This is Vitus Wahlländer.

Ever wondered how they come up with Easter on a complete different date every year? This is how it is calculated: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first Saturday after the first full moon after the equinox. It’s as easy as that. The Spring in the Park crew must march to a similar beat, at least their event happened to take place just over the Easter break, too. Going all astronomical payed off, though, as over the two weeks of the camp roughly 300 to 400 riders visited the Terrain Park Zugspitze near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany.

The park was specifically shaped for this occasion, and the riders made good use of the many features. They could work on their rail and kicker skills and take part in the coaching sessions with K2 and RIDE pros. K2 and Ride also offered gear to test, which was yet another perk of making your way to Garmisch. During both weeks, daily photo sessions took place. “The level at the coaching and the contests was really high”, snowboard pro and camp supervisor Sebastian Kuhn said. “We had a lot of highlights like the Red Bull Best Trick, the RIDE Bigairbag, and the Rookie Contest, and we had a lot of sunny days

And these are the Rookie Contest winners.

Concluding the first week of SPRING IN THE PARK 2010, the RIDE Bigairbag was the first highlight of the camp. More than 50 participants (including some 8-year-old rookies!) jumped into the huge air cushion in the landing of a kicker and practised new tricks at low risk. On Tuesday, April 6, the Red Bull Best Trick Contest went down. The riders had to show innovative tricks at a big old gas tank. At the snowboarders’, 20-year-old Kevin Kraus from Diessen am Ammersee (GER) won with a Backside 360 to 5-0.

The Rookie Contest on Saturday, April 10, 2010, was the final highlight of SPRING IN THE PARK 2010. Any non-sponsored rider was allowed to join in this jam session. Despite unsettled weather conditions, more than 60 riders took part. Due to heavy winds, the kicker session had to be cancelled and only the rail session was judged. 17-year-old Michael Miethig from Geretsried (GER) took first in front of Kevin Kraus and Raphael Weber from Diessen (GER). Ramona Fuchs, 19, from Munich (GER) was the best female snowboarder. Michael Miethig convinced the judges with a Cab 270 Frontboard at the down rail and was stoked: “Everything worked out fine for me and I stuck all my tricks quite safely.”

Product Toss. Yay!

The winners were rewarded with snowboard sets by K2 and RIDE as well as lift tickets for the Zugspitze. After the prize-giving, the K2 and Ride snowboard coaches pleased all those who hadn’t managed to enter the podium tossing t-shirts, caps, rucksacks and other goodies of their brands into the crowd. And at the K2 party at Garmisch’s Lodge am Hausberg in the evening, the riders danced it all away!

Where: Flachauwinkl, Austria

The Absolut Park is usually reason enough to make the drive (or flight) to the resort of Flachauwinkl/Austria. Nonetheless, the Absolut Park crew came up with the annual “Spring in the Park” event that pretty much works like a shred magnet. And here’s why:

For the eighth time international snowboard pros like Ville Uotila, Matti Kinnunen, Ludwik Lejkner, Seppe Smiths, Kevin Backström, Absolut Park rider Marc Swoboda and Air & Style youngster Werni Stock will get together and enjoy the unique spring feeling in the resort of Flachauwinkl. Also part of this 4Star TTR contest: Absolut Park´s local heroes Herby Thaler, Flo Mauser, Michi `Stani` Stanschitz and Phips Gruber.

High level snowboarding combined with spring-like temperatures will create a unique atmosphere for both riders and crowd. Head shaper Seppi Harml and his motivated crew have once again spent countless hours building an extraordinary end section and a perfect set up. The Spring Battle is a real challenge for shredding cowboys. No other TTR contest offers promising amateurs the chance to compete against the pros: through events like the Pop ‚n’ Drop and other Austrian contests, these young talents had the chance to earn their ticket for the Spring Battle 2010.

Coming to Flachauwinkl will be worth it: 20.000 US dollar prize money is waiting for the cowboys and guaranteeing a first-class contest.

Friday evening will be all about the legendary Big Spring Break Party in Ema’s Pub in downtown Flachau with Mortal Kombat Sound making riders and fans shake their hips to the finest reggae and dancehall beats… Don’t forget your dancing boots!!!

More information on the park’s website: www.absolutpark.com

Spring is coming to Zugspitze – it’s time for SPRING IN THE PARK again!

At the two-week freestyle camp at the Terrain Park Zugspitze, all snow park rippers and slopestyle novices get their money’s worth! From the 27th of March to the 11th of April 2010, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 offers a daily free coaching for snowboarders, a rookie contest, photo sessions and a test centre with state-of-the-art K2 and RIDE hardware. For the first time, the spring camp on Germany’s highest mountain will also offer a special Kids Coaching in a specially prepared Kids Park. Another highlight is the RIDE Bigairbag at the Easter weekend, where riders can practise new tricks without risk.
For two weeks, pro snowboarders will advise the SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 participants for free and instruct them how to improve the execution of their spins and slides, no matter if beginner or advanced. Karl Killer and his shaper crew will daily care for a perfectly prepared Terrain Park Zugspitze offering kickers and rails for all skill levels. Heaps of pros have confirmed to come and coach: RIDE pros Manuel Tapal (GER) and Jens Kretschmer (GER) as well as K2 riders Julia Baumgartner (AUT), Colin Frei (SUI) and Sebi Schmitz (GER) will assist the snowboarders.

New this year is Kids Coaching for the young rookies!

With the new Kids Coaching, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 for the first time also offers a programme for beginners. In a separate Kids Park, the young rookies make their first attempts on the mini kickers, waves and easy rails under professional supervision. The Kids Coaching is for free and starts daily at 11 am. It’s not necessary to book in advance – just come to the chill-out area at the Terrain Park Zugspitze some minutes before the coaching begins.
On the Easter weekend, another attraction is waiting for all riders: from Saturday, April 3rd, to Monday, April 5th, the RIDE Bigairbag will be erected at the Terrain Park Zugspitze. Here, riders can practise their tricks without risk: the giant airbag will be set up below a kicker and cushion every landing, as soft as butter.

Free material test and photo session

For anyone who is eager to test next winter’s hardware already this spring, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 is the right choice: at the K2, LINE & RIDE test stand you can borrow the latest ski and snowboard equipment of the 2010/11 season. There will also be the latest kids equipment available.
In the previous years, the daily photo sessions have always been a big success. At SPRING IN THE PARK 2010, a professional photographer will again take pictures of the riders’ tricks and moves on the rails and kickers of the Terrain Park Zugspitze. Then, the riders can download the best shots from www.zugspitze.de in high definition and print them at home for free.

Precious non-cash prizes at the Rookie Contest

The Rookie Contest on Saturday, April 10th 2010, is the concluding highlight of SPRING IN THE PARK 2010. At this easy jam session without competition stress, all riders who are not sponsored yet are allowed to participate and to demonstrate what they have learned in two weeks of coaching at SPRING IN THE PARK. Judges will look for the best overall impression. The best male and female snowboarder a snowboard win a set-up by K2 Snowboarding. Additionally, there will be many further prizes to win for all the participants.

For sure, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 also presents some great Partys at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On Saturday, April 3rd 2010, a K2 party will take place at the Hausberg Lodge. Here, also the winners of the “May day“ video contest by K2 will be crowned.
For further information on SPRING IN THE PARK please visit www.zugspitze.de.
Info – Rookie Contest

Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Location: Terrain Park Zugspitze

Schedule: until 10 am Inscription (Chillout Area) 10.30 am Riders’ Meeting (Chillout Area) 11 am-2 pm Jam session (Terrain Park Zugspitze) 2.30 pm Prize-giving (Chillout Area)

Spring camp at Terrain Park Zugspitze from March 27^th to April 11^th.

It’s springtime again at the Terrain Park Zugspitze! Once again, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 offers the whole works for all park riders and for those who want to become one! For the first time, the spring camp on Germany’s highest mountain will also offer a special Kids Coaching in a park area that is specially prepared for the youngsters. Additionally, there will be a free coaching for all freeskiers and snowboarders, a rookie contest and photo sessions at the Terrain Park Zugspitze.

At SPRING IN THE PARK 2010, which is taking place from March 27^th to April 11^th 2010, participants can also borrow the most up-to-date hardware from K2 and RIDE at the test centre – the latest boards will actually also be available for the kids! The RIDE Bigairbag, where riders can study new tricks without risk, promises to become another highlight at the Easter weekend.

At SPRING IN THE PARK 2010, once again snowboarders and freeskiers can get useful pro tips for a better finish of their spins and slides for two weeks. Karl Killer and his shaper crew will daily care for the perfectly prepared kickers and rails at the Terrain Park Zugspitze. Many pros have confirmed to come as coaches: the snowboarders look forward to RIDE pros Manuel Tapal (GER) and Jens Kretschmer (GER) as well as K2 riders Julia Baumgartner (AUT), Colin Frei (SUI), Mone Monsberger (AUT) and Sebi Schmitz (GER).

New: Kids Coaching for the freestyle offspring!

For the first time, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 offers access for the freestyle offspring with a special Kids Coaching. In an extra Kids Park, the kids can establish a basis for their freestyle tricks on skis and snowboards and – under professional supervision – make their first attempts on the adequately adjusted ground waves, mini kickers and easy rails. The Kids Coaching will start daily at 11 o’clock.

On the Easter weekend, another highlight is waiting for all riders: from Saturday, April 3^rd to Monday, April 5^th the RIDE Bigairbag will be available at the Terrain Park Zugspitze. Here, riders can test their tricks without risk: the giant air bag will be set up below a kicker and absorb every landing, as soft as butter.

Free equipment test and photo download

During the whole time of SPRING IN THE PARK 2010, free top equipment is available for the riders to test: at the K2, LINE and RIDE test stand they can already borrow the latest ski and snowboard equipment of the season 2010/11. The latest equipment will also be available for the kids here – to make sure that all participants can catch up on the hardware of next winter.

The popular photo sessions will also take place this year again: during both camp weeks, a professional photographer will take photos of the participants. Then, they can download the best pictures of their tricks on rails and kickers from the website www.zugspitze.de and print them at home free in high definition.

Rookie Contest with many super prizes

At the concluding Rookie Contest on Saturday, April 10^th 2010, every non-sponsored rider is allowed to take part. This contest is held as an easy jam session, almost without competition stress. The riders can show what they have learned in two weeks of coaching at SPRING IN THE PARK. The riders with the best overall impression on the rails and kickers at the Terrain Park Zugspitze will win. The best male and female free skier will each get a ski set from K2 Skis, the best male and female snowboarder a snowboard set from K2 Snowboarding. Additionally, there will be many further prizes to win for all the participants.

Of course, SPRING IN THE PARK 2010 is offering entertainment also in the evening – with first-class parties in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Such as the K2 party – in cooperation with the “may day” video contest from freeskiers.net –, which will take place on Saturday, April 3^rd 2010 at the Hausberg Lodge. The winners will be invited to the Zugspitze for the last SPRING IN THE PARK weekend.

For further information on SPRING IN THE PARK please visit www.zugspitze.de