The Hotzone.tv Park Opening went down from 5 to 7 October on the Hintertux Glacier in Austria. Once more Europe’s earliest park opening boasted good weather, world class snowboarding and a unique party schedule. The excellent park conditions and the many international snowboarders make the annual event one of the most important dates in the snowboard season.

Already on Friday a number of pros like Peetu Piiroinen, Spencer O’Brien and local hero Werni Stock rode the pro line in the Betterpark – arguably the best training option for the upcoming contest season. The park – which also includes the small and medium lines as well as the jib area – was in perfect condition and stayed open for everyone all weekend. A lot of spontaneous jam and photo sessions took place with a visible hunger for the upcoming winter. In the test area visitors tried out the newest gear from 30 brands all weekend, and in the valley the premiere of the new Pirates production UNIQUE8 as well as the Shred Warm Up and the Pirate Party made for the ideal beginning for the Opening weekend. And the pro line-up from Sage Kotsenburg and Janne Lipsanen to Elias Elhardt and Marco Feichtner enjoyed the party schedule, too.

On Saturday blue skies, no wind and pleasant temperatures awarded those who made the ascent on the mountain early. Up there, the traditional www.hotzone.tv Session of the Dudes offered a fascinating mix of technical trickery and unique style. While Gigi Rüf tried the kickers with some straight airs, stylists Werni Stock, Marko Grilc, and Chas Guldemond battled the more technical approach of Roope Tonteri and others. In the end Werni scored the Style Award with tweaked backside airs, switch back 1s and other slow spins. And the double cork fest was dominated by Roope and his Finnish perfection. Not only did he show the ‘standard’ 1080s in the front- and backside versions, he also laid down cab and back 12s onto the soft kicker landings. He was hence declared the Best Overall Rider. And while last year’s best rookie Roland Tschoder impressed the judges with one-foot jumps and double backflips, it was 15-year-old Tim-Kevin Ravnjak from Slovenia who scored the award with his repertoire of backside 9 and perfect 7s. In the afternoon the shred circus moved on to the Hintertux parking lot. Visitors enjoyed a beer and even more sun and had fun taking part in activities like bag jumping, tarp surfing and hitting a piñata. The Analog Opening Night hardly needs introducing anymore: Thousands of visitors flocked to the Hohenhaus Tenne and partied with the Wax Wreckaz DJ collective, DJ NLP, local act SMoK1NG FING3RZ and London-based DJ IRK on several dance floors until the early hours of the morning.

On Sunday the Billabong Kids Shoots took place with Pleasure photographer Fischi and Billabong pro Wolle Nyvelt coaching 18 motivated kids in the onset of winter. The planned Cash for Trix Session had to be cancelled due to the weather. Most Opening visitors, however, did not care: They had enjoyed another perfect mix of park riding, parties and product testing and looked forward to the fresh snow; it means loads more Betterpark sessions in the coming weeks!

Check the action from Hintertux last weekend, featuring heavy hitters like Seppe Smits, Roope Tonteri, Marko Grilc and more throwing hammers in the Session of the Dudes…

Above is the edit from Saturday’s contest, where there’s some intense spinning from the dudes, while this below has Sunday’s grom photoshoot. The mini men were killing it. Skip to the bottom if you’re keen on Friday’s action.

[Sunday Grom Session.]

Here’s a rundown of events in text format, should you be able to read…

The weather conditions could not have been any better for the Saturday of this year’s Hotzone.tv Park Opening. Despite last night’s activities – the fun- and goodie-filled UNIQUE8 premiere as well as the Pirates and the Shred Warm Up Parties – the hungry snowboarders encountered many happy faces already quite early in the day. Blue sky, no wind and pleasant temperatures just above zero degrees made for the typical Opening flair in the busy test area and the Skullcandy Lounge and for perfect conditions in the Betterpark.

At the Session of the Dudes a lineup of top riders like Marko Grilc, Chas Guldemond, Christian Haller and Gigi Rüf showed that the pro line is once again the benchmark in Europe. And while Roope Tonteri scored the Overall Winner trophy with his extremely technical tricks, local hero Werni Stock showed run after run that he was the clear winner in the Style category and the Best Rookie Award went to Tim Kevin Ravnjak from Slovenia. And apart from the big kickers rider crews and filmers swarmed around most other obstacles, too. It did not take long to spot a one-footed boardslide or a backside rodeo.

In the afternoon, the Hintertux parking lot turned into an event arena: Bag Jump, tarp surfing, many other activities and a glass of beer in the sun were perfect to wind down after a day on the mountain. Come nighttime the dance floor of the Hohenhaus Tenne rocked during the Analog Opening Night. The Wax Wreckaz DJ collective, DJ NLP, local act SMOK1NG FING3RZ and London-based DJ IRK were just some of the reasons for a long night after a perfect Opening day. And on Sunday in the morning the focus shifted to the youngsters at the Billabong Kids Shoot, where motivated mini shredders had a chance to re-finance their trip in the Cash for Trix Session starting 12:30, plus have the man, the myth, the legend that is Fischi point his lens at them.

All in all, epic as ever. Season’s on!

[Here's Friday's action, if you missed it.]

Check the edit of yesterday’s action, and find out what’s in store tonight at the Hotzone.TV Park Opening Hintertux…

The season’s officially moved a big step closer as Hintertux has opened its park and the Hotzone.TV dudes are welcoming the great and the good to their inaugural shinding. Check the edit from yesterday, and get your asses there this weekend for shredding, testing, parties and general bro-downery.

Just a quick telegramm from Hintertux: the weather is supposed to be good today and the Park is in mint condition. Tonight there’s a movie premiere of Pirates UNIQUE8 at 21:30 in the Tux Center, where Pirate Producers Basti and Flo. as well as Riders Gigi, Werni, Arthur and Fichtl. will be in the house! After that there’s a Pirates and Shred Party in Tux at Kleine Tenne and Gletscherspalte!

To get you hyped on heading there this weekend, check the edit from yesterday. Plenty of worldclass riders were already in the valley and many more will come for the weekend such as Marco Feichtner, Marco Grilic, Peetu Piiroinen, Ethan Morgan, Gigi Rüf, Kevin Bäckström, Werni Stock, Ästhetiker Crew, Elias Elhard, Marc Swoboda and many more!

From 5 to 7 October the freestyle season kicks off on Hintertux Glacier.

Officially, the Hotzone.tv Park Opening will kick off the winter season on the first weekend in October. However, some hungry shredders have already completed their first powder turns on the Hintertux Glacier. On Friday, 14 September, pros like Steve Gruber and Peter made use of the first fresh snow of the season.  And Wille Kaufmann now has more than enough material to create the Betterpark. Nothing stands in the way of a perfect season opening. Here are all updates at a glance:

Snow conditions

By mid September, the glacier received more than a meter of fresh snow! Perfect slopes all the way to the Fernerhaus are guaranteed!

Park conditions

The Easy Line and the Medium Line as well as the Jib Line are already open (as of 21 September 2012). Pro Line and Superpipe are currently being shaped, and Betterpark mastermind Wille Kaufmann is confident to finish the complete Betterpark Hintertux in time for the Opening!

On snow program

During the entire Opening products from over 30 brands can be tested for free. The test area at the Fernerhaus is open from 9 am. You can chill and listen to music in the Skullcandy Lounge, or join the giant BBQ on the Fernerhaus patio.

On 11.30 am on Saturday, Pros and Ams can take part in the Hotzone.tv Session of the Dudes at Betterpark Hintertux, where they will battle for €1000 prize money, honour and glory. On Sunday form 1 pm you can score a few bucks during the Cash for Trix session in front of the Fernerhaus. No registration required for the Pro and AM sessions!

On Sunday, youngsters up until 16 years can take part in the Billabong Kids Shoot. Pleasure photographer Fischi will take professional photos of the groms. Pro coach is nonBillabong pro Wolle Nyvelt! – Mandatory registration on http://opening.hotzone.tv!

Off snow program

The proven and tested “After Shred Session” goes down on the Hintertux Glacier parking lot: From 2pm you can listen to DJ tunes and throw yourself off a crane from up to 8 meters height into an Original Bag Jump, win some goodies in the Analog shooting gallery, get barreled in the Analog tarp surfing wave, or just enjoy an after shred beer.

Video premiere

Europe’s most respected snowboard video production, Pirate Movie Productions, finally returns to the Zillertal with a tour stop: They will show their new flick UNIQUE8 in the Tux Center. Apart from Gigi Rüf and Marco Feichtner, Tux local Werni Stock will be present, who also has a part in UNIQUE8. Doors open at 9 pm, the screening starts at 9.30. For party ticket owners entry is free of charge -> Tip: Check the shuttle bus plan on the party flyer!

Party line-up

The Opening Warm Up Parties on Friday will be reinforced by an all-new party location: The i-Shine Sound System will create the perfect vibes for the “Pirate Party” in the Gletscherspalte in Tux. And traditionally, everyone gathers in the Kleine Tenne Tux for the SHRED Warm Up Part and shake it to the beats of DJ NLP and Busy Fingaz. A NEW Tux shuttle bus will operate on Friday: Check the party flyer for details!

Due to an even bigger party tent at the Hohenhaus Tenne, the Analog Opening Night on Saturday will be even bigger! Look forward to experiencing Ninja Tunes export DJ IRK from London as well as the Wax Wreckaz DJ collective, a surprise guest and a warm-up by local DJ crew SMOK1NG FING3RZ.

More details and updates about the program, shuttle busses, test area, Opening prize draw and a lot more under http://opening.hotzone.tv

The season’s first snowpark opening will go down on Hintertux Glacier from 5 to 7 October 2012.

All shredding early birds will have marked down in their calendars the 5th to 7th of October 2012
months ago. This is when for the first time this winter, a perfectly shaped park will be ready and
enable you to welcome the new season, get used to your snowboard, feel some air time and try out
some new tricks and the latest boards on real snow. Obviously, these are the deciding factors for
traveling to the Hotzone.tv Park Opening in Hintertux. However, the event program, including a
Pirates video premiere and sick parties will also put a permanent smile on your face…

You might have heard that the European snowboard season is officially beginning with the Hotzone Opening at the Hintertux Glacier. We just received the first daily report featuring Werni Stock, Marko Grilc and Marco Feichtner testing the setup and having fun in the sun.

Even if you had other plans: You just have to go to Hintertux this weekend!

Jump! Jump! Jump!

One week before the hotzone.tv opening the Betterpark in Hintertux is already fully shaped and ready for action!

All six boxes and rails of the jib line, both 17 meter kickers and the hip of the pro line, two 12 meter kickers and the flat box of the medium line and even the easy line with two 6 meter kickers and a small butter box and even the 120-meter long super pipe are fully shaped and perfectly groomed.

While Absinthe’s opener Wolle Nyvelt and Austrian jib legend Seppi Scholler are now confirmed to keep the offspring busy at the Billabong Kids Shoot on Saturday, Essenjahl Selecta from the Pirate Movie Productions and DJ EM as well as Wax Wreckaz, Flip and DJ Dan from Texta will take care off the adults at the Rhythm Opening Night the same day.

More updates and latest news on hotzone.tv and betterpark.at

Pipe riding in October, if that isn't epic we don't know what is...

Be there when the first snow park in the Alps is getting ready for action on October 1st-3rd 2010!

Like every year, it’s the Hintertux glacier in our beloved Zillertal valley that is heralding in the new season on the first weekend of October. With a perfectly shaped Betterpark, pros like Gigi Rüf, Werni Stock, Marco Feichtner, Marko Grilc and many more, a huge test area with all the latest gear for 2010/11 and of course party mayhem par excellence this is a season start you don’t wanna miss.

Special highlights include the professional BILLABONG Kids Shoot on Sunday, October 3rd for all shred heads under 16 (register at hotzone.tv), the pro and am contest Session of the Dudes and Cash for Trix Session at the Mini Shred Obstacle in front of the Fernerhaus on Saturday, the Gloryfy Bag Jump at the glacier parking lot and the K2 POP this! Highest Ollie Tournament.

Party action is provided for with the Shred Warm Up Party presented by Shred Optics in the Kleine Tenne in Tux on Friday and the Rhythm Opening Night on Saturday sponsored by Ozzie Surf Snow brand Rhythm (parties are rated 16 – IDs obligatory!!)

Start looking for a room on tux.at right away, more info on hotzone.tv

If last year's park is any hint for this year it's gonna be a blast of an opening...