This is the only picture of the waterslide comp we found without some naked blokes in it.

When your electronic music and drug loving cousing hits you up regarding tickets to Snowbombing, the infamous season ender/music festival in the Austrian town of Mayrhofen, you know the event has grown into something big. Well, it’s grown to a size where even we could not resist being involved, alas in a rather quirky way.

We could not find a single shot of the Onboard boardercross comp, but here's a nice one from the pro competition.

We kicked the first day of Snowbombing off with the “Onboard Ride and Seek Boarder Cross of Destiny.” In a nutshell, a number of nutcases on snowboards (and for whatever reason, also a few punters on skis) rode down a makeshift boardercross parcours straight through Vans Penken Park’s halfpipe. On the hotzone.tv the course has been labelled “now infamous”, we would rather call it “perilous”. The skiers found it easier to clear the “drop of doom”, but Chris Kröll was almost as fast and came in as the best snowboarder. Afterwards, Drew Stevenson convinced us to hug people and dance to DJ Chico’s mellow club sounds (on the hill, that was!), and an unpleasant drizzle from the clouds that closed in around us. Down in the valley, numerous live and DJ acts made sure the 7000 ticket holders got the best value for their money – all night long, in all possible locations from the Racket Club to the Schlüssl Alm, from Groove Armada to Booka Shade.

See, there is one in the background...

On Thursday things looked better weather-wise, and the pro comp went down in the Penken Park. Tom Tramnitz, Chris and Rudi Kröll, Tom „Beckna“ Eberharter, Herby Thaler, Michi Stanschitz, Seb Kern and Sparrow Knox launched themselves over the big jump in the park, with a packed Grillhof Alm watching in awe. In the End Chris „CK“ Kröll won the competion. The sun, beers, Jagers and once again DJ beats made sure the assembled crowd got as hot as it gets. Main act on the mountain stage was Norman Jay and friends. Later it went down again in the village’s clubs, with Skream & Benga being the definite highlight of the night.

Not sure what's going on in this picture, but it sums up the even fairly well.

Friday was the final day on the mountain – and apart from the deteriorating it was even better than the day before. The pro/am competition was open tosnowbombers and pros alike. Plenty of Eristoff Vodka helped to do away with fear or common sense of any kind. First timers, naked riders, backflips, heavy slams – everyone was having a great time, and this was before the legendary Waterslide kicked off. Once again we quote from the hotzone.tv blog: “Never before has the Penken witnessed Iron man, a storm trooper and a more than a couple of naked people attempt to to ride across the water to safety.” Then things immediately got out of hand with the Wax Wreckaz spinning their tunes at the Grillhof Alm with support by FBBB’s Dj Chico and the inimitable MC Henry Jackson. And the traditional Eristoff forest party was the best thing ever, even though noone attending seemed to remember anything but the stellar Dizzee Rascal performance.

Good times ratio at Snowbombing 2012: 11/10.

Dizzee Rascal, the forest party, and some fireworks.

The season wound down with a bang a couple of weeks ago in Mayrhofen, as the notorious Snowbombing festival once more took over the Autrian valley town. While 5000 or so people mashed it up in the bars and clubs each night, the mountain – specifically the Vans Penken Park – was the scene for that winning mix of serious shredding and debauched carnage that has become the calling card of Snowbombing.

You can read the full report of all the riding action in our earlier Snowbombing post – suffice to say that local boy Peter König walked away with the greenbacks for all three of the ‘competitive’ snowboarding events – and now we can bring you the highlights.

Warning: This video contains nudity, vomit, spankings and even some snowboarding.

Billy Morgan about to get what is known in common parlance as a beat down. Highest ollie carnage.

Chris Kröll, Peter König and Billy Morgan show off their winnings. PK won every dang thang. Respect!

Last week the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen was yet again the target of the annual festival of carnage that is Snowbombing. And it rocked.

A week of music, partying and snowboarding is the timeless recipe for this epic event, which has been hosted by Mayrhofen since 2005. This year the sun was out, blazing, and although the snow was pretty much non-existent the resort was completely buzzing with an awesome festival vibe.

[Stay tuned for the full edit of the carnage. In the meantime - enjoy the teaser...]

The main snowboarding events of the week happened on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday along with all the habitual drinking and partying that accompanied most things during the week. The Vans and Onboard Junk ‘n’ Funk was Wednesday’s event which saw a mixture of pros and ‘bombers (the adopted name for the rowdy party hounds that make up the festival’s attendees) hitting a small kicky tabletop in a highjump contest with an ever rising bar. Before long the bar was well past head height and it was down to the pros to see who could pop the highest. By around 280cm it was left to the UK’s Andy Nudds and Austria’s Peter König who were both eventually beaten by a ridiculous final bar height and who had to go head to head for a deciding best trick award on the waterslide. Judged in true Snowbombing fashion with a loudest crowd cheer, König was crowned the winner after a half cab waterslide to front flip out.

Andy Nudds popping big over the Junk 'n' Funk bar

The next day was the Hotzone Ride and Seek games Pro Am competition which saw the riders team up with a ‘bomber each and session the small kicker next to the waterslide. Each team was knocked out of the comp as soon as the pro in the team fell, and after some slush induced bails it was just down to Billy Morgan and Peter König and their respective partners, with König’s team taking the win with a killer high five front flip.

But before the teams were assembled there was what can only be described as complete madness with riders and bombers alike sessioning the kicker and being given on the spot cash money for every bit of radness they were responsible for. There were some seriously stylish back and front rodeo 5′s going hand in hand with crazy drunken first time snowboarders trying to huck their first back flip. Yes, you did read the latter correctly and unsurprisingly it was not long before someone was airlifted away. But once the madness was (very slightly) toned down the fun continued and ended in a nudity-filled waterslide sesh in the sun. Perfect.

Tom Tramnitz sends it in the Pro comp.

On the Friday the concluding event of Hotzone’s Ride and Seek Game, the Big Air Pro contest, took place despite the diabolical snow situation and luckily only involved fully clothed, fully abled and (almost) fully sober riders taking part, with the exception of a few who had been razzin’ it at Chase and Status the previous night… The kicker itself was not in the best shape with the in run and landings soon becoming rutted and bombed but in the end Peter König completed the hat trick by taking first place with a sick back 9 and a massive double front flip. The UK’s Billy Morgan deservedly claimed second with a back 9 and an insanely huge double back flip and Chris Kröll took third with back 7 and a back 9. A couple of rad gunfire runs later and the huge end of week party had started with MC’s Jon Weaver and Henry Jackson getting all the ‘bombers super pumped for the night of hard drinking and dancing ahead as The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim headlined in town.

A Snowbomber charges into battle. Look at the nose catch!

Special shout outs go to the Israeli rider (deserved winner of the Crazy Fucker award) who, after nearly buying himself a one way ticket to the Pearly Gates with a botched rodeo attempt put in a commendable effort later on and almost stuck it.

And also to the Kiwi who, despite having not slept or eaten for days, continued for probably sixth day in a row to take the party by the horns congo and beer-bong style and ended up having to be helped down the mountain by a mixture of MC’s and riders, too drunk to walk on his own (although not to snowboard!). Mountain safety at its finest. It also goes without saying that he was seen waving his beer bong front row of The Prodigy a few hours later. What the hell is it with guys from down under and being total huckers?

So all in all, despite the summery conditions, Snowbombing 2011 was yet another massive success and every ‘bomber there will no doubt already be booking their tickets for next year.

The Royal Wedding themed street party in all its glory. Lobster represent, Liz!

- Paddy Withams

Gary Greenshields doublegrabs a schnappsflip last year.

Snowbombing in conjunction with the HOTZONE.TV presents Europes Premier Snowboard Competition Party Mash Up in the Vans Penken Park from April 6-8 2011

Last year saw probably the mose awesome, wacked out bordercross/slopestyle event with more Schnaps and crashes than a bad night at the after ski. This year we at Onboard have been tempted into the mix for a even bigger and better party! It was the promise of the Schnapps shred…

Team Minishred awesomeness.

The pro rider list rivals any competition throughout Europe so make sure you get up to watch and ride (and drink!) with the pros!

Confirmed Riders:

Jamie Nicholls, Billy Morgan, Andy Nudds, Chris Chatt, Benny „the bomb“ Wetscher, Peter König, Beckna, Mario Wanger, Rudi and Chris Kroll, Tom Tramnitz, Georg Huber, Alex Walch, Flo Heim, 1 more t.b.c

TIMETABLE

Wednesday, April 6th: Onboard Junk & Funk and fancy dress slip´n´slide.

Oh yes – it´s time for the Onboard Junk & Funk. Featuring a highest ollie contest for the pros and a waterslide contest of doom for the punters. Bring up your best Hasselhof outfit and try and slide the pool of doom. YOU WILL GET WET! All kinds of crazy side events will be going on as well so get your ass up there!

Shame and dignity are words the waterslide does not understand.

Thursday, April 7th: The Snowbombing Pro-Am Team-Up competition and cash giveaway

You ever wanted to be a pro? Or at the very least team up with one? Well this is your chance! All our invited pro will be hitting the snowbombing mini shred kicker all morning, encouraging you guys to join in. Also firing you up will be our 1 hour long cash for tricks session. That’s right – we will be giving away several euros in 5′s, 10′s and 20′s to you!
You don´t have to be one of the pros, just come over and try your first indy grab or 180, money for everyone! Not only that!

After the cash giveaway the pros will be choosing a partner to ride with for the Pro-Am, another hour long session for all kinds of prizes! As if that wasn’t enough, our pro photographer will be on course to capture all the action. The shots will be uploaded to www.hotzonemag.com.

One month after the contest we will announce the photo with the most votes, the winner will get a free week (flights not included) to www.seekersurfcamp.com. Check it out and join in!

Dicking around.

Friday, April 8th: The pro shred attack!

Volvo presents Ride and Seek in association with HOTZONE.TV and Onboard. The main event, your chance to watch the best riders in Europe e.g. Jamie Nicholls from UK, Thomas Eberharter from AUT and so on, throw down in the best park in Europe. Finishing with the biggest and best on snow party of the week in the Grillhof Alm with the Urban Knights and the Prodigy’s tour DJ Tobyone. Expect all of last years limbo maddness and more! See you there!!

More Details on www.hotzone.tv

If you haven’t been to this legendary snow event (okay, drinking feast) in the Austrian Alps before, 2011 is definitely the year to go!

Because tearing through the Austrian mountains like demonic snow cheetahs and unleashing their own brand of chest-beating, no-nonsense, fire-starting profanity like musical napalm over the forest crowd will be none other than metal rave legends The Prodigy!

Effortlessly withstanding the test of time, The Prodigy boys are as fresh as they were when they started out and still as popular! Expect a high – octane mix of blinding strobes, smoke, adrenaline and pure tribal invigoration – old school stylee, as they treat lucky Snowbombers to a truly gob-smacking once in a lifetime high altitude performance.

The Prodigy will sit atop a mountain of talent which will shine in surely some of the most unique and unusual venues on the festival circuit – sky high igloo villages, forest clearings, mountain stages, traditional wooden barns and open-air street parties provide a perfect festival frame for more fantastic acts to be announced very shortly.

As one of the largest and most highly regarded resorts in the world Mayrhofen gets completely taken over for a week long party of hedonistic adventure and extreme sport. The resort also boasts some of Europe’s most lavish spas so you can also relax and enjoy the amazing spring sunshine and snowy mountains of one of Europe’s most snow-sure, late season resorts. The nearby Tux glacier (Austria’s highest lifted point) is only a short (free) bus ride away, and although open all-year round, is at it’s best in spring.

Snowbombing is an entertainment and accommodation package, where you can choose a variety of accommodation options to suit your preferences and budget, from 5 star luxury Spa hotels, to pocket friendly pensions. You can add a variety of extras to build a package to suit you including a variety of lift passes, bespoke parties, including the infamous Arctic Disco, ski lessons and airport transfers.

6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS / 1 RESORT / 2 SKI AREAS / 3 MOUNTAIN STAGES |/ 1 IGLOO VILLAGE / 1 FANCY DRESS STREET PARTY (AUSTRIA’S LARGEST) /1 FOREST STAGE / 7 VENUES / 1 SILENT DISCO (6 LOUD ONES) / 25 BARS / 50+ SPAS & HEATED SWIMMING POOLS / 1 AWARD-WINNING BOARD PARK / TONS OF SNOW / BAGS OF FUN / COUNTLESS CAPERS / 1000′S OF SMILES / INCALCUABLE LAUGHS…1 OPPORTUNITY…GRAB IT!

Prices start from £289 for accommodation and all the entertainment. So don’t be shy, secure your place at the World’s greatest and wackiest show on snow.

Get on board the Snow train early to avoid disappointment – more acts, DJs etc will be announced very soon

snowbombing.com

Danny Larsen throwing down a mad method.

On Saturday morning we drove to Mayrhofen – right into the heart of the Snowbombing festival, as hundreds of hungover people in the streets clearly proved. We headed straight up to the Vans Penken Park where we met the 2010 Junk & Funk crew.

Junk&Funk Highest Air winner Peter Church makes it over the Junkometer.

The Junk&Funk is a fun-and laid-back session and always a great way to end the season. Due to the success of the Snowbombing activities over the entire week, only a small number of riders showed up in time for the jam session, but as it was an open contest, more riders joined in as the day went on. For starters, locals, seasonaires and the pros Danny Larsen and Tobi Strauss hit the downbox to show their tricks, after which they took the corner of the park’s infamous end section apart. The Onboard crew had the hard job of handing out cash for any trick that was remotely sick. Luckily, with some free Vans waffles, drinks, and music from the DJs ‘Discodogs’ things weren’t too bad at all, and even if you did not want to cash in you still had a good time.

Highlight of the day was a highest air on the hand-made Junkometer! The riders gave their best, and Alexander Peter Church eventually jumped over an unbelievable 2.20 meters. This earned him top spot, a hundred Euros, and lots of goodies from Vans and Onboard.

The Junk&Funk Highest Air winners. Woooooo!

After the event everyone head down to the Scotland Yard pub to celebrate life, the end of the season, and a great day on the hill! Don’t miss your chance to take part in next year’s season ender, earn some money, and party it away with the Vans and Onboard crews!

The Discodogs at Scotties.

Where: Mayerhofen, Penken Park

Every day, we receive tons of emails promoting odd events all over the place. In our more sober moments we go through all of them and try to keep you in the loop regarding everything snowboarding. As far as we can remember nobody has ever claimed hosting “the world’s funniest snowboard contest”. Until we received the press release about the Ride and Seek event from our friends at Hotzone.tv. And judging from the guys behind the event (apart from hot-zone.tv also The Seeker Snowboard Shop), the superb location in Mayrhofen’s Vans Penken Park and especially the timing during the Snowbombing 2010 madness, they could be onto something! So better get ready as from April 7 to 9 you will have the opportunity to team up with some of the world’s best pro riders in snowboarding and have a good time on the mountain.

Werni Stock. Photo: Simon Lemmerer

You want to know what Snowbombing is at all? You’re kidding, right? Snowbombing is universally acknowledged as the world’s greatest „show on snow.“ A unique festival with snowflakes and sunshine, snowboarding and great music, that goes down in Mayrhofen, Austria for the sixth time. In 2010, the Snowboard Online Proshop HOTZONE.TV and the Snowboard Proshop the SEEKER will organize a snowboard contest for all snowbombers, providing them with the opportunity to ride together with and learn from pro riders like Rudi Kroell, Joni Malmi and the snowboard legend Tom „Beckna” Eberharter. 15 snowboard pros will be on hand to team up with motivated snowbombers. Showing a great performance at the boardercross will be as important as seeking „hidden“ drinks on the course, and wearing fancy dress. What more could you ask for? You can be as camp as you want and get plastered! At the „cash give away sessions“ the best tricks will be rewarded with some moolah. Apart from the “sports” action in the Vans Penken Park, a massive party with the „Wax Wreckaz“ will take place at the Grillhofalm right next to the snowpark. I don’t think it can get any better!

Every motivated snowbomber can join in the game and sign-in at www.theseeker.at. There is no entry fee and the best perfomances will get a fair chunk of the 2,000 EURO prize money as well as goodies from Hotzone.tv and The Seeker.

This should give you a good impression what the event is all about...

HARD FACTS

Event Ride and Seek snowboard contest at Snowbombing 2010
Date 7-9 April 2010
Location Vans Penken Park Mayrhofen (AUT)
Format team contest for snowbombers and pro riders
Funny boardercross, fancy dress and “cash give away sessions”
Start money Eh? It’s for free!
Prize Money 2.000 EURO in total
Prizes goodies from HOTZONE.TV and THE SEEKER
Info & sign-in www.theseeker.at