The last episode of the 2012/13 winter is all about the Spring Session and sees a bunch of rad dudes seeing off the season in style. Radboardin’

Thanks to everyone for this awesome days during Pleasure Spring Session.

The Spring Session edit featuring: Alex Tank, Gido Gfoellner, Lucas Baume, Andy Walker, Reto Kestenholz, Gian Simmen, Davo Struber, Lukas Lengle, Jesse Augustinus, Marco Rinke, Max Zebe, Boris Bühler, Jacco Bos, Max Buri, Raffi Kossmann, Jeron Lohner, Julien Emch, Phil de Vries, Blume, Diego Koch, Andreas Arn, Thomas Laich, Rob Imfeld, Philipp Ruggli, Adrian Oesch, Joelle Juchli, James Niederberger

Music: Band of Skulls -Death by Diamonds and Pearls // KROOKED C – BULLETPROOF
Camera by Elmar Bossard, Blume and Jeron Lohner
Edit by Blume

Young Dutch rider Jesse Augustinus hung out a lot at the Hideout in Montafon. They rode together, filmed together, and now that there will be a Private Clothing movie he will have a full part in it. Here’s some kind of teaser for it.

Check this edit of Euro Forum dudes Denis Leontyev, Jesse Augustinus and Sindre Cottis putting the beatdown on some of Holland’s fine indoor rail parks.

October has come with our favorite euro trips from one contest to another one, and between all that chaos going down lately Denis Leontyev, Jesse Augustinus and Sindre Cottis had a few indoor sessions in the parks of Holland (SnowWorld Landgraaf and Zoetermeer).

Only a few days until ISPO MUNICH 2012 and we are pleased to announce the ROCK `N RAIL Snowboard Battle being hold on sunday, January 29th at the Atrium outdoor area between halls A2 & B2.

Watch some of the best snowboarders worldwide destroying the massive artificial stairset build for You by IOU Snow. 40 international riders like Frank April, Kalle Ohlson, Daniel Rajcsanyi, Michi Schatz, Jesse Augustinus and many more have been invited to the contest and will be batteling each other for fame, pride and the price money.

To take care of the riders and the audience we will hand out free Hot Dogs, beers and Red Bull at the event area during the battles. Music and visual effects will improve the location.

Check the facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/events/149956965115444/
for constantly updated rider lists, news, contest- and setup-details.

The Event is supported by POW Gloves, BERN, CONTOUR, YES., OXBOW, SPY

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.

We’ve known li’l Jesse Augustinus for what seems like ever and he’s still only 16. How the hell does that work? Now we’ve got him to drop us his top 10 tunes and, well, if you’re down with hip-hop then get your g-thang on bitchezzz…

Results

Open:
1. Nejc Ferjan (Slovenia) 1750€
2. Daniel Cobrats (Germany) 1000€
3. Erik Nesse (Norway) 750€
4. Stefan Rokos (Czech)
5. Jesse Rontti (Finland)

Girls:
1. Mary Luggen (Austria) 1000€
2. Anne Sophie Lechon (NL) 750 €
3. Dina Treland (Norway) 500€
4. Joellg Juchli (Austria)
5. Christine Szumovsku (Austria)

16 and over:
1. Lasse Ihalainen (Finland) 1000€
2. Joel Ahola (Finland) 750€
3. Ziga Rakovec (Austria) 500€
4. Florian Arnold (Switzerland)
5. Marc Andre Seguin (Quebec)

15 and under:
1. Jesse Augustinus (NL) 1000€
2. Gery Regnant (Spain) 600€
3. Ludwig Billtoff (Sweden) 400€
4. Michel Tobias (Austria)
5. Jules Hense (NL)

Electric Gooyest move:
Dina Treland – halfcab 5050 to frontboard

Results

Felix Georgii – best style & overall winner.

Luca Schranz – best trick.

Marvin Salmina – best rail trick.

Jesse Augustinus – best youngblood.

Lea Baumschlager – best chicken.

Luca Schranz' winning trick. All photos: Christoph Schoech

It’s now been ten days since our German editor returned from this year’s Austrian Rookie Challenge. Most other media posted their reports long ago, but our German ed wished to spend a little longer on his words (it also did not help that he had taken a few days off right after the event). Anyhow, here’s his report, which contains not only plenty of pictures but also a real manifesto, which is a rare thing outside of crazy ideologies.

ARC 2011 – Take a Rocket Ride

It was Friday, 11 March 2011, and there I was, a snowboard magazine editor on his way to Damüls, a small resort in Vorarlberg, the westernmost part of Austria. Thomas Alton, who runs Alton’s Skatehouse in Feldkirch, not far from the resort, had been working me to attend this year’s Austrian Rookie Challenge. Now, there had been a few pros and cons related to going there.

Pros: Damüls is a fun resort, has a fairly good park, and I would get to see some of European’s under 18 hopefuls.

Cons: With many internationally successful contest riders now being under 18s themselves, there would at least be some doubt as to the hopefulness of the rookies present. Also, I did not bring a photographer. Regardless, I decided to go.

This was the riders meeting if I remember correctly.

The scenic drive through the enchanted Bregenzerwald lead me to the small settling of Damüls. I got there in time for dinner (which might subsequently be added to the list of pros), and after a peculiar sled race and a chat with the organisers and some media and rider friends I hit the hay quite early. This was a good idea as the event day itself was packed with a long jam session in the park, a rail session in the valley at the end of the day, and a heavy party to cap things off.

What a shot. Unfortunately, I can't make out who the rider is.

The day of the action

All media present doubled as judges, which was a good thing I found as we were seated on top of a tower construction with a great view over the entire park. I don’t know if you have been following the weather and snow reports in the Eastern Alps for most of the winter, but with these temperatures and snow conditions having a park at all was nothing short of a miracle. And apart from some minor problems with the biggest jump things worked out pretty well, and in general the atmosphere was just about the right mix of a laid-back vibe and being competitive, and proved great for the young riders to gain some international contest experience. Of all riders, 15-year-old Forum Rookie Jesse Augustinus stood out the most with a clean front 9 over the kicker, and Marvin Salmina and Felix Georgii were on fire on the rails.

Jesse Augustinus killing it on the stairset.

After a short break a fairly cool night session took place on a down rail and a straight pipe, which had been placed right next to a watering hole for the shockingly underaged locals. Regardless, it was once again Marvin Salmina who impressed the judges with the most technical tricks. Everyone met for free pizzas next door, and then it dawned on us that the aforementioned wartering hole was in fact the party location. I’d have to lie if I said that I spent a lot of time there, but at least Nitro filmer Pirmin Juffinger got our backs and represented the media all night.

On Sunday the organisers insisted on the ‘backcountry’ session, which seemed fairly ambitious considering it hadn’t snowed properly in more than four weeks. I was put in charge of one team, and we spent the day shooting grass gaps and sessioning some pipes we’d found at the side of a lift station. I liked the spirit of my gang, everyone seemed motivated and pushed each other in a good way.

Max Horn showcasing his smooth style.

And then it was all about the prize-giving:

Felix Georgii – best style & overall winner. This kid has a smooth style over the kickers as well as the rails, and he is just fun to watch. He walked home with an all-inclusive package for the Pleasure Spring Session in Laax.

Luca Schranz – best trick. Oh well. We settled for the cannon box in the park for the best trick obstacle. With hindsight this was maybe not the best idea, but Luca killed it with a back rodeo 5. This also meant a wildcard for the “Wir-Schanzen-Tour” finals at the Stubai Glacier.

Marvin Salmina – best rail trick. hardway on 270 to boardslide 270 off, and this was only one of many sick moves he has on lock. (and scored him a Red Bull Mobile contract, whatever that means)

Jesse Augustinus – best youngblood. He stomped a front 9 over a slightly sketchy kicker, is a solid rider and has obviously some potential as he is only 15 years old.

Lea Baumschlager – best chicken. Despite the fact that she was the sole female competitor, at least she tried impressing the judges. Kudos to her. (wildcard the Kauntertal Opening comp)

Look at this press from overall winner Felix Georgii!

The ‘Youngblood’ category seemed a little unfortunate with riders being ’17 years or younger.’ As initially indicated you have to be quite good AND young these days to have potential as a future Halldor Helgason, a combination only a few riders present could boast of, one of them being Jesse. I told this organiser Thomas Alton, and he had to admit that not enough riders around the age of 12 to 14 signed up for the event. Which is a shame, as the ARC has a great vibe and is a great opportunity for young riders to set their mark.

And yet another shot of Luca Schranz.

That’s why – after reading these simple instructions – I decided to write some sort of Austrian Rookie Challenge manifesto:

This is the ARC manifesto.

This is important for the future of Central European snowboarding.

For the level of riding.

For sickness.

Because only if everyone – media, team management, riders, resorts – combine forces and work as a single team with a single goal can we overcome the current state of Central European riding.

Progress.

We.

Must.

This will be achieved by team managers sending their most promising under 15-year-olds, by media encouraging team managers to send their most promising 15-year-olds and by the ARC organisers to work hard to get team managers and media to do just this.

Once we’ve achieved this we will advance to a higher level of riding, a greater recognition from the rest of the world, and we’ll have a ton of Austrian and German riders film American Express commercials.

ARC.

Video footage to follow soon.

It’s getting gnarly close in Holland with locals from Landgraaf and Terneuzen battling it out to secure the most votes, whereas in Austria, Stuhleck is closing in on Axamer Lizum. In other parts of Europe some resorts are building a clear lead, including Madonna di Campiglio in Italy and Les Arcs in France. Are some resorts holding back for a big second half push? With just under 2 weeks of voting left crews and individuals may have some tricks up their sleeves.

In anticipation of the Stairset Battle Tour, we got our mitts on an exclusive action video showing highlights of last season’s Nike 6.0 THE FARM session at Heisä Park, Bavaria. Witness the Stairset in an epic session including riders like Jed Anderson, Nick Visconti, Marc Swoboda and many more.

Giving even more rail love this week you’re invited to test your trick knowledge in our new competition: Call the Trick. Check out the first edition below, where Dutch 6.0 rider Jesse Augustinus tests his skills on the stairset – can you guess what trick it is?

Stairset Battle Tour – Call the Trick >>

To participate simply post the correct answer on the Stairset Facebook wall. Get it right and you could win a full Nike 6.0 Outerwear Package!

Voting continues until November 30th, 2010, so get your friends and shred-buddies motivated to visit http://apps.facebook.com/stairsetbattle/ and drop their vote to get the Nike 6.0 Stairset Battle Tour into your park!