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)

Norway dominated the slopestyle course here in Tignes, with first and third spots for Silje and Kjersti. Jamie Anderson, multiple winner and grand favorite, squeeze in the middle. This was a hell of a good show and now everybody can get suited and booted for the party tonight!

Britain’s Aimee Fuller open things up for the girls, a bit nervous on the rails obviously, she manages to find her cool on the kickers to throw down Cab Underflip, back 3 and a good old backflip. Silje Norendal definitely looked better on her first rails of the day, before a nice Switch back 5 on the first kicker and her signature Rodeo front 7, perfectly landed. First place straight, with a high 90 points. The Swiss Sina Candrian can’t do better, despite another nice 7. The always stylish Kjersti Buaas doesn’t find her pace on this first run and bail a massive 5 attempt. Finland’s and former TTR winner Enni Rukajarvi also falls down on the kicker. Spencer O’Brien has a solid chance today and shows it on her back 5 and back 5, but gets a bit of a drag on her middle back 7. Sarka Pancochova obviously wants to step up and do her maximum on the kickers, but can’t hold on to land her (big) back 7. Shame, the Cab under flip was super nice. And… Jamie Anderson’s status doesn’t make her shake: super steely on the first rail sets, including a sick 270 gat to board, she then show she’s not the champion in title for nothing: Front 7, Back 5 and Switch Back 5. But those rails man! Or woman, more like… Surprise, the judges allows an (only) 85 points to the American, leaving Norendal in first place. O’Brien third at the end of round 1.

Silje is back en course and puts down another remarkable effort, both on rails and kickers. Switch on the top rails, then two 5s very cleanly landed, and then comes that Rodeo front 7 we were expecting. The judges obviously too: she’s improving with a podium like 93 points! It’s far from being over yet but the Norwegian can’t hold her tears of joy with mum at the bottom of the course.

Candrian feels it’s the moment to throw her biggest tricks and goes for a 10 on the second kicker! But doesn’t hold on to it. Shame, it was ballsy if we can say so. Kjersti doesn’t follow the same path and stays on the 5s, two of them, massively above the rest, at least by size. But then falls on the last kicker.

A very clean second run from Enni gives her 80 points from the judge, but Spencer bails on the second kicker going for a 7. Shames, the rails were stylish…
Same deal for Anderson on her second attempt. Will she able to fight Silje’s supergeil run? Nothing is less certain, Jamie is maybe not on her best days, but still shows a big smile at the bottom of the course. That Cab 7 attempt didn’t go well. End of round 2: Silje leads with 93, then come Anderson and Enni.

Final run for these X Games in Tignes, and Silje will have to wait until the end to know her fate, although her position is pretty enviable. Aimee Fuller kept her double backflip for the final run, but no grab, and a hand drag. 73 points, 5th position. And Silje’s on. Nervosity again? She falls down quite hard catching her back edge on the rail. Now she can just sit down and watch what’s going to happen.

Sina has got this 9 in her sleeve, but unfortunately doesn’t land it. That’s one more contender out for Silje. Kjersti end up the day with a clean run but not that tech on the rails maybe – four 50/50s with one front 3 out. Although, the judges got impressed with the size of her 5s and her front 7. Enni, Sarka and Spencer can’t keep it clean on the main kicker. it’s then only down to Jamie now, dancing in the start box, that can move the podium around. Off she goes with the steely gap 270, and a beautiful Front 7 tail, into a 5 and then looses a bit of speed to get out of the third kicker properly, and land short, even though she can ride away with obviously well-trained legs.

So that was it. Silje Norendal takes her first win, Jamie Anderson get the Silver this time, and Kjersti Buass Bronze.

It was a pretty sweet ending to these Euro X Games 2013, but there’s still the party tonight for all the athletes to keep the goodtimes rolling.

Don’t miss Sami’s gallery and the video highlights to come soon both for men and women slopestyle!

1. Silje Norendal

2. Jamie Anderson

3. Kjersti Buaas

[If words aren't your cuppa, make sure your head over to watch the podium X Games slopestyle runs.]

After a spectacular pipe final yesterday – see the medal winning runs here, Tignes was ready for the slopstyle – men’s and women’s finals. Triples were on the menu, obviously…

This time round it was boys for once, who got to open up the day on a course that have been described as mellow but fun to ride by most of the riders out there. Proof is, Chas Guldemond, who didn’t make the cut, was still practicing with the finalists with a big smile on his face.

So Stale Sandbech is up first, goes smooth on the two sets of rails but takes a hard slam on the bigger kicker (second one), on an early triple attempt. No round of observation or calculation here! Same deal for Kostenburg, also bailing a 12 on the second kicker.

Gjermund Braaten is the first one to put down a complete run: Cab double 9, front 10, back 12 on the kickers, and first provisory place. Peetu who strategically kept his strength for the slope today – and didn’t enter the pipe final yesterday for this purpose – strikes hard on his first run, especially on the kickers, 3 huge tricks down the two third of the landing, in particular on a pretty sick Front 12.

Seb Toots starts tech on the first rail, switch hard way 270, then sends it hard on the kickers: Cab 12, back 10, front 10 dub, with a bit of a hand drag. Enough to get him 88 points, and goes straight in first place, in front of Peetu (82) and Braaten (78).

Mark McMorris, the bookie’s favorite, has maybe a bit of pressure on his shoulders – after the qualis were dominated by Torstein, and also because he’s expect to win. Mark also, bails on the second booter, going yet again for a triple. Torstein Horgmo goes also clean on the rails, before back 12, then he goes for back triple 14 on the second kicker but the compression sent him on his ass.

Second round, Stale and Sage can’t really improve they score and have a hard time with that second main feature it seems. Braaten puts down another very solid run, on the opposite of Willett, who only manage to land his switch back 12 on the second booter.

Peetu was obviously determined to improve, and he does, even on the amplitude… Until a failed backside 1440. But, hey, Toots second run? Just impressive. All the riders are cheering for that sick run, and the judges like it as well: 95 points, securing his first place. Switch hard way BS 270, Cab 12, and the sickest trick of the day back 14 that some people might call a triple!

That is when McMorris stomped the second triple of the day on the main jump, with style and amplitude. Shame for him, his first landing wasn’t super clean and doesn’t beat Toots score, for the moment anyway. Torstein, closing this second round, goes for the triple but bails it – nearly landing flat down the bottom.

Final round for everyone, and Stale also goes for a triple on the main jump and goes down too short. Nollie front flip on the knuckle of the final kicker and a cheer to the crowd, Sandbech is out with the honors. Sage, sitting in fourth at this moment, knows he’s gonna have to send this triple, but doesn’t land clean on the first booter. Same deal for Braaten , he won’t improve either. Willett does improve and slip in fourth.

Peetu follows the rules of this third round and can’t put another clean run, still in third. Seb Toots is in the box, with a bit of understandable pressure – although probably not as much as McMorris who has to drop right after him. No real bail here for him, but not his best run either. He stays at 95.

Just before McMorris’ run, we learned that Horgmo wouldn’t go for his last lap. That low landing on the second run obviously didn’t sit well with his right ankle… So it’s now only McMorris who can beat his fellow Canadian.

Mark knows it, he’s gonna have to throw down the hammers. Switch BS 270 on, 270 off, Cab 12, triple back and BS 10. But… He pays for a bit of a scrap on this Cab 12. The score comes: 94. It’s a wrap, Gold and Silver go to Canada but in a different order this time, Seb Toots wins the Euro X Games slopestyle title and the two bros fall in the arms of each other. Peetu score yet another podium.

Next up: the girl’s finals, with an obvious favorite, Jamie Anderson.

Check out the top 3 runs from the men’s superpipe finals in Tignes last night. Louie Vito snagged top spot with a barrage of double corks, while Arthur Longo was the people’s champion due to going frickin’ MASSIVE with his tasty Gallic steeze. And by being French.

1. Louie Vito

2. Arthur Longo

3. Taku Hiraoka

If it hadn’t been for a nasty dose of the manflu, Japanese hypergrom Ayumu Hirano would be a serious contender in the Winter X Games Europe pipe. The X Games dude know we can’t get enough of this pint sized ripper, so have knocked together this edit shining some light on the lad, along with showing hit after ridiculously high hit of him in the stunt ditch.

Louie Vito gets fired a bunch of random questions ahead of today’s pipe qualifiers at the Euro X Games in Tignes…

These guys sat down with Winter X Games Europe pipe contender Louie Vito and, wise in the knowledge that pro snowboarders talking about contest snowboarding ranks only moderately higher than watching paint dry on the global internet give-a-fuck-ometer, posed him pressing questions such as whether he’d prefer to fight a duck as big as a horse or a swarm of duck-sized horses. We’d definitely take on the pack of equine midgets – after all, can you imagine a pissed off duck standing taller than you and giving it the big angry duck eyes? No thanks.

The Euro X Games will descend on Tignes, France once again from March 20-22, and Skullcandy will be in charge of getting your booty shaking. Check out how they’ll be taking over the sound…

Skullcandy’s vision and identity was born on snowy chairlifts and is proud to return to support the world’s best freestylers at this year’s European Winter X Games.

Skullcandy will showcase the best music the continent has to offer, bringing the coolest acts to the X Stage, Skullcandy tent in the X village and all X games after parties, including the opening night of the Backyard sessions.

Highlights from the Skullcandy sponsored X Stage include: • 20th March 17.45. X Stage // LEMAITRE Norwegian indie-electronic duo Lemaitre, whose current single Continuum was recently premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe’s Next Hype track. https://soundcloud.com/serious-url

• 21st March 17.45. X Stage // URBAN CONE Swedish electro pop heroes Urban Cone, hyped by key taste-maker blogs such as The Burning Ear and EarMilk. https://soundcloud.com/urbancone

• 22nd March 17.45. X Stage // CLUB CHEVAL French House/ Techno pioneers Club Cheval, who have remixed the likes of Nero, Rihanna and Vitalic as well as dropping mixtapes for Mishka, Triple J (AUS) and Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank. https:// soundcloud.com/canblaster

Skullcandy will be programming the best X Games after parties in the 3 Valleys at Blue Girl and the Opening Night of the Backyard Music Sessions at Club Le Melting.

• 20th – 22nd March. X Games After Party at Blue Girl // DJ BLACKKENPOUPERZ, DJ SHARKY AND GLEN (20th & 21st), CLUB CHEVAL (22nd). Allow Skullcandy to warm up those frozen toes and bruised elbows at Blue Girl with the best Electro, Grime, House and Techno vibes till late.

• 20th March. Club Le Melting // ONRA. Expect the usual mayhem as Skullcandy takes over Club Le Melting for the opening night of the Backyard Music Sessions, featuring beatmaker extraordinaire and previous Skullcandy collaborator Onra (All City / Fools Gold).

Remember to check www.skullcandy.com on 22nd, 23rd and 24th March for daily episodes of behind the scenes action, interviews and all the madness from the Skullcandy X Games after parties. Also be sure to drop in to the Skullcandy Marquee to session the latest Skullcandy products, meet Skullcandy athletes, musicians and DJ’s and hang with the crew.

Check out the full European Winter X Games event programme here: www.xgames-tignes.com/index.php/fr/programme

Follow Skullcandy on Instagram: www.instagram.com/skullcandy_europe and Twitter: @skullcandy_eu

So who is Ayumu Hirano, the mindboggling 14-year-old Japanese kid that won Silver in last weekend’s X Games Superpipe finals? The X Games were quite at a loss, too, which is why they compiled this slightly disturbing video full of quotes, questions and quacking.

Now that you’ve met him, why don’t you head over to our our event department and check out his amazing halfpipe run?

After the triple-festing madness of the dudes’ Big Air there was no letup in the slopestyle. Once again, it looked like video games need to step up as the real world riders are doing things that you’d struggle with on your Xbox. Doubles mixed with triples were the norm, and Mark McMorris walked away with the title thanks to his last run that detonated over Aspen and scored a huge 98 points. It was also nice to see that despite not even coming close and their supposed ‘beef’, Shaun White was sporting enough to congratulate Mark on his win. In the women’s, Jamie Anderson once again continued her domination of female slopestyle riding, following up tree hugging with another display of silky smooth steeze. Sochi will be stupid.

MEN

1ST – MARK MCMORRIS

2ND – MAX PARROT

3RD – SEPPE SMITS

WOMEN

1ST – JAMIE ANDERSON

2ND – SARKA PANCOCHOVA

3RD – SPENCER O’BRIEN