Mission Accomplished – Vans Hi Standard series successfully brought some style to European snow resorts. Paying homage to the roots of the brand, Vans introduced a new concept in ‘competitive’ snowboarding for 2013. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Vans’ first snowboard boots, the Hi Standard series aimed to bring the fun and style back to competition. Events took place in major European snowboard resorts throughout March and April, and featured an original big air format and rail jam. Riders were judged on individual style, creativity and ‘self-expression’, whilst to keep it clean, rotations over 720 were not permitted.

More than 200 riders, old and young, boys and girls, amateurs and seasoned pros, were battling for Van Doren Dollars in France, Austria and Scotland. The judging criteria strictly focused on style, variety and creativity – and of course, fun factor; having a good session together, enjoying a BBQ and celebrating the true spirit of snowboarding is all that counted over these few days.

The Vans Hi-Standard kicked off on March 12th in front of the infamous restaurant ‘L’Altiport’ in Les Arcs. During this round, the French riders could get their hands on 2,000 EUR cash for tricks, bringing out their best with style.

Moving on to Austria’s hotspot of snowboarding culture, Zillertal, the second stop of the series was a prime example of the “off the wall” spirit, with a perfect balance of competition and camaraderie, interspersed with some great riding.
With the resort having supported the sport at its best, there could not be a better location to host this event than the Vans Penken Park. Local support from those riding, watching or simple soaking up the atmosphere, was fantastic.

The morning of the 23rd of March kicked off with the big air and soon one rider stood out of the crowd: Austrian hero Herby Thaler, whose smooth methods are unequalled within the scene, pocketed some Van Doren cash straight away. His performance was closely followed by Gabor Abonyi and local shred heads Rudi Kröll und Friedl Kolar, who threw in some impressive one footed tricks. After lunch the bank of Vans reopened over at the rail set for another jam session. This provided the perfect opportunity for Betty, the only girl in the competition to really tackle the rail section, unleashing smooth b/s boardslides on the handrail with style.

Flo Heim walked away with the days biggest stash of cash, whilst 15year old Rowan Coultan achieved the title of „Rookie of the Day“. Finishing off with a tasty Californian BBQ and live act MC Henry Jackson performing at Grillhof Alm it was crystal clear that everyone there had a great time!

The last stop of the Hi Standard series took place in Scotland’s beautiful Cairngorm Mountains, on April 6th. The local park crew had created a truly epic set-up, perfectly for a comp of very high standards. More than 50 riders signed up, with the youngest being only 8 years old! Scottish locals Jamie Trinder and Danny McCormick were killing it, while 10year old Will Gilmore impressed the crowds with his no fear approach.

Overall 9,000EUR was awarded to the snowboarders who performed with style, rather than spinning to win, but also the best tricks and rail jam riders were also rewarded for their moves, and not to mention the worst bail!
For the 2012/13 winter season one can say that Vans accomplished it’s mission; the newly created Vans Hi Standard series successfully brought back some style to European snow resorts.
Visit www.facebook.com/VansEurope/events for more information and pics.

And also check out the Vans Hi Standard video edits:

From France
From Austria
From Scotland

All our previous posts on the Vans Hi Standard Series on this tag.

Last weekend the Vans Hi Standard hit Scotland for the last stop of the 2013 series, and it went out with a bang; the last Van Doren Style Dollars have been spread, the most stylish moves rewarded and the blow from the Worst Slam softened by a little recognition.

The weather in the Scottish Highlands is notoriously unpredictable, but luckily the sun was shining down on us all day. The park crew had created a truly epic set-up, matching the likes of the European resorts and made for a comp of very high standards.

Amongst the more established riders, young rippers and rail kids from across the country were out in force, making the most of the opportunity to shred on a real mountain instead of in a fridge. Over 50 riders signed up for the event the youngest being only 8 years old.

This last stop of newly established Vans Hi Standard series started with a kicker session on the big booter where Scottish locals Jamie Trinder and Danny McCormick were killing it, after a quick lunch the comp moved on to the rails. Ten year old Will Gimore was impressing the crowds with his no fear approach and Yorkshire local Ian Ashmore threw down his trademark gap to front boards on the down-flat-down.

The event closed with the big and popular Van Doren BBQ and prize giving at the infamous “doo”, where a great after-party was taking place. Celebrating the Vans Off The Wall spirit at its best riders and spectators partied in to the small hours.

Results

Paul Edwards – Best Slam
Danny McCormick – Best BS180 from Dragon and Best over 16
Jacob Roberson – Best under 16
Best Lady – Rio Peterson

A couple of weeks back Vans threw a wodge of cashmoney around in the Ziller walley to the riders with the most stylish tricks. In an effort to make contests more fun to ride as well as to watch, Vans recylced the good old jam session format on a stair set and a big air kicker, this time adding a dollop of X Factor judging, a heap of 20 Euro notes, and a ban on spins over 720s and then fired up the barbecue let the good times roll. For details of the winners check our full event report and photos right here.

Photo: Rory Johnson

What do you get if you send a bunch of sweaty boys over a tabletop and a stairset on a slushy afternoon in the Ziller walley? CASHMONEY, that’s what. When it comes to snowboard contests, recent independent surveys carried out ever so carefully in a single Google search have conclusively proved a glaring three way split in opinion as to whether people care any more. Half of us are continually drooling over live streams of ever greater spintrickery while the other half of us moan that if we wanted gymnastics, let’s watch some ice skating, at least there’ll be lycra involved in that. And then there’s the unschooled masses getting all flustered in their rento boots just beyond the sidelines who are baffled as to how several tricks in dizzyingly quick succession can be mathematically valued out of 100, but only after a couple of minutes’ consideration. So Vans took it upon themselves to simplify the whole shebang, remind folks where we come from, and have a jolly good laugh while we’re at it. The Vans Hi Standard Series gave riders a chance to show off, with steeze scoring higher than spins – a jam session with a ban on anything over a couple of rotations.

Photo: Rory Johnson

No complicated scoring necessary – if the judges liked the way you move, collect your notes before you pass go. After a few initial bails and wash outs, suddenly there were nosegrab late 1s, super slow 3s, and methods dropping all over the show. The judges were getting more loving than your average Bangkok hooker and they weren’t ashamed to pay for it. Ghost grabs and window wipers drew blank expressions and we could see shame faced riders hurrying round again to have another stab at it. Standards were kept as high as the contest’s name suggests, and if the guys thought you should do better or a tweak was missing then MC Henry Jackson would tell you as well as everyone at the Grillhof all about it.

Photo: Rory Johnson

Photo: Rory Johnson

There is such thing as a free lunch – despite what your gran might tell you – and we all topped up our sunburns whilst munching on it. As if the tourists on the terrace weren’t stoked enough to have understood the simple format of the comp, there was a whole pile of swag to give away for anyone willing to handstand or breakdance for our amusement. The jackpot went to a girl who proudly proved snowboarders just are inherently cooler by humiliating a skier in a running race around the restaurant.

Photo: Rory Johnson

After lunch the bank of Vans reopened over at the rail set for another jam session. This was a chance for Betty, the only girl with balls enough to throw down with the crowd to make some bank. She promptly did so with some smooth boardslides over the hand rail – proof enough that the fairer sex can ride with style when they’re told to. Taking part does count for something, as proved by Charlie Rowlands, whose double backflips to face were an easy choice for ‘best slam’, take a hundy for trying Charlie. Rowan Coultas got a tip of the cap from the judges as best under 16 rider, while Flo Heim took best mens.

Photo – Rory Johnson

Vans may have brought the X Factor into our snowy little world with their yes or no judging, but combining that with some instant gratification for all the riders which we all love in this digital age, they have struck a surprisingly engaging balance between competition and camaraderie with the Hi Standard Series, and the crowd were loving it too. 

Buckle up, Mayrhofen, the Vans Hi Standard’s on its way to change the pace. Pop up to Penken and pick up some particularly pretty prizes this Saturday. It’s Big Air with a twist – not a triple cork: anything over a 7 won’t count, and there’s minus points for repeating a trick. And there’s a railjam too where style wins, and even if you’ve got none then fear not – there are prizes for the worst tricks too. It all seems very warm spirited, which fits nicely with the boozy barbeque session they’ve lined up at the Grillhof and there’ll be no shortage of spirits at Scotland Yard afterwards either. And they’ve imported DJ Flippstarr off of Berlin to play some Adult Rap for us, so be there or be… forever in the dark as to what the heck that is.

For more details click over to the event facepage here and the dj’s soundcloud here

The all new Vans Hi-Standard Series brings snowboarding back to its origin

Vans is proud to introduce a new snowboard event: the Hi-Standard series. Events will take place in major European snowboard resorts and feature an original big air format where riders are judged on individual style, creativity and self-expression – the Vans way. Rotations over 720 are not permitted.

The Vans Hi-Standard Series is going back to the grassroots of Vans, celebrating 20 years of Vans snowboard boots in an authentic way. The concept is simple as it’s all about style rather than spinning to win. No matter if you are a seasoned pro or amateur, old or young, boy or girl – having a good session together, enjoying a famous Van Doren BBQ and celebrating the true spirit of snowboarding is all that counts that day.

The judging criteria is pretty simple, the more style and trick variety you have, the more you get paid. Each styled out trick will earn you Van Doren dollars with no repetition of tricks allowed. Alongside the Big Air contest, each event will also include a best trick rail jam as well as a prize for the most valuable rider and the worst bail.

The Vans Hi-Standard series consists of 3 stops with a total prize purse of 9.000€. Space is limited to 66 snowboarders per event split across two categories: under 16 and over. Both genders and all riding levels are welcome to participate, Vans will even cover your lift ticket.

Dates and Location

March 12th 2013 Restaurant L’altiport, Les Arcs/FR
March 23rd 2013 Vans Penken Park, Mayrhofen/AT
April 6th 2013 Cairngorm, Scotland/UK

Sign-up: 8:30 am
Contest Start: 10:00 am
Visit www.facebook.com/VansEurope/events for more information on each Hi-Standard event.