone.tv Groms Open Prize Pool including goodies from Vans, the Mayrhofner Bergbahnen and Hotzone.tv and a share of the events Prize Money of €1000.-!

Rowan Coultas. Photo: Christian ‘Eli’ Eberl

As a special prize, riders will also have a chance to qualify for the Shred Down Austrian Masters in Westendorf over the 8th – 10th March, 2013. Additionally, riders can earn all important points on the World Snowboard Tour (2 Star), the World Rookie Tour and World Snowbaord Federation.

For interested participants and interested parties, please visit the Riders Office is located at the Hotzone Shop Mayrhofen, where you can pick up the latest Contest information or complete your Contest Inscription and pick up your contest pack including lift ticket and lunch voucher.

Timetable

Saturday 05.01.2013
12:00 – 16:00 Open Training im Vans Penken Park
16:00 – 18:00 Riders Registrierung im Hotzone.tv Mayrhofen Snowboard Proshop

Sunday 06.01.2013
08:30 – 09:30 Riders registration at Hotzone.tv Mayrhofen Snowboard Proshop
10:00 – 11:00 Open training
11:00 Reshape, Ridersmeeting at the judge tent
11:15 – 12:15 Qualification
12:15 Ridersmeeting at the judge tent
12:45 – 13:30 Finals
13:30 Lunch at Grillhofalm
afterwards Prizegiving

RIDERS OFFICE OPENING HOURS

Sa 05.01.2013: 16:00 – 18:30
So 06.01.2013: 08:30 – 09:30
HOTZONE.TV Mayrhofen (former „The Seeker“)
Scheulingstrasse 390b
6290 Mayrhofen
Tel: +43 (0)5285 62982
www.hotzone.tv

HARDFACTS

HOTZONE.TV Groms Open 2013
Date: 06. Januar 2013
Location: Vans Penken Park, Mayrhofen (AUT)
Format: Slopestyle Contest bis 18 Jahre
Start money: 33,- EUR including liftticket, goodie bag and lunch
22,- EUR for season pass owners
Prizes: 1000,- EUR prize money, goodies from von HOTZONE.TV, Vans and den Mayrhofner Bergbahnen, Qualification for Austrian Masters Westendorf

Info & sign-in www.gromsopen.com
www.facebook.com/gromsopen

The winners. Photo: Christian Eberl

Normally there would have been a slopestyle with two kickers and one rail or rather a box at Vans Penken Park but due to massive snow fall over Tyrol’s area we had to change plans. We just could have a railjam on the first rail of the advanced linefor all motivated shredders.

After an one-hour session, Jesse Augustinus from the Netherlands won the trophy and was to first to chose out of a big goodie box what to take home. Alois Lindmoser from St. Martin got second while British Rowan Coultas resident in Mayrhofen took the third place. Katie Omerod won the girls challenge.

Photo: Christian Eberl

Eight-year-old Jordy Keesmeeker from Belgium was the youngest rider of all and enthused the whole audience with his frontside backslides.

At night the famous Discodogs from Cologne had a great party with the crowd from Vans Park at Scotland Yard Pub.

The wildcard for the rookies final in Ischgl hasn’t been given away though, but we will keep you posted where and when this ticket will be out for winning as soon as possible.

Photo: Christian Eberl

Thanks to all who came to Vans Penken Park in spite of the bad weather – the few smooth powderlines which lead straight to the valley were the reward for all riders and workers there.

www.hotzone.tv

Results:
1 Jesse Augustinus (NL)
2 Alois Lindmoser (AUT)
3 Rowan Coultas (GB)

Best Girl: Katie Omerod (GB)

A 'groms party'? Interesting.