Völkl armed their crew of riders with GoPros last winter and then cut together this edit of their footage. Click Play for an orgy of faceshots, POVs and selfies.

Riders: Chris Kröll, André Escobar, Michi Stanschitz, Martin Seiler, Aline Bock, Simon Pircher, Elena Könz, Maciek Dlugosz, Patrick Chinca, Antonio Contessi, Michi Schatz, Marius Bakken, Patrick Schöckl

Völkl just dropped their 2011/2012 team movie called SIGMA. The Völkl team rides powder, grinds ledges, slides rails, hits table tops, pushes doubles and escapes avalanches.

Featured riders: Martin Seiler, Aline Bock, Chris ‘CK’ Kröll, Michi Stanschitz, Keiji Okamoto, Simon Pircher, Michael Schatz, Rob Matera, Roger Schuler, Roy Brönnimann, Patrick Cinca, Patrick Müller, Maria Kuzma

Locations: Austria, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Norway, USA

Michi Stanschitz / The Incredible Project, Sölden. Photo: Rudi Wyhlidal

The beginning for the „EUPHORIA“ project marked a cozy gathering in the Zillertal early last winter. A bunch of film enthusiasts met to discuss how to realize a well produced movie, which should motivate the people to go snowboarding even without showing 40-stairs-rails or triple corks. Additionally the movie should be based on sessions rather than on classic rider-parts and it should cover all aspects of snowboarding.

The right mix of different riding styles, characters and ages is crucial for a project like this and these guys are the chosen ones who were predestined to show their action all around the globe! Chris Kröll, Rudi Kröll, Mario Wanger, Tom Klocker, Herby Thaler, Michi Stanschitz, Fips Gruber, Dominik Wagner, Flo Heim, Alex Walch, Tom Tramnitz, Jocki Köffler, Steve Gruber and Chris Cab.

Phips Gruber. Photo: Roland Haschka

No movie without a story! This meant one week of shooting in Tirol and Salzburg, with almost all riders, many random actors and a production crew of up to nine persons. As you read this, the postproduction is still working hard and EUPHORIA is almost done. Expect some gorgeous girls, a lot of tattoos, a funny story without a real meaning and of course heavy snowboarding!

See you on one of the premiers but first lean back and enjoy the teaser as this is going to be EPIC!!

www.euphoria4free.com

www.vimeo.com/argonfilms

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Argon-Films/197505483618646

Jocki Köffler at the Kitzsteinhorn. Photo: Roland Haschka

Michi Stanschitz in Sölden. Photo: Rudi Wyhlidal

The Nissan Outdoor Games are annually held in Chamonix and well known as the largest Actionsports film festival in europe. In winter 2009, a group of professional austrian filmmakers took part and consequently found themselves winning the „best film“ award against a very strong field of components from all over the world.  This venue marked  the real kick off for Team Argon as professional multi media collective. Their skills helped them to win the award again in summer 2010, and that alone should speak for the capability and creativity of all members.

All members have a deep connection to snowboarding and it was only a matter of time until the idea of an own movie project should become reality. Details and even the name are as secret as it gets, but you can be sure that there is something cool coming up! Ridingwise you can expect a cool mix of Old Dogs and Young Guns and thats what makes it special. Steve Gruber, Flo Heim, Tom Tramnitz, Tom Klocker, Alex Walch, Mario Wanger, Chris and Rudi Kröll, Jocki Köffler, Herby Thaler, Fips Gruber, Michi Stanschitz, Dominik Wagner and a bunch of other guys share their experiences during trips in middle europe, Japan, the US and many other places.

Expect some crazy parksessions, a lot of heavy metall and mellow powder action! In the next weeks we will give you a little taste of what happened so far, the main menue will follow in autum. Have fun with the first teaser from the „Incredible Project“!

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!

Here’s how Mone Monsberger breaks it down:

“Last year we filmed a lot in Zillertal again, in the ‘Ästhetiker Playground’ the whole crew made it to some sessions. Check out: Herby Thaler, Simon Schweiger, Rudi Kröll, Ck, Beckna, Wolle, Steve Gruber, Walter Fanninger, Friedl Kolar, Jocki Köffler, Anne Flore Marxer, Georg Huber, Michi Stanschitz… in action! enjoy!”

Click play to enjoy some pow pow funtimes this Friday arvo.

The Ästhetiker crew just sent us their latest Tell-Ä-Vision episode: This time on their show: One of the sessions they had in Flachau/Austria! This will give you a little taste of what you can expect in Fall 2010! Also, Chris Kröll and Michi Stanschitz travel to Russia.

Enjoy!

Check the Squad Shralping slushy Spanish Parks

Völkl Squad members Benny Mösl, Roger Schuler, Simon Schweiger, Michi Stanschitz and Chris Kröll jumped in the car and headed to Spain to get involved with the  pintxo, paella and big booters on offer.