Seppe Smits took top honours for the third year running at the Spring Battle in Flachau. For those of you who didn’t tune in on Friday night to the webcast from Flachau’s Spring Battle, you missed out on all kinds of shenanigans. For a start, snowboard raps. Yes, you heard it right, a bunch of white dudes rhyming about riding. Incredibly relevant, clearly. In between video judging of the riders’ best runs. It was like a pilot episode of X Factor meets snowboarding, the rappers providing the cringe and Henry Jackson as Ant, Dec, and Dermot too. Everybody there was sufficiently inebriated so as not to notice or care though, and one by one the riders would be up on stage to, umm, well they might as well talk about their tricks and plead a bit with the judges. Long legged ladies kept the ever changing leader in the big throne in the corner refreshed, and left us feeling like we at home were about to miss out on a suitably shambolic party that was slowly snowballing along, rappers and all. Smits trumped Carlos Gebber with a backside double 10 nosegrab, no mean feat given the variable light and the falling snow. Since this was the first 5* event of the new season, Smits will be returning to Belgium with 17 grand and a fistful of 850 World Snowboard Tour points for the new year.

Here’s what the organisers had to say about it:

Seppe Smits. All Photos: Markus Rohrbacher.

The Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 is on! With bluebird and spring weather the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 kicked off on Thursday, 29th of March 2012 at Absolut Park Flachauwinkl in Austria.

For its 10th Anniversary the popular Snowboard Event has been upgraded to 5 Star TTR level. Some of the world´s best riders have come to Flachauwinkl to rake in 50.000 USD Dollar total prize money and up to 850 points for next season’s TTR World Tour Ranking. After the Qualifications and Semi Finals went down on Thursday, the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 finalists are confirmed.

Clemens Schattschnieder

Results Snowboard Big Air Qualifications and Semi Finals

For the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012, some of the world’s best snowboarders gathered in Flauchwinkl, Austria, to compete in the very first 5 Star TTR event of the counting towards the TTR World Snowboard Tour Ranking 2012/2013. In the Qualification round, the riders had two runs to show off on the perfectly shaped 22 metre Big Air kicker. The riding level was really good. With the actual start list it was hardly surprising that riders were stomping double corks and 1260s in the first round. The best ten competitors and ahead of everyone Austrian snowboarder Adrian Krainer, advanced to the subsequent Semi Finals. Also local Absolut Park rider Herbert Thaler made it through to the Semi Finals. Together with ten invited riders out of the TTR Top 10 World Tour Ranking, they kept on pushing it to the limits in the Semi Finals. On Thursday Night’s Pickle-Night – Riders Night with DJ Dragstar supported by GNU the ten semi finalists were announced. They had been fighting hard for to conquer a start spot in the Finals, that will go down on Friday, 31st of March. With Markku Koski, Nuutti Niemela and Ville Paumola three Finnish contest machines enter the last round. Previous year’s winner Seppe Smits is still staying in the game, competing against Sven Thorgren (SWE), Eric Willett (USA), Max Buri (SUI) and Jan Necas (CZE) on Friday morning. The Austrian Michael Macho and local Absolut Park rider Clemens Schattschneider will also try to reach for the trophy in the Top ten finals.

On Friday night, the final Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 podium spots will be determined by video judging at the Video Judging Final Party in the ceremonial hall of Flachau. After the prize giving, FM4/Texta DJ Dan takes the tiller for the FM4 Club Aftershow-Party.

Roman Astleitner

Several winners and three awards at the Skateboarding „Cash for Trick“ Sessions

On Wednesday, 28th of March 2012, the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 showcased finest transition skateboarding at the Chillhouse on 1600 metres above sea level. 26 skateboarders from all over Europe were sending it for the Skate Jam. Most of the time up to five guys rode the miniramp coincidentally, intending to grab for some notes out of the 1500 Euros total prize pot. There were many winners but Andy Scott, Philipp Schuster and Dustin Vonach took home the awards for as “most impressive riders” of the day.

Andy Scott and co.

Asymbol Art Show of the Art Of Flight collection

Until Friday, 30th of March 2012, snowboarding legend Travis Rice and renowned artist Mike Parillo present their Asymbol Art Show with the Art Of Flight collection at the bottom station in Flachauwinkl.

All those, who will not be able to travel to Flachauwinkl for the event, can watch the action live: The broadcast will take place on Friday, 30th of March at 09.00 p.m.

All infos, timetable and updates on:

www.absolutpark.com

The 12/13 TTR season kicks off with a bang from 28 – 31 March 2012, as the Quiksilver Spring Battle pitches up in the Absolut Park Flachauwinkl once more.

The Quiksilver Spring Battle will to celebrate its 10th anniversary at Absolut Park Flachauwinkl in Austria. The very first 5Star Event of the TTR World Snowboard Tour 2012/2013 is going to go off with an amazing riders list and some of the world’s best snowboarders traveling to Absolut Park Flachauwinkl within the next days. Some of the best international transition skateboarders are going to join in the “Cash for Tricks Sessions” on the mini-ramp and no one less than DJ Dragstar will heat up the party crowd at the Pickle-Night supported by GNU on Thursday, while Radio FM4/Texta DJ Dan is going to play on Friday night’s Video Judging Final Party at Flachau. Snowboarding legend Travis Rice and renowned artist Mike Parillo present their Asymbol Art Show with the Art Of Flight collection during the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 in Flachauwinkl.

First 5 Star contest of the TTR World Snowboard Tour 2012/2013

As one of the last events of the winter season 2011/2012 and at the same time the very first 5 Star event of the TTR World Snowboard Tour 2012/13, the Quiksilver Spring Battle 2012 attracts a great number of international riders. The contest is unique for its relaxed atmosphere and a great combination of top riders attending on the high-class setup at the perfectly shaped Absolut Park Flachauwinkl with an innovative Video-Judging System.

International snowboarders competing in Flachauwinkl

Previous year ́s winner Seppe Smits from Belgium has already announced to defend his title grabbing for a great amount of the 50,000 US Dollar prize purse and 850 points for his TTR account, which puts him into a perfect position for the upcoming contest season 2012/2013. Also Marko Grilc from Slovenia who has won the Spring Battle back in 2004 is keen on getting the title, but he will be facing strong opponents as Eric Willet (USA), Air & Style Beijing winner Ulrik Badertscher from Norway and Jamie Nicholls (UK). Switzerland brings Max Buri and Tonton Holland, while Finland sends out a whole army of contest machines: Ville Paumola, Nuutti Niemela, Janne Lipsanen, Markku Koski, Juuso Laivisto and Ville Uotila to Flachauwinkl. The Swedes Kevin Backström, Tor Lundström and Sven Thorgren will also be part of the Spring Battle frontrunners this year to name but a few big names on the startlist.

Austrian and German top snowboarders ahead

The local snowboard stars Clemens Schattschneider, Mathias Weissenbacher, Adrian Krainer, Herbert Thaler and Marc Swoboda have showed off during the season with great results and they will definitely take advantage of riding their home setup at the Absolut Park. Beside the Tyrolian Werni Stock, some strong German riders like Ethan Morgan, Patrick Cinca and Felix Georgii are going to show up for the first 5 Star TTR Bigair Battle of the upcoming season.

Skateboarding ‘Cash for Tricks’“ Sessions on highest level

The mini-ramp of the chillhouse at Absolut Park will be the stage of skateboarding on highest level during the Cash for Tricks Sessions. Big names like Andy Scott, Julien Benoliel, David Martelleur and Philipp Schuster are going to show off with their best transition skills on Wednesday facing some of the best national riders like Oliver Gordon, David Margreiter, Roman Astleitner and many more.

All those, who will not be able to travel to Flachauwinkl for the event, can watch the action on live. The broadcast will take place on Friday, 30th of March at 09.00 p.m.

More infos on: www.absolutpark.com

It didn't say, but we're claiming this is Seppe Smits winning his first Spring Battle last year.

For its 10th anniversary the Quiksilver Spring Battle in the Absolut Park Flachauwinkl becomes a TTR 5 star competition. Props, Spring Battle crew!

The contest is known for its perfect shaped and super innovative set ups, the good weather and the Spring riding conditions. The Absolut Park is one of Europe’s biggest and best known parks. The highly motivated and skilled shape crew led by Christoph Walchhofer and Hans Weiss is pushing limits every year and guarantees amazing obstacles year by year.

Last year the video judging show was introduced as a world first in snowboarding. Riders, media and spectators were super stoked on the show presented by Jon Weaver and Henry Jackson. For 2012 the whole event crew is super motivated for taking the 10th Spring Battle to even greater heights.

Spring Battle Event History

The first Spring Battle took place in 2003 and was won by Ästhtetiker rider Andreas “Mone” Monsberger. 2004 Burton’s Slovenian superstar Marco Grilc was the man followed by the Austrian rider legend Steve Gruber in 2005. Sweden’s Martin Sandberg won in 2006, the finish contest killer Ville Uotila in 2007, the German pirate Lars Österle in 2008, Finland’s Jaakko Ruha in 2009, swedish young gun Kevin Backström in 2010 and the Belgian superstar Seppe Smits in 2011. Phips Gruber was the first Austrian to stomp a double cork in a competition in 2009.

The Quiksilver Spring Battle 2011 was the first major TTR title for Seppe Smits and since 2011 Quiksilver is head sponsor of the event.

Kevin Bäckström. Photo: Markus Rohrbacher

As it is still winter in the Alps the finals of the Absolut Park Spring Battle needed postponement after some fresh snow had created speed issues on the slopestyle course on Saturday. Which was a good thing for everyone but moms with their Easter dinners waiting, because a glorious blue bird day presented itself to contestants and spectators the next day, and the sun cast its rays over the perfectly shaped Absolut Park in Flachauwinkl, Austria. This 4Star event was celebrating its 7th anniversary and as usual featured a tight battle between the local talent and international riders. The young Swedish shredder Kevin Backström (SWE) emerged as the winner, leaving Zillertal locals Chris Kröll in 2nd place and Werni Stock in 3rd place. They all collected valuable late season Swatch TTR ranking points and a piece of the $20.000 USD prize purse.

Kevin took the lead with a huge and a super stylish frontside 1080 to backside1080 combo over the kicker line. Kevin who now sits in TTR World No.18 has been climbing the ranks solidly and already showed his potential last year taking 2nd place at the 4Star Protest World Rookie Finals in Ischgl and this year coming 5th at the 5Star Burton Canadian Open. With their podium placements Chris Kröll made a move into TTR World No. 50 and Werner Stock with his 6th result of the season jumped into World No. 44 giving both better end-of season bonus points. Ville Uotila (FIN) placed fourth but stays firm in his World No. 17 place in the Swatch TTR World Ranking List.