We’re sure there is still some resistance regarding the big sports brands entering the snowboard market, but come on: Watch this video and all you want to do is strap in and go riding yourself. And if you really need some additional information, this is a Nike clip of some heli-riding and pow slashing in Valle Nevado with the all-stars Gigi Rüf, Nicolas Müler, and Danny Kass plus local/Absinthe rider Maunel Diaz. “Set your drool meter to 11.”

The World Rookie Fest caravan pitched up in Valle Nevado, Chile for the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest. Once again, Sven Thorgen dominated… Read on or watch the video…

Riders from Chile, Argentina, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway and Austria competed at the second edition of the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest 2011, hosted in Valle Nevado, Chile. The event was dominated once more by Swedish talent Sven Thorgren who won the title here for the second time, earning himself a free invitation to the Protest World Rookie Finals 2012, set to go down in Ischgl, Austria, in April 2012. Next week end the Tour will move to Australia for the last stop of the Southern Hemisphere session.

Sven Thorgren on his way to his second South American Rookie Fest win. Photos: Premek Vida

The slopestyle consisted of a kinked rail, 2 kickers and a final transfer kicker, while for the Groms division (riders from 8 to 14 years old) they built a second line with smaller obstacles. In the male Rookies category, Sven Thorgren (SWE) once again rode hardest with solid runs including 720s and his unmistakable backside rodeo. On the male rookie podium also were fellow Europeans Martin Mikyska (CZE) and Harvard Bergheim (NOR). Norwegian rising star Fridtjof Sather, despite being in the Groms age group, decided to compete in the Rookie category and ended up in 4th place – a killer result for the mini man. Thomas Gonazales was the best Chilean rookie and was also awarded with an invitation to the Protest World Rookie Finals 2012.

Among the Groms Federico Chiaradio from Argentina was judged best and won an invitation to the next edition of the legendary Protest World Rookie Fest in Livigno, January 2012. The best girl of the event was the Chilean ripper Magdalena Gonzalez, class 2001.

Fridtjof Sather - a grom to watch.

In the tradition of any World Rookie Tour events also the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest is more than a competition. In fact, for the next 10 days, the SARF will continue with an exclusive “Freeride Experience” reserved to the European invited rookies and the best riders from the slopestyle contest. This special program will include backcountry sessions in Valle Nevado neighborhoods, skateboarding in Santiago del Chile with RedBull pro, Surfing days in Cachagua, cultural visit in Unesco heritage Valparaiso and much more.

"Men's" Rookie Podium.

The Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest 2012 was organized by World Snowboard Federation in association with Anden, Valle Nevado, RedBull, Santa Pizza, Wave House and Mall Sport. Full list of rookie events, press releases, pictures and video, details about the World Rookie Rank and more is available on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Sven Thorgren. Photos: Trojer Meinhard

The first South American edition of the World Rookie Tour kicked off Saturday, august the 14th, in Valle Nevado, Chile.

This event features some European rookies, RedBull’s pro Filippo Kratter as international guest and a bunch of Chilean youngsters. First days saw a snowboard clinic and a rail jam session. The slopestyle contest, scheduled for Sunday august 15th , was postponed to Saturday August 21st because of a wind storm while all the freeride and cultural activities scheduled for the next days are confirmed.

Chilling in the park.

The European crew at the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest includes Filippo Kratter, Sebastian Geiger and Andreas “Mone” Monsberger, and an EU Squad of selected rookies from previous stops of the World Rookie Tour: Marco Grigis (ITA), Hakon Hernes (NOR), Sven Thorgren (SWE) and Georg Huber (AUT).

Kratter dropping his words of wisdom on the groms.

On Saturday the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest offered local snowboarders a freestyle clinic with Filippo Kratter from RedBull and Sebastian Geiger from Ride Snowboards. It included a theoretical part to explain Filippo’s carrier from rookie to pro, followed by 2 groups of freestyle clinics.

Marko Grigis front boards the bar.

On Sunday the Swatch TTR 2Star slopestyle couldn’t happen because of a wind storm and it was postponed to the next Saturday (August 21st ). Instead of the slopestyle, a rail jam session was arranged in order to produce photos and film footage with the rookies.

Georgi Huber & squeeze.

From Monday august 16th to Friday 20th the first “Freeride Edition” of the World Rookie Tour will take place. European invited rookies and 2 wild cards from Chile will enjoy a week of sports and cultural activities: backcountry shootings in Valle Nevado, one day surf trip, visit of Santiago de Chile and an environmental clinic with the Chilean “Tell A Vision” premiere of “Respira” from Drew Stevenson project 2010 in Brazil.

The World Rookie Tour is organized by World Snowboard Federation and its member national snowboard associations. The event in Chile is organized in association with Anden, Valle Nevado and Mall Sport. Full list of rookie events, press releases, pictures and video, details about the World Rookie Rank and more is available on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Hakon Hernes

Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest – Updated Program

- Monday, August 16th : Start of the Freeride Program with European invited rookies and pros, best 2 South American riders from slopestyle and Anden Crew.
- Tuesday,August 17th : Powder Kicker Session and Photo Shooting with BoardTV and Aestetiker TV.
- Wednesday, August 18th : Mall Sport Freeride Session
- Thursday, August 19th: Chilean Dinner & Party at “A-House” in Farellone by Fabian Giavio and Urban Rail Session in Farellones.
- Friday, August 20th: Night Photo Shooting
- Saturday, August 21st : Slopestyle contest (inscription at 8.00am at Terraza Slalom in Valle Nevado)
- Sunday, August 22nd : final event at “Santa Pizza Wave House” with Chilean Dinner, Skateboarding, Flow riding and Party.
- Monday, August 23rd : Departure day
- Warning: 1 Day Flash Surf Trip to be defined

Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest 2010: the Freeride Edition

After events in Europe, Asia and Australia, the Black Yeti will land in Valle Nevado, Chile for the Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest “The Freeride Edition”. Infact the 10 days program of this unique event, from August 13rd to August 23rd, includes a Swatch TTR 2star slopestyle contest, trainings with pros and many freeride activities in the backcountry paradise around Valle Nevado.

During the previous event of the World Rookie Tour, the top rookies were scouted and their careers launched. More than 500 young riders from 27 nations joined last season tour which culminated in Ischgl, Austria, with the 4Star Protest World Rookie Finals, where finnish ripper Roope Tonteri won his second World Rookie Champion title. Now the Black Yeti is moving to South America and continue the search for the next snowboarding future star around the globe.

Invited European rookies, togheter with RedBull rider Filippo Kratter and international media, are next to move to Chile for the last stop of the southern hemisphere schedule of the World Rookie Tour 2010. They will enjoy a week of powder kickers, photo shootings and film sessions in Valle Nevado backcountry area and the top South America rookies from the slopestyle competition will be invited to join it.

After this event there will be a short break in the World Rookie Tour. Northern Hemisphere schedule 2010.11 will be announced next september but the main stops are already confirmed: Protest World Rookie Fest in Livigno and Protest World Rookie Finals in Ischgl will take place in January and April 2011.

The World Rookie Tour is organized by World Snowboard Federation and its member national snowboard associations. The event in Chile is organized in association with Anden, Valle Nevado and Mall Sport. Full list of rookie events, press releases, pictures and video, details about the World Rookie Rank and more is available on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Mall Sport South America Rookie Fest – Program

- Friday, August 13rd : arrival of the European crew and first visit of Valle Nevado Ski Resort
- Saturday, August 14th : Freestyle trainings in Valle Nevado Snowpark with Filippo Kratter
- Sunday, August 15th : Slopestyle contest (inscription 16.000$ at 8.00am at Terraza Slalom in Valle Nevado)
- Monday, August 16th : Start of the Freeride Program with European invited rookies and pros, best 2 south americam riders from slopestyle and Anden Crew.
- Tuesday,August 17th : Powder Kicker Session and Photo Shooting with BoardTV and Aestetiker TV.
- Wednesday, August 18th : Mall Sport Freeride Session
- Thursday, August 19th: Chilean Dinner & Party at “A-House” in Farellone by Fabian Giavio and Urban Rail Session in Farellones.
- Friday, August 20th: Night Photo Shooting
- Saturday, August 21st : to be defined
- Sunday, August 22nd : final event at “Santa Pizza Wave House” with Chilean Dinner, Skateboarding, Flow riding and Party.
- Monday, August 23rd : Departure day
- Warning: 1 Day Flash Surf Trip to be defined

World Rookie Tour Rules

The title of World Rookie Champion 2011 will be awarded to the winner of the 4Star World Rookie Finals 2011 in Ischgl, Austria, reserved to the top riders from previous Rookie Fests, plus selected riders from National Snowboard Associations and the top 20 riders, male and female, from the World Rookie Rank. Check it on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org