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World Rookie Fest – From Rookies to X Games

Tom Copsey — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:45:39 +0000

The World Rookie Fest has been grooming snowboarding’s future stars for global domination for many years now. Guys that are now at the top of the game – like Peetu Piiroinen, Gjermund Braaten and Ståle Sandbech – have announced themselves by winning the WRF as groms and ahead of this season’s World Rookie Finals in Ischgl this edit looks at the impact it had on their careers.

The best rookies from all over the world are landing today in Ischgl, Austria, for the 2013 Volkl World Rookie Finals where the annual World Rookie Champion titles will be awarded. It is a great honor to join this legendary event, where all the rising stars challenge, and if you look at last years results from this event, you will notice that all the past seasons winners, today are among the invited riders at the 2013 Europe X-Games in Tignes.

The Black Yeti visited the 2013 X-Games in Tignes driving his brand new Jeep Wrangler and talked with some of the “past Rookie Fest riders” about the development of their snowboard carrier. Some of them competed in past edition of the World Rookie Fest and now are in the 10 top positions of the TTR World Snowboard Ranking and join world class events.

“If not for the World Rookie Fest I don’t think I would be here” sayed Gjermund Braaten, formed World Rookie Champion in 2006, from the rider lounge at the X-Games in Tignes. “Go to the Rookie Fest, do good, and if you end in the top 3 then you gonna be a star!” ended Gjermund.

These are some of past years World Rookie Champions and winner of the World Rookie Tour events competed at the 2013 Euro X Games:

Peetu Piiroinen (World Rookie Champion 2004)
Christian Haller (World Rookie Champion 2006)
Ulrik Badertscher (winner at the World Rookie Fest in Livigno 2006)
Gjermund Braaten (World Rookie Champion 2008)
Yuki Kadono (2nd place World Rookie Finals 2012)
Staale Sandbech (grom winner at the World Rookie Fest in Livigno 2009)
Seppe Smits (many partecipation at World Rookie Tour events)
Roope Tonteri (2 times World Rookie Champion in 2010 and 2011)
Sarka Pancochova (winner at the World Rookie Fest in Livigno 2008)

THE 2013 WORLD ROOKIE TOUR HITS THE ALPS

Tom Copsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:09:42 +0000

The Yeti is moving to Livigno, Avoriaz and Monte Bondone

The 2013 World Rookie Tour kicked off last week end in Arena Platos, Romania with the 3rd edition of the Transilvania Rookie Fest, won by austrian rising stars Florian Prietl and Brigit Rofner. Now the Balck Yeti squat is moving on the Alps for the upcoming slopestyle events in Livigno (Italy), Avoriaz (France) and the only halfpipe of the series, the Trentino Rookie Fest in Monte Bondone (Italy).

More than 100 riders awaited in Livigno for the WSF World Rookie Fest

On January the 12th more than 100 riders from 14 nations will land in Livigno, for the largest event in the tour: the WSF World Rookie Tour is ready to showcase again the future of snowboarding in the incredible Mottolino Snowpark. A legendary event, well known among the snowboard fans for the high level of riding, and awaited by the riders for the high quality slopestyle contest. Moreover, as in the past editions, the program of the 2013 WSF World Rookie Fest will offer a bunch of lifestyle activities to offer a unique experience: welcome italian aperitivo, wellness day, film premiere, yoga session, final party and much more.

Registrations are open for the 2013 French Fries Rookie Fest in Avoriaz (9 and 10 February 2013)

After Livigno the World Rookie Tour move on the West Alps for the third edition of the French Fries Rookie Fest, a slopestyle contest in the beautiful resort of Avoriaz, France. This event will assign 12 spot for the end of season Volkl World Rookie Finals in Ischgl and 3 all inclusive invitation to the Trentino Rookie Fest in Monte Bondone, Italy, the only halfpipe event of the Rookie Tour 2013. Find all the info online here and check the event program and info in the attachment.

The new halfpipe is ready for the Trentino Rookie Fest in Monte Bondone (14-17 February 2013)

The Halfpipe event of the World Rookie Tour will take place again in Monte Bondone, Italy. The best European junior teams are awaited in this nice resort in Trentino, just 20 minutes from the city of Trento, where a a brand new super pipe was just realized in order to host the next Universiadi 2013. The 4 days program will include training session with Pros, an Halfpipe contest, a night session, video premiere, an unforgettable party, a visit to Trento old town and castle. All inclusive package including hotel*** in half board from 14 to 16 February, 3 days lift ticket and event pass are available at 300€. For registration, info and bookings contact us at rookie@worldsnowboardfederation.org or by phone at 0039.331.9027656

20 TEAMS AT THE 2012 PROTEST WORLD ROOKIE FINAL

Tom Copsey — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:38:16 +0000

Saether Tischendor Fridtjof at last year's WRF. All Photos: Eleonora Raggi

20 Snowboard Rookie Teams from all over the world have landed in Ischgl, Austria, for the 4Star 2012 Protest World Rookie Finals, which is going down from April 11-15. The WRF is the most important youth snowboard event of the season where the yearly WSF World Rookie Champions titles will be awarded.

England, France, Canada, Rumania, Italy, Czech Republic, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Polland, USA, Germany, The Nederlands, Slovenia, Austria, Russia, Australia and Andorra are the national teams confirmed for the 2012 Protest World Rookie Finals: almost 100 rising stars from all over the world will face off in Ischgl for a slice of the 30.000€ prize purse.

Peder Dale Midttomme

Among the many prizes there will there will be invitations to Onboard and Cooler photoshootings to offer the winners a chance to get their first international picture published.

“We are exhited to host again this incredible event in Austria” stated Meinhard Trojer, WRT organizer and WSF board of director. “Every year we offer the partecipants a unique program packed of lifestyle activities and we have the honor to see the future stars of snowboarding before they start to shine”.

The park is not too shabby.

Follow the 2012 Protest World Rookie Finals online on www.worldrookietour.com

Prizes for the Protest World Rookie Finals 2012

Filming with Pirate Movie Productions,

Onboard and Cooler photoshooting,
2 Golden tickets to 2012/13 World Rookie Fests
5 tickets to Halfpipe Rookie Fest 2013 in Monte Bondone Italy,
2 Freeride Film Trip to Australia,
Snowboard goodies, Pieps, Tech Riders, CHUCKBUDDiES, Trophies.

Bassell and Fitch won the Australian Rookie Fest 2011

Youri Barneoud — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:11:54 +0000

The Southern Hemisphere season of the World Rookie Tour concluded with the very successful second ever Australian Rookie Fest at Thredbo Resort. Henry Bessell, last year’s Grom winner, took out the Rookie division: he won a trip to the Protest World Rookie Finals 2012 in Ischgl, Austria, as did the female Rookie winner Alex Fitch.

Henry Bessell in action

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great, so Charles Beckinsale, internationally renowned course designer, had to make the call on the morning of the event to switch courses from Antons to High Noon. All the competitors were disappointed with the decision as they were really looking forward to hitting the 30ft and 50ft jumps on the specially designed course. However, the course was fogged in and dangerous on the day. The second choice course consisted of a long down box and 2 jumps, which allowed all to show off their best tricks.
Among the grom division Matty Cox and Cassie Fortune took out their category, winning an invitation to the Protest World Rookie Fest in Livigno in January , 2012.
Red Bull also provided flights in the Red Bull stunt plane for each of the Rookie and Grom winners. In addition, Red Bull provided $1,000 to each of the Rookie winners to go towards the cost of travel to Ischgl next year. For the first time the Rookie winners also received an invitation to compete at Stylewars – The Australian Slopestyle Championships in Falls Creek, a 4 star TTR event.
Thanks to the event sponsors Red Bull, Thredbo, K2, Semantics, Smith Optics and Adrenalin + Boardstore. For the full results, photos, video footage and information about the World Rookie Rank, go to www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Female Rookie winners

Male Rookie winners

Watch the official video with live music intro at following link

Results for Australian Rookie Fest 2011
Male Rookie: 1st Henry Bessell; 2nd Ben Alexis; 3rd Jack Hasler
Female Rookie: 1st Alex Fitch; 2nd Biba Turnbull; 3rd Stephanie Dahan
Male Grom: 1st Matthew Cox; 2nd Joshua Vagne; 3rd Angus Waddington
Female Grom: 1st Cassie Fortune; 2nd Emily Arthur: 3rd Georgia Baff

The World Rookie Tour will come back from December 2011 with the first events of the Northern Hemisphere season. Stay tuned on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Billtoft and Medlova win Summer Rookie Fest 2011

Tom Copsey — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:42:10 +0000

Ludvig Billtoft from Sweden and Klaudia Medlova from Slovakia took the honours for men and women at the 2star Summer Rookie Fest 2011 in Val Senales, Italy, the first event of the World Rookie Tour 2011-12.

With 24 riders from Italy, Switzerland, Cezch Republic, Sweden and Slovakia, the event was hosted in the Nitro Gentlemen’s Snowpark, one of the best summer glacier park in Europe.

In the male rookie category Ludvig Billtoft rode the strongest and won an all-inclusive invitation to the legendary 3Star slopestyle “World Rookie Fest” in Livigno, Italy. Martin Mikyska from Czech Republic and Nicholas Bridgman from Italy nabbed second and third with solid runs on the slushy summer snow. For the rookie girls the Slovakian ripper Klaudia Medlova put in a solid shift and her high level of riding won her section, followed on the podium from Verena Rohrer (Sui) and Katerina Yanova (Czk). In the young grom division, with kids born from 1997 and up, the male winner was Dario Burch from Switzerland while the female winner was Katerina Vojockova from Czech Republic.

The event tooke place during the Summer Rookie Camp, an international training meeting dedicated to riders under the age of 18 who wish to improve their skills for the upcoming World Rookie Tour. The 2Star Slopestyle “Summer RookieFest” happened on the last 2 days of the camp, and saw the participation of many of the campers, plus national rookie teams that joined the meeting.

The Summer Rookie Fest was organized by the World Snowboard Federation in collaboration with Board Riders and the Asociace Ceského Snowboardingu and made possible thanks to NItro, Snowpark.it, supported by Cableway Val Senales, Gentlemen’s Riders, Neuro, energized by Red Bull. You can watch it on Onboard European Snowboard Magazine, Board.TV, Free Magazine, Freeride.CZ, Snowpark.it and Entry.

Protest World Rookie Tour Heads for Pyrenees

Tom Copsey — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:03:56 +0000

The Protest World Rookie Tour rolls on to Vallnord in the Pyrenees this February, with some of the hottest groms in the area being drawn to this 3-star TTR event.

After a great kick off event in Livigno, Italy, the World Rookie Tour keep on rolling to the next stop in Vallnord, Andorra, from 17 to 20 february 2011 for the Swatch TTR 3Star Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest.

“After the first edition in 2010, Vallnord and local organizer Aleks Sanz from WSS are now ready to upgrade the rookie fest in Andorra to a 3 star level. It will be a great experience for all West Europe rookies and snowboard fans! ” stated Marco Sampaoli from WSF.

The park that will host Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest is made the by ASP SNOWPARKS, the best company in Spain. “Vallnord and ASP are stoked to have this event again after the great success of the last year. There’s a luck of snow in Andorra but the snowpark is great and it’s going to be awesome” stated Aleks Sanz, the organizer of the event.

Vallnord hosts high quality freestyle area and a special slopestyle will be presented for the Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest. Don’t miss the second west european edition of the most famous youth event!

The event in Vallnord will assign the following prizes:

2 tickets to enter for free the Protest World Rookie Finals in Ischgl, Italy, from 4 to 11 april 2010
1 ticket to the next Rookie Fest in Serbia or in Czech Republic
Snowboard goodies from the sponsors
1 Ticket to the Ride Shake Down in Garmisch (Germany)
2 Tickets to the Protest Manifest in Formigal (Spain)

The Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest is organized by World Snowboard Federation and Wssactionsports (WSS) and it is made possible thanks to Protest Boardwear and Ride Snowboards, Vallnord Ski Resort and Turistic Office, supported by Pirate Movie Productions, energized by RedBull, supported by Tech Riders. You can follow the Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest on our international media partners Onboard European Snowboard Magazine, Cooler.

If your dream is to become a professional snowboarder, then your future starts from the Rookie Fests! Check out more info about the Protest World Rookie Tour.

Tell-Ä-Vision: Young Guns in Chile

Uli Köhler — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:31:37 +0000

A new Ästhetiker webisode just dropped into our inbox. Check out some of the action from the World Rookie Fest in Chile. Two more episodes to follow soon…

Ofcourse everyone knows the World Rookie Tour! Last August 4 of the Youngguns (who did well on the rookie fest tour) had the chance to go to chile, to ride the first south American Rookie Fest plus to experience some freeriding!

Big up to the organizer of the World Rookie Tour to great something like that! Giving this kid the chance to go to chile!

Featured Younggungs (Future Rider): Marco Grigis from Italy, Sven Thorgren from Sweden, Hakon Hernes from Norway and Georg Huber from Austria!

World Rookie Tour – The TV Show

Tom Copsey — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:54:58 +0000

Want to see what the future of snowboarding looks like? Check out this movie charting the progress of the grommets on the World Rookie Tour last season.

World Rookie Tour 2010 consist of a global series of youth snowboard events all over the world, from 1 to 4star level. Over 500 kids from 20 nations join the tour in order to challenge for the title of World Rookie Champion and get their chance to became professional snowboarder: infact instead of prize money the rookie tour offer the winner tickets to world class events, photo shooting with international media and video session with film production company.

The kick off event of season 2010 was in Livigno, Italy, with the most progression youth snowboard event in the history of snowboard: the Protest World Rookie Fest. A Swatch TTR 3Star slopestyle which attract 100 of the most talented under 18 years old riders from 20 nations, challanging in one of the greatest snowpark of the season. The winner, Roope Tonteri, got a ticket for the legendary Oakley Artic Challenge in Oslo, Norway, the event founded by Terje Haakonsen, the god father of modern snowboard. Roope hit the TAC with solid run ending the event on 7th place: well done Roope!

Then the tour moved to Andorra, Serbia, Czech Republic and arrived to the end of season big finals: the 4Star Protest World Rookie Finals 2011 in Ischgl, Austria.
Only pre-selected riders from previous stops and from World Snowboard Federation national associations,had the chance to compete in the rookie finals and challenge for the World Rookie Champion title and won amazing prizes: trip to Chile, a ticket to the Air&Style, a filming session with Pirate Movie Production and photoshootings with Onboard Europe.

Roope Tonteri resulted again the best rider of the event and conquered his second World Rookie Champion title: everybody will now look at his name as an upcoming international pro rider!
After the finals a buch of the best europea rookies where invited to the first ever Rookie Fest in South America, to be host in Valle Nevado, Chile. It was an unforgettable trip, with pros, slopestyle contest with the locals and some freeride shooting.

The rookies grew during the season and are now ready to became international pros: the dream is coming finally true.

World Rookie Tour 2011 – Skeleton Calendar Announced

Tom Copsey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 07:32:20 +0000

Groms lining up to drop into Livigno's Mottolino snowpark. Photos: Eleonora Raggi.

The largest youth snowboard series is back for the season 2010/11 with many international events scattered across the globe. Today’s pro like Peetu Piiroinen, Gjermund Braaten, Roope Tonteri and many other professional snowboarders started their international carries at previous editions of the World Rookie Tour: now is YOUR chance to get involved and make the dream come true.

The best riders of the tour can win international photo & video shootings, freeride trip to Chile, film shooting with Pirates Movie Production and tickets to world class events: in the past WRT winners got wildcards to the Billabong Air&Style and the Oakley Arctic Challenge!

Clemens Schattschneider at last season's WRT Finals in Ischgl.

But it’s not all about competition! The World Rookie Tour stops are also international bro-downs where you can meet new friends, shred the best snowparks, learn new tricks, get in touch with team manager and snowboard media, travel and practice talking in English.

Join the tour is easy! Just drop an email to rookie@worldsnowboardfederation.org or call your national snowboard federation. Start from the the regional and national rookie events, where you will get qualified for the international Rookie Fests around the world and win a ticket for the 4Star Protest World Rookie Finals, the big end of season event that will be held in Ischgl, Austria from 6 to 10 April 2011.

World Rookie Tour 2011 – Provisional Calendar for the international tour stops

Protest World Rookie Fest – Livigno, Italy – 3Star – 15.19 January 2011
Protest Rookie Camp – Livigno, Italy – international training camp – 19-22 January 2011
Protest Pyrenees Rookie Fest, Vallnord, Andorra – 3Star – February 2011 (date to be announced)
East Rookie Fest – Splinderuv Mlyn, Czech Republic – 2Star – 4-6 March 2011
Protest World Rookie Finals – Ischgl, Austria – 4Star – 6-10 April 2010
Rookie Camp – Val Senales, Italy – international summer training camp – 25 June – 9 July 2011
Summer Rookie Fest – Val Senales, Italy – 2Star – 1-2 July 2011
Australian Rookie Fest – Perisher Blue, Australia – 3Star – July 2011 (date to be announced)
South America Rookie Fest – Valle Nevado, Chile – 2Star – August 2011 (date to be announced) Plus many other 1star rookie event all around organized by WSF National Snowboard Association (check them on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org)

World Rookie Tour Rules

The title of World Rookie Champion will be awarded to the winner of the Protest World Rookie Finals reserved to the top riders from previous Rookie Fests, plus selected riders from National Snowboard Associations and the top 20 riders from the World Rookie Rank (rank at 10 days before the final event). Check it on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

Age Groups

All rookie stops are reserved to Rookies (born from 1st january 1993 to 31st december 1995) and Grom (born from 1st january 1996 and up), both guys and girls. All contests of the World Rookie Tour will generate valuable results for the Swatch TTR Ranks and for the new World Rookie Rank developed by WSF in association with the Swatch TTR.

More info, rules, pictures and video on www.worldsnowboardfederation.org

WORLD ROOKIE TOUR: SWEDE SVEN THORGREN TAKES GOLD

Anna Langer — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:03:24 +0000

Thorgren takes top spot. Photo: Trojer Meinhard

Postponed one week due to high winds, the Chilean weather Gods finally started smiling on the World Rookie Tour.

Swedish rookie Sven Thorgren has bagged himself a place at the Protest World Rookie Finals 2011 in Ischgl, Austria after winning the South American leg of the tour.

Valle Nevado in Chile hosted the comp with Italian starlet Marco Grigis and American Andre Escobar taking podium places and an invitation to the finals in Ischgl.

In the grom section, the locals cleared up with Santiago Gonzales bringing home the bacon for the boys and Roberta Irarrazaual finishing as the best girl. Both Chileans won invitations to the World Rookie Fest in Livigno, Italy for their gnar.

Hang time with Sven. Photo: Trojer Meinhard

The event was originally scheduled for the week before, but was postponed due to weather. Instead, the kids enjoyed a week of trips, photo sessions, artificial wave surfing and a freestyle snowboard clinic with Filippo Kratter (RedBull) and Sebastian Geiger (Ride Snowboards Europe).

Kratter was stoked to be involved with the Mall Sport Comp: “
“It was a great trip and the slopestyle showed an unexpected level of riding.”

Check out the action from these budding superstars, and look out for the six year old grom taking on some rails.

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