With so much to do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis it’s no surprise to see another a new edit popping up from over that way. Michael Macho, Mario Käppelli, Christoph Schrammel, and Fabian Freidl turn up the euro house to top volume and take us along for some laps through the circus of obstacles dotted around the resort. If there’s enough parks to confuse us on where to start, it’s got to be worth popping over for a spin. Nobody ever looks at a piste map anyway, and how confusing can it actually be – slide, jump, bonk, repeat and then back to the lift. Happy days no doubt.

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis have been holding weekly Feel Free sessions every Tuesday since Christmas with local snapper Christian Waldegger taking pictures of you all and video too. Put yourself in front of the camera and bag some prizes if your shot gets the most likes on facebook the following day. Simples. 

Enjoy!

Where: Serfaus, Austria

Elena Könz. Backside 360.

Chilled jam session under bluebird skies wraps up the Euro Nikita Chickita in Serfaus

For the last 4 years, the Nikita Chickita Europe has been drawing rookie girls from across the continent to Serfaus for a relaxed contest that’s all about good vibes and throwing down with friends new and old as the season winds down. And this year was no different. The winners of the NC Scandinavia and NC Swiss Tour were both rewarded with golden tickets to Serfaus, and were joined by a cross-section of other chickitas who were looking forward to the mellow, easy-style vibe of the event. In the words of Nikita’s Geiri, “It is what it is. We put on the event and let it develop on its own, rather than having it super structured. You know that the best nights out are the ones you don’t over plan, and it’s the same with the Nikita Chickita. We shape a nice park and let the girls just ride and have fun.”

The ladies.

Despite a morning that threatened bad weather, the clouds parted, the sun blazed and the 16 girls took to the softening park for a 2-hour jam session. They had to call whether they’d take the kicker or rail lines before the dropped and, other than that, all they had to do was ride and enjoy – no bibs, no mandatory straight airs or over-eager personal trainers fist pumping, this was a ‘contest’ with no hard and fast rules to mess with the part of snowboarding that’s why we all do it – to give yourself a big o’ Cheshire cat grin – and the girls were lapping it up.

Judges Lisa Filzmoser, Vanessa Waldenhofer and Julia Baumgartner.

As soon as the park softened up as the sun started beating down, the kicker line saw some frontside 3s, backside 5s and even backside rodeos being put down while when it came time to get the jib on it was the tyre bonk, pole jam and wallride that was seeing most of the action. Some of the girls pushed themselves a bit too hard and there were some wince-inducing slams, but Nikita had the foresight to have a physio on site to give massages and, like in F1, a quick pit stop and they were back for more. Even though the session was supposed to be 2 hours, the riders were having so much fun that they convinced the judges to extend it to take advantage of the super fun set up.

Katrin.

Head judge Julia Baumgartner was impressed: “I was super stoked about the riding,” she beamed. “The girls did amazing tricks, they hit all the obstacles, they were not afraid to ride the big kickers and the special thing for me was they really pushed themselves in the Jam Session. You really saw that they were having fun and wanted to show the judges something and even after 2 hours they were even asking if they could ride more. And the atmosphere seemed to be really nice too, I am really stoked. For me it was the best jam session ever!”

Katrin on the wallride.

With the contest wrapped it was time for some chilling and grilling, and a bit more after-ski, before everyone headed to the Patschi bar for prize giving. No sooner had we managed to clear the last dregs of after-ski casualties from the floor, Nikita’s Pia Kaipainen took the mic and after some ‘drum roll please’ the winners were announced. Elena Könz had ridden hard all day and deservedly took first place, 1000 bucks and a bag full of swag, with another Swiss miss - Isabel Derungs - coming in second and Sweden’s Malin Johansson in third. Isabel also took the Best Trick award for her stomped backside rodeo and local girl Mary Luggen was awarded with the Best Jib Line. And then, in the finest of traditions, party was made.

Getting on the grill 'n' chill tip.

Thanks, Nikita, for a grounded, unpretentious end of season fun fest.

Results:

1 – Elena Könz

2 – Isabel Derungs

3 – Malin Johansson

Best Trick: Isabel Derungs (backside rodeo)

Best jib line: Mary Luggen

Sometimes it might be a good idea to double-check if times are really that tough – or if you are blessed after all to be able to indulge in a sport as great as snowboarding. Because for some people snowboarding is far beyond their reach or even expectations. Every now and then we should leave our own petty problems behind and try help those who are truly in need.

Hang on! What’s all this pretentious gibberish? Is this Sunday school? No worries, a press release from Burton Europe just made us think a little. Basically, they went all charity and helped some disadvantaged kids get the shred on. Here’s how:

All photos: Cyril

Last Saturday a four-week snowboard program for disadvantaged kids from several aid organizations in Tyrol/Austria came to an end. It was the third time the “Chill” project took place in the resort of Serfaus. Over four consecutive Saturdays the kids had the chance to learn how to snowboard. Chill cooperated with the welfare projects “SOS-Kinderdorf BIWAK”, the assisted living community Telfs and “Nestwärme” as well as the youth probation service “Jugendwohnstart”. Chill was realised with support from Burton Snowboards, The Komperdellbahn Serfaus, the Ski school Serfaus and MPREIS/Baguette.

Goal of the Chill program has been to create a unique and positive experience for the kids. Because a feeling of success in sports and an active lifestyle have a positive and sustained effect on kids. Perseverance, the learning of new skills, falling down and getting up again, being proud: These experiences have a long-lasting effect way beyond the days of the Chill project.

The third edition of the Chill project has been a great success. 38 kids took part and were thrilled about the days in Serfaus. Their quick progress on the board helped maintain the positive vibe throughout the entire four weeks. Some of the kids had never done any winter sports in the Tyrolean mountains before. 16-year-old Latif from BIWAK Hall, said: Snowboarding and the young people are really cool. It is great fun to practice with the snowboard instructors. I am now a really good snowboarder.” Beginner Amela, 15 years old, from the assisted living community in Telfs, added: “I fell down so many times and collected some bruises. But now I can do turns. It was so much fun. I would take part again!”

And Lorenz Kerer, head of the BIWAK project, was excited about the whole event: “You can’t really say much about Burton’s Chill project: If you look into the eyes of the kids, you can tell how successful it really is.” Nguyen Minh, head of the assisted living community in Telfs and Haus am Lohbach, had this to say: “Chill does not talk about the kids’ potential. It is about offering the opportunity to really discover and show it. This is its refreshing key to success!”

Burton is grateful for the support from Serfaus – in particular the Komperdellbahn Serfaus, the Ski school Serfaus and Patscheider Sport + Mode – as well as MPREIS/Baguette for supporting the Chill program once again. Without this support the project could not have been realised.

Last Year's Nikita Chickita winner, Cecilia Larsen.

With just over a month to go, we’re already looking forward to Nikita Chickita Europe 2010.

The date was set a while back now and lest you forget, make sure the 10th April 2010 is fully penned in your diaries! Last year’s event was rocking thanks to an assortment of characters and nationalities who made the trip to compete, judge, ride and made it what it was.

Anja Stefan.

Nikita Chickita is a chilled out and friendly all-girls slopestyle snowboard contest. An open invitation allowing both unknown and established riders of all ages to bust out their moves on the mountain during the day and party like there’s no tomorrow at night!

Anais Cettou.

The contest is split into womens and juniors who compete in qualifying rounds before the best are chosen to battle it out in the finals. Juniors placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be awarded with a full to the brim goodie bag, whilst in the womens contest, the winner rides away with a one-year Nikita sponsorship. Stuffed goodie bags along with €1000 for 1st, €500 for 2nd and €250 for 3rd also await the top three women.

Girls girls girls. And random beardie.

Last year Sweden’s Cecilia Larsen had a triumphant win at the first Nikita Chickita Norway event, which meant as part of her prize she got to compete at Nikita Chickita Europe – she succeeded there too and victory was hers along with a one-year sponsorship with Nikita.

Cilka Sadar, Cecilia Larsen and Anais Cettou.

Pre-registration for Nikita Chickita Europe 2010 can be made by e-mailing michelle@nikitaclothing.com – please supply your full name, age and date of birth, contact telephone number, address and e-mail. Any riders with sponsors please state who they are. You will also need to confirm your registration on-site at the Serfaus ticket office with the Nikita ladies either Friday 9th from 15:00 – 17:00pm or on Saturday 10th April from 08:00 – 09:00am where you will collect your lift pass and participant goodie bag.

Girls Gone Wild!

Event schedule

08:00 – 09:00 – Registration at Serfaus Ticket Office

09:00 – 10:30 – Open practice on the slopestyle course

10:30 – Riders meeting on the mountain at the Chill Out area next to the course

11:00 – Qualifying Heats (Womens and Juniors)

12:30 – 13:00 – Lunch break and course re-shape

13:00 – 13:50 – Juniors Finals

13:50 – 14:00 – Course re-shape

14:00 – 15:30 – Womens Final

21:00 – Prize Giving and party begins!! The Patschi Bar

You can check out more about Nikita Chickita online at www.nikitaclothing.com