Looks like the prize-giving to us. All photos: Moritz Orgler

On Saturday, March 26th, about 30 snowboarders met in the Snowpark Fiss Ladis for the new edition of the Oberland Open. The spectators relaxed in the chill area at a tasty barbecue, cool drinks and groovy beats and marveled at the high-end freestyle action. The riders battled on the Kicker and Rail line in a two-hours jam session and showed massive tricks on a really high level.

The first motivated riders already arrived early in the morning at the Snowpark Fiss Ladis to register for the Oberland Open 2011. Meanwhile the shape crew around park designer Ralf Heeb prepared a tasty barbecue. More and more snowboarders and spectators arrived at the chill area while DJ Masstricks already played the first relaxing beats. In the training the riders showed some massive Flatspins, Backflips, 700s and 900s in all variations after some speed checks on the big kicker with a 17m table. After the first runs you could already see that the spectators will marvel at even huger tricks in the jam session. Speaker MC Lix didn’t just tell the information but packed his moderation into a nice freestyle rap. At 11.00am the riders meeting took place and the Downdays and Air Patrol judges explained their criteria for judging the jib and kicker line.

The freestylers had two hours for showing their best tricks on the kicker line with two take-offs of 15m and 17m table as well as on the jib line with a Down Rail or Flat/Down Box and a Rainbow Box. Every 30 seconds a snowboarder and started and offered the spectators a massive freestyle firework. But the wind squalls got stronger during the jam session and it was quite “sketchy” to jump the big kicker. Nevertheless the Austrian Bernhard “Bernie” Kraxner sticked a clean Bs Double Cork 10 at the end of the session and won the category “best trick”. He also made the second place in the end and won 350 Euros prizemoney as well as a Playboard Mag for one-year. “Yesterday was a good day at the perfectly shaped Snowpark Fiss Ladis. Unfortunately the weather changed repeatedly but nevertheless it was a very nice contest. This day was a great success for me because I got 2nd and I won the best trick with a Bs Double Cork 1080. Stoked. I’m already looking forward to the next Oberland Open.” said Bernie. The third place went to Jonel Fricke (GER). In the category snowboard girls the QParks Tour doctor Lisa Veith (AUT) placed 1st with her clean Bs 360s and nice jibs on the Boxes. “It was really a nice kicker and the Rail line was cozy as well! I wasn’t in my best form today but it went good for me. The most important thing was that there were no injured riders to patch up!” said Lisa.

After the prize giving ceremony the last Schnitzel burgers were scarfed down and the riders as well as the spectators discussed about the results with some chilled beers.

As soon as the pictures of the Oberland Open 2011 are edited and online there will be an album of the event on the Snowpark Fiss Ladis Facebook Fanpage , where several letters can be found in the shots. If you put the letters into the right order, you get the solution which has to be sent to editors@qparks.com – among all right submissions prizes of the sponsors will be raffled!

Also for the 7th QParks Tour Stop some riders registered online to collect 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. At this Tourstop Andy Jaritz certainly counted on last year’s winner Raphael Schweiger and therefore won a high quality 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!

Oberland Open 2011 – cozy freestyle action at the highest stage, smiling winners and nice atmosphere – see you 2012!

As of now all snowboarders have the chance to register online for the Oberland Open 2011 on March 26 and activate their profile for the riders voting. The most popular rider as well as one voter can win a trip to the legendary Balicamp at the end of the tour!

All snowboarders listen carefully: you wanna participate at the Oberland Open 2011 on March 26th 2011 and fight for the prize money and goodies worth 4,000 Euros? You can already register online and activate your profile for the QParks Tour riders voting! You can be chosen by your fans and friends to be the “most voted rider” of the QParks tour. The rider who gets the most votes on www.qparks.com until the big tour finals at the Horsefeathers Superpark Dachstein on May 7 wins a 2 weeks Balicamp trip including flight, accommodation and surf guiding.

The voters can win as well!

But not only the riders can win, all voters also have the chance to grab a ticket to Bali! You can vote for all riders who have registered for the Oberland Open 2011. Give your voice to the snowboarder who you think will rock at the contest. If your voted rider really wins the contest, you have good chances to win sweet goodies of the sponsors. But the best thing is: among all voters who bet on a rider at a tour stop – weather it was right or not – we will draw one who wins a 2-weeks all-inclusive Balicamp trip.
All shredders and voters – register, vote and win!

You can find more information under www.qparks.com and www.snowpark-fiss-ladis.at.

On March 26th 2011 snowboarders meet in the Snowpark Fiss Ladis for the second time to fight for important QParks Tour points. The slopestyle contest in the Tyrol Oberland is the highlight for all freestyle enthusiasts who will battle for a prizemoney and goodies worth 4000 Euros at the 7th QParks Tour stop. You definitely shouldn’t miss this freestyle spectacle – DJ Masstricks will heat up the spectators and riders with his awesome beats!

Spring awakening in the Snowpark Fiss Ladis: all riders have the chance to win a prizemoney and goodies of the sponsors Brunotti, Sport Krismer Café, Sport Schmid Fiss and Intersport Pregenzer worth 4000,- Euros. Furthermore the shredders can collect important QParks Tour points at the Oberland Open 2011 to qualify for the finals at the Horsefeathears Superpark Dachstein at the end of the season.

All riders can register for the slopestyle contest online or at the chill area of the Snowpark Fiss Ladis on March 26th 2011 until 10:45am! During the training all snowboarders can practice their tricks on the contest setup until the riders meeting starts. Afterwards the downdays and Airpatrol judges team will tell important points about the contest procedure and the basis of judging the tricks. DJ Masstricks and speaker Chris Cab will heat up the audience before the the qualification of the Oberland Open 2011 will start.

The crowd. Photo: Sebi Madlener

The valuation by the judges is made in two categories:

1. Rating: Boys & Girls „Rookies“ (16 years and younger)
2. Rating: Boys & Girls (from 16 years up)

The format of the Oberland Open 2011 is a slopestyle contest where you have to shred rails, boxes and kickers. Due to the rambling territory in the Snowpark Fiss Ladis as well as the sophisticated setup the snowboarders can make very creative runs. Therefore each rider can choose his or her perfect line and make the Oberland Open 2011 become a slopestyle contest deluxe!

But also the spectators and freestyle enthusiasts will be pleased: in the chill area you can watch the pros shredding the contest and later try the tricks of their favorite riders in the public park! The Snowpark Fiss Ladis offers different obstacles for all levels of riding, which you can study at the 3D park map, pictures and videos under www.snowpark-fiss-ladis.at as well as on the Facebook Fanpage.

Chrstioph Hetteger slaying a great rail. Photo: Roland Haschka.

Everybody can win

No matter whether you’re on the rider’s or the spectator’s 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 stay in the Balicamp including flight, accommodation and surf guiding waiting for one of you guys voting on the riders, along with heaps of goodies at each tourstop! More details here.
Oberland Open 2011 Slopestyle Contest deluxe – be there or be square!

Ralph Heeb shot by Sebi Madlener.

Can you still feel the beats?

Despite all the bad forecasts, the first Oberland Open in the Tyrolean resort of Fiss Ladis went off with perfect weather and park conditions. The style of the contest was as unique as the region itself and the breathtaking scenery contributed to an amazing and friendly round-off for the first season of the Snowpark Fiss Ladis. But it wasn’t just on the rails and kickers that the freestyle folks showed that Fiss Ladis rocks, also at the afterparty in the Hack’s Kaller in Fiss!

After weeks of planning, at 7:30am in the morning the final preparations for the contest started. The night brought 20 cm fresh snow and so the shaping crew marshaled by QParks Designer Ralf Heeb and headshaper Karl Sanderson were busy grooming the park. And they showed that they know what they are doing and presented their “baby” from its best side for the riders who couldn’t wait to rip the park! The weather was a little cloudy at the beginning, but soon the sun kissed the crowd and all the more encouraged the attending snowboarders . The Barbecue station with tasty burgers and the flowing moderation of MC Lix made the topping!

Three rails ruled them all…
For the Oberland Open, the QParks event team has worked out a rating system that should emphasize the Austrian-wide unique setup of one kicker and three rails which excited all participants! Two downrails and a slight up-rail of 9m each formed the railline and the steep and massive roller-style pro-kicker with a 15m table constituted the centre of the kicker judging. Also QParks-Designer Ralf Heeb is proud of the setup: “These Rails are gonna be legendary!” Each rider had three runs of which the best two were considered at the judgment and each of the obstacles had equal weight in the evaluation.

After some warming-up the contest started directly on the big kicker and soon some favorites stood out among the participants. Friedrich Gramm, who finally won the Snowboard rating, has shown some massive moves at the warm-up and commented, “I’m originally from Serfaus where I’m shaping and working at the ski school, but today I came here for the second time in Fiss. I’m really impressed by the park, it looks really nice, nicely groomed, and the three rails are perfectly slippery. The kicker might be a little too steep for my taste, but for the skiers it’s probably perfect! I’m feeling good today, I like the park and of course I hope to win the EUR 500.- prize money!” And so he did!

Heroes of the Oberland…
In the snowboard category there was a harsh battle and in the end the neighboring local Friedrich Gramm of Serfaus won before the Swiss Basil Nuesch (CH) and Dean Letica (CH). The winners of the Freeski men were Raphael Schweiger (A) before Stefan Aichner (A) and also Felix Prankl (A) carried it off well and rode on the podium with a plastered arm! For the girls, Mary Nuggen won the Snowboard girls category ahead of Stephanie Nagl from Germany. Both winners were happy about the EUR 150.- prizemoney. Mary commented: “We had a nice session today, QParks has put down a really good park. Compared to last year it’s absolutely awesome and always in perfect shape! The kicker is totally after my liking with a lot of pop! Today I didn’t take too much risk and I was concerned about sticking some safe tricks such as some 3’s – I really needed the money!”

Let’s get some money and get the party started…
After an exhausting six runs, everyone started off to go straightly to the prizegiving at 3 pm in the Hexenalm bar, also one of the main sponsors. All winners were happy about their gifts and a part of the EUR 3000,- and then it was time to get ready for the smashing After- Contest-Party in the Hackl’s Kaller. Where the excited crowd was heated by the driving beats of DJ Beestyle until the early morning hours!

You’ll find more pics and info about the snowpark Fiss Ladis at www.snowpark-fiss-ladis.at!

Video Spotcheck of what the Austrian park has to offer.

The Dutch the Qmedia Crew and a bunch of local riders rocked up to the Snowpark Fiss Ladis to get it on on the pro and medium obstacles. What follows is a short review and additional weather news as well as important information on the Oberland Open.

Backside 180 from Christoph Hettegger. Photo: Roland Haschka.

Photographer Roland Haschka, filmer Basti Funk and riders from Salzburg (Daniel Limmer and Christoph Hetteger) met some locals – Gill Rhyner, Maurus Zürcher and Ralf Heeb – and pushed themselves to the next level in Fiss Ladis’s terrain park.

“We all had an extremely good day in the park. The riders particularly enjoyed the table top,” explained Ralf. The weather conditions, however, were less than ideal: “It was a mix of clouds, sun and strong gusts or wind,” says Migl – head of the media crew. After the shooters arrived in the park, the riders started sessioning the rails and boxes. The tricks varied as much as the obstacles (from rainbow box to a streetrail setup) – and stoked the riders out. “There were some gnarly tricks among them. The toughest came from Dani, a Hardway Frontside 270 to Frontside Boardslide into the second part of the kink rail,” describes Migl.

Ralf Heeb. Photo: Roland Haschka.

After that it was on to the kickers. It was mostly the 16-18m table top that inspired the riders to get it on. Dani Limmer stomped the second Frontside 1080 of his life, and Christoph ‘Hetti’ Hetteger showed super stylish Backside spins of all kinds. Watch out for this guy! Everyone was pretty stoked on the smooth transitions and the safe construction of the obstacles – that’s the way they should be built! At the end of the shooting things turned really creative when Ralf Heeb asked himself “Why not jump over a snow cat?” No sooner said than done: You can see the result in the picture on the left.

Hettegger shifties over the cat. Photo: Roland Haschka.

What else is happening in Fiss? “Today it snowed ten to 20 centimeters – that means a lot of shoveling work for us. Next week we are going to change the medium line.” In short: Look forward to the gallery of the shooting, register fast for the Oberland Open on March 27 and enjoy your weekend – no matter if on the mountain or in the valley.

Photo: Roland Haschka.

And lest we forget: Here’s the link to the Oberland Open Newspost – now including riders profiles! Send yours along with your inscription to caro.gfoeller@youngmountain.com.

Photo: Roland Haschka.