 „White Style presented by Kona“ Sam Pilgrim wins „White Style presented by Kona“
in front of Linus Sjoeholm & Yannick Granieri
Official highlight video clip is online:  http://watch26.tv/video/3248/White+Style+2010
Leogang, February 1st – Europe’s young guns dominated the fifth anniversary of the “White Style presented by Kona” winter slopestyle competition in Leogang last Friday evening. Riders from North America made into the top ten: Darren Berrecloth became fifth, Cam McCaul sixth and Jamie Goldman seventh. Great Britain’s other well-known faces, Sam Reynolds and Grant Fielder, placed eighth and ninth. A highlight clip featuring the best of the action and the three winning runs will be available on www.watch26.tv very soon.
More than 2,000 spectators made their way to the White Style course designed and built by Kona Clump team rider Grant “Chopper” Fielder. Grant received lots of props from the other riders for the set up consisting of different elements like:
An igloo at the start with a small drop, a set of two doubles, followed by two massive fruit bowls combinations (with a 15ft. drop) as well as a huge double at the finish (about 40ft. far). Riders jumped the last gap and reached up to 25ft. above the ground.
The most important point to remember: the whole course was built out of snow. So it was definitely a challenging set up. But some of the world’s best riders came to Leogang. They impressed the spectators and sometimes each other by pulling off the biggest tricks that were seen in a mountain bike contest.
The riders seemed to feel already quite comfortable in the first training session on Thursday, and even more on Friday. Some of them even changed from their small travel full suspension bikes to hardtails – a proof for a smooth course, even though there was so much airtime involved.
The qualifications on Friday evening were dominated by Swedish rider Martin Soederstroem (technical and clean riding including double tailwhips), Yannick Granieri from France (by far the biggest backflips performed on a contest), U.S. American Cam McCaul (great style and big bag of tricks), Canadian Darren “The Claw” Berrecloth (360 look downs at its best). Linus Sjoeholm (SWE), Amir Kabbani (GER), Sam Pilgrim (GBR) and Jamie Goldman (USA) completed the Top 8 of the qualifyings. But qualifications and finals are always a different kettle of fish:
Martin Soederstroem, who won the qualifications, couldn’t finish his first run because of a technical issue. Then he crashed pretty hard on his second final run trying to pull a double tailwhip because he overshot the 40ft. gap and landed to far down – 11th place for him. Jamie Goldman did what he can do best, showing a huge backflip off the big fruit bowl, but unfortunately slipped from his pedals landing a backflip superman at the last double and therefore only placed 7th. Cam McCaul, Darren Berrecloth and Amir Kabbani showed clean runs including backflip tailwhips, super seaters, opposite 360s, 360 x-ups and backflips. But it was France, Sweden and Great Britain to dominate the podium:
Yannick Granieri managed to be the highest one in Leogang’s sky with huge 360s, backflips and tailwhips in his first run. He might have even been at the top of the podium, if he had landed his 360 tailwhip drop in his second run. But he over rotated and missed the following jumps. The third place is still a good result for him and a good start into 2010 on his new bike.
Linus Sjoeholm, Martin Soederstroem’s best riding buddy, was the big surprise of the contest. His clean execution and range of technical tricks impressed the judges and spectators: 360 at the starting drop, double tailwhip at the first double, superman at the second jump, backflip off the fruit bowl, barspin into the 2nd fruit bowl, tailwhipping the big drop and finishing his run with a flipwhip at the last double. Linus’ second place and 1,000 Euros were well deserved!
The man of the day was Sam Pilgrim, no question: tailwhip at the start, frontflip at the first double, backflip no hander at the second, 360 x-up out of the fruit bowl, tuck nohander and backflip at the 2nd fruit bowl, as well as a backflip table at the last jump. Sam couldn’t stop joking after his success having 1,800 Euros in his pocket: “I will spend all the money for sweets, for real!” But he also stated pretty serious: “Crashing on snow is not that funny, because it’s much harder than you might think. It took me a bit to cope with it when I competed the first time at the White Style, but man, it was fun this year and Chopper did a really great job, big respect!”
A short overview of the top 12 riders – seems like every bike brand sent someone of their rooster:
Place Name Team Country
1 Sam Pilgrim Diamondback GBR
2 Linus Sjöholm Scott SWE
3 Yannick Granieri Commencal FRA
4 Amir Kabbani Mongoose GER
5 Darren Berrecloth Specialized CAN
6 Cameron McCaul Trek USA
7 Jamie Goldman Santa Cruz USA
8 Sam Reynolds DMR GBR
9 Grant Fielder Kona GBR
10 Niki Leitner YT Industries AUT
11 Martin Söderström NS Bikes SWE
12 Jakub Vencl AGang CZE
For all of you that didn’t make it to Leogang last weekend:
A 24 minutes event report will be aired soon in the Red Bull TV window on Servus TV: March 6th at 11:30 pm CET.
You can watch it with your digital satellite receiver or on March 6th at 11:30 pm CET also live online at www.servustv.com (click “Servus TV Live” link on the bottom left hand corner for the stream).
The White Style partners Kona, CamelBak, Bikepark Leogang and ONE BIG PARK hope that you liked the hot mountain bike slopestyle action on snow. More detailed information about the White Style partners can be found on: www.konaworld.com , www.camelbak.com, www.onebigpark.at and www.bikepark-leogang.com.
In case you have any requests or need some high res pictures, please drop us an email: high@rasoulution.com.
02.08. - 08.08.2009
Ferien im Downhillpark...
Davon träumen alle Nachwuchsbiker: Einmal beim BIKE-Jugendcamp dabei sein. Der Bikepark in Leogang ist das ideale Trainingsgelände für alle Aktionen. Ein vollgepacktes Rahmenprogramm sorgt für maximale Abwechslung. Profitrainer, wie zum Beispiel der Canyon Pro Rider ROB J und Tibor Simai betreuen diesen Event, bei dem Helm und Protektoren zur Pflichtausrüstung gehören. Schon so mancher Nachwuchsfahrer wurde bei dieser BIKE-Veranstaltung gescoutet. Der Altersrahmen ist eng gesetzt. Die Teilnehmer sind zwischen 11 und 16 Jahren alt.
Anmeldung und weitere Infos unter http://www.go-alps.de/2005/bike_events/ueberblick.html
NACHBERICHT
Hallo alle zusammen,
letzte Woche fand das inzwischen 13. Bike Jugendcamp statt. Diesmal zum ersten mal im Bikepark Leogang, Österreich. 78 Kids im Alter von 11 bis 16 Jahren checkten am Sonntag den 2. August im Hotel Bacher ein das direkt am Park mit Blick auf die Strecken liegt. Die Trainer Tibor Simai, Andrè Wagenknecht, Andi Wittmann, Tim Schneider, Mathias Schell sowie die Betreuer Alex, Schlichi und ich als Organisator begrüßten die Kids und verabschiedeten gleichzeitig die Eltern die nun eine Woche Kids-Frei hatten.
Am Montag ging es gleich los zum Warm up und zur Gruppeneinteilung / Sichtung in den Park. Die Kids wurden in 6 Gruppen der Kategorien Dirt, Freeide und Downhill aufgeteilt die dann von den entsprechenden Coaches geführt wurden.
Am Canyon Service Center konnten sich die Kids Bikes zum testen ausleihen und ihre eigenen bei Defekten richten lassen. In der Oakley Lounge gab es kühle Drinks von Red Bull, Red Bull Cola, Carpe Diem, Botanic Water und Eistee.
Jeder bekam individuelle Tips zu Grund- und Racingfarhtechniken bis hin zu Dirt Jump Tips und Drop Techniken. Doch die Kids sind in den Sommerferien und wollten gar nicht viel lernen. In erster Linie wollten sie einfach shredden und mit ihren Heroes aus der Bike Szene die Strecken unsicher machen. Am Dienstag kam auch noch Cedric Gracia extra aus Andorra eingeflogen um mit den Jungs für zwei Tage Gas zu geben. Cedric war begeistert von dem Camp und versprach im nächsten Jahr wieder zu kommen sofern sein Terminkalender es wieder zu lässt.
Am Mittwoch gab es Trial Clinics und eine super Trial Show von Red Bull Athlet Tom Öhler. Die Pro's mussten dabei auch noch als lebende Hindernisse her halten.
Timo Pritzel nahm auch einen weiten Weg von Berlin auf sich um mit den Kids für zwei Tage Zeit zu verbringen. Zusammen mit Andi Wittmann und seiner Dirt Gruppe bauten sie mit Bagger und Schaufeln einen kleinen Table und einen Step Up Jump wo sich die Kids dann sicher Step by Step an Airtime gewöhnen konnten. Abends liessen es sich die Dirt Stars nicht nehmen für die Kids ein paar fette Flips auf den grossen 26 Trix Hügeln zu zeigen. Bei der entspannten Abendsession waren die Jubelrufe der Kids weit zu hören.
Andrè Wagenkecht nutzte den Regen-Dienstag für einen Tech-Talk und konnte dabei nicht nur die Kids mit seinem Wissen beeindrucken - auch die Profi Coaches haben dabei auch noch wirklich viel gelernt.
Am Donnerstag Nachmittag ging es zur Abkühlung in das Freibad. Dort wurden in erster Linie die Backflip Basics ins Wasser trainiert (natürlich ohne Rad)! Auch dort gab es einige Spiele bei dem die Kids Preise von Spank, Sombrio, Oakley, Freeride, Vans, Atmosfair, Shwalbe und Marzocchi gewinnen konnten. Zum Besipiel gab es Cedrics signierte Oakley Goggle für denjenigen der am längsten in der Hocke stehen bleiben konnte...
Am Freitag merkte man den Kids deutliche Ermüdungen an. Deswegen trafen uns am Nachmittag bei strahlendem Sonnenschein zur abkühlenden Wasserschlacht.
Alle Teilnehmer bekamen auch noch ein exclusives Oakley Camp Shirt, die Aktuelle Ausgabe der Freeride sowie Schwalbe Schläuche, Freeride Caps und Trinkfalschen.
Das Camp hat sich zu den Vorjahren noch mal deutlich gesteigert - besonders die Top Star-Besetzung ist unschlagbar sowie die Luxus Unterkunft im Hotel Bacher. Vielen Dank für die tollen Support von Canyon, Oakley, Red Bull, Vans, Sombrio, Spank, und Cosmic Sports. Danke an das Bike und Freeride Magazin und an den Bikepark Leogang, das Hotel Bacher und die Stöcklalm.
Grösster Dank geht an das Team: Tibor Simai, Andi Wittmann, Tim Schneider, Mathias Schell, Andrè Wagenknecht, Leander Angerer, Cedric, Timo Pritzel, Alex und Schlichi - vielen Dank für alles!!! Ich hoffe ihr seid nächstes Jahr auch wieder dabei.
Wegen der grossen Nachfrage überlegen wir im nächsten Jahr zwei einwöchige Camps anzubieten.
Vielen Dank!
ROB-J
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9. - 12. Juli in Leogang
Austrias biggest Gravity Festival with 26TRIX, iXS European DH Cup & Austrian Downhill Championship
Out of Bounds 2009 – Bigger than ever!
A weekend full of Tricks, Big Air and lots of Awards
Video-Link
Leogang, July 13th – Sam Pigrim wins the biggest 26TRIX ever, Andreu Lacondeguy takes home the Oakley Sick O Award with a 40ft. flatspin on the Suzuki Air Time Line and Martin Söderström won the wildcard to Whistler’s Crankworx. Nick Beer wins the iXS European DH Cup and Boris Tetzlaff becomes Austrian Downhill Champion.
The Out of Bounds Weekend started with a 26TRIX practice day on Thursday and riders slowly got used to the new course. Especially the riders that had to qualify still struggled with the dirt jump course, which had 9 hits.
This year, riders could pre-register and had the chance to ride two qualifying runs in order to make it to the finals and compete with 21 invited pros. The 2009 26TRIX course had a new big line, which is called the Suzuki Air Time Line. During the qualifying none of the 35 competitors gave it a try over the big jumps.
It was Niki Leitner from Vienna, Austria, who got first in the qualifiers: he tricked every jump with tricks like huge superman-seat grabs, flips, or 3’s. Niki and eight other riders were the lucky ones to make their way into the training for the finals with the other pro riders. That practice showed why you had to qualify to ride with the pros. Greg Watts and Graham Aggasiz were the first two riders to hit the big Suzuki Airtime Line. They had to pedal hard in the concrete berm and right up to the take off of the first gap, which was a solid 40ft. gap. A few more pros joined them but most of them had troubles to make it over the second jump. So the course builders decided to cut the lip and the landing by 2-3ft to make it easier to clear the gap. And it was still a 8ft. take off and a 25ft. gap.
After showing flips at the first 40-footer and 360’s at the second it was clear that the judges want the riders to do the big jumps in order to have a chance to win that contest!
And that’s what happened!
But first, the spectators saw an amazing run on the small line from Sam Pilgrim: featuring 360-tables, backflip no hands, frontflips and double whips that put him in the lead. But then it was Greg Watts, who made his way into the Suzuki Air Time Line and showed a huge backflip and X-up one foot on the two big hitters along with a few barspins at the little jumps before. Greg finished big with a flipwhip at the final jump. He took first place for a little while. The other riders now had to show, what they are made of: Darren Berrecloth showed clean 360s on the Suzuki Airtime Line as well as impressive opposite 360 table top one foots at the last jump and therefore became fourth. The well known European rookie Martin Soderstrom hit the regular line with a huge 360 and a superman seat grab, followed by a sick 360 tailwhip in midst of the line, then a tailwhip at the step-down and a 360 at the hip and a double whip at the last jump! No question, he definitely deserved third place.
But again it was Sam Pilgrim who threw down. He just wanted to take home the win. After Greg’s killer run, the British young gun decided to hit the Suzuki Air Time Line, too: after a tailwhip at the step up and a x-up directly afterwards, the flipped the first huge doubles and tailwhipped the second one, before ending his run with a tuck no hand at the hip and a clean frontflip at the last jump. He went on first position, placing Greg on the second. Congrats Sam, you did a great job! The final Top 10 ranking of the 26TRIX:
Rank Name (Nation) Sponsor
1 Sam Pilgrim (GBR) DIAMONDBACK
2 Greg Watts (USA) GARY FISHER
3 Martin Söderström (SWE) NS BIKES
4 Darren Berrecloth (CAN) SPECIALIZED
5 Simon Kirchmann (GER) SCOTT BIKES
6 Pierre Edouard Ferry (FRA) SPECIALIZED
7 Amir Kabbani (GER) CANNONDALE
8 Graham Agassiz (CAN) KONA
9 Pascal Breitenstein (SUI) KONA
10 Niki Leitner (AUT) KONA
Andreu Lacondeguy, who was one of the favorites for the whole comp crashed in the first two runs, when trying a backflip at the first step up directly after the start. In his third run, he made his way directly in the Suzuki Air Timeline and pulled a huge flatspin 360, but he lost speed, and was not able to end his run. Anyway, the spectators just went nuts and were jelling for minutes! The judges liked his flatspin on this weekend also best and awarded Andreu with the Oakley Sick O Award!
A Crankworx Whistler Wildcard was given to Martin Sderstrom, who was extremely happy about that: “I still can’t believe it, I am going to Crankworx! Man, it’s like a dream come true. I mean, two years ago I would have never thought that I could ever make it there, and now: here I am, I am going to Crankworx, YESSSS!!!!!”
Please watch all the action on www.konaworld.tv, where two clips are available, one of the trainings and qualifications as well as one of the finals on Saturday.
But the Out of Bounds weekend was not only about the 26TRIX’s first class dirt jump action. A tour stop of the iXS European Downhill Cup, including the Austrian Championships, hit Leogang, too. European Champion Nick Beer (SUI) took home the win in front of his brother Marcel and the German speed master Marcus Klausmann. The new Austrian downhill champion is Boris Tetzlaff who was the best Austrian rider, on sixth place. For more detailed information, please visit: www.ixsdownhillcup.com.
The happy winners of the charity raffle in favor of Wings for Life have been also drawn during Out of Bounds Weekend: Maurizio Di Berardino obviously did not only buy a lot of charity tickets, but was also very lucky: Maurizio, you won the first AND the second price, a Kona Stinky bike and one week for two persons in Leogang! On top, Andreas Stöffler can look forward to a seasonal ticket for the Bike-Circus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang. Congrats to you, Andreas, you won the third prize of the Wings for Life raffle.
The “De Buam” after party totally rocked the sports centre Leogang.
The last guests left for their way home in the early morning hours and some of the riders even partied till their shuttle left for the airport. Don’t miss the Out of Bounds Festival next year from June 24th to 27th 2010!
For further information about the Bikepark Leogang, its events for 2009 and the variety of available trails, please visit: www.bikepark-leogang.com
For current news about the Out of Bounds Weekend partners, please visit:
www.konaworld.com
www.suzuki.com
www.oakley.com
www.onebigpark.at
www.leogang-saalfelden.at.
For media related requests as well as high resolution pictures & logos, please contact: high@rasoulution.com |
Nick Beer unbeatable at iXS European Downhill Cup
The iXS European Downhill Cup’s second race was taking place in Leogang, Austria. Combined with the «Out of Bounds» weekend and Austria’s national downhill championships, this event was a true festival.
After the first race in Verbier, the European racing series’ success story has been continued at the second race. 336 participants from 17 countries, most of them licensed racers, came to Leogang’s Bikepark in the Salzburger Land area.
As the weather forecast did not predict stable conditions, all participants had to be prepared for changeing circumstances. During the seeding runs heavy rain was pouring down, and repeated gusts of wind made things even more difficult. Even some of the top riders did not manage to get down the 2.3km long and very tricky course without crashing. But Nick Beer showed his class one more time, as he posted the day’s fastest seeding time despite a crash, thus securing himself the right to start as last participant on Sunday.
Right on time for Sunday’s final runs, the conditions changed for the good. Still all the practice and seeding runs on the rainy Saturday had left their marks, which resulted in an even more tricky course.
The women’s junior race went to Leonie Dickerhoff (GER - iXS) while Anita Molcik (AUT - Yeti) edged out Petra Bernhard (AUT - Ancilotti) to win the women’s class. Switzerland’s reigning national champion Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI - Scott 11) finished in third after having posted the fastest seeding time. In the masters’ category, Jörg Heydt (GER - Last) won ahead of Michael Stammbacher (SUI - FAT) with the reigning 40 to 45 masters world champion Marcel Waldmann in third. Aari Barrett (NZL - Scott 11) was the fastest male junior, while Joe Edge (GBR - Stendec) and his compatriot Mark Scott (GBR - Trek) completed the english-speaking podium.
Featuring more than 120 participants, the elite men’s race once again was dominated by European champion Nick Beer (SUI - Scott 11). His brother Marcel Beer (SUI - GT) finished in second while Germany’s multiple national champion Marcus Klausmann (GER - Ghost) came in in third. The win also moves Nick Beer into the series’ overall lead. Second-placed Marcel Beer is currently only 6 points behind, followed by Lars Peyer (SUI - Suspension Center).
Please find additional information about the iXS Downhill Cup series’ races and the complete results of all categories at www.ixsdownhillcup.com. |
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Nick Beer
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award ceremony iXS 2009 in Leogang
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The official Video Clip of White Style presented by Kona is online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9G1V2qZkiA
A big thank to all person involved:
The 23 riders
The course maker: Kona Clump Teamrider Grant “Chopper” Fielder und die HU Cooperation
The Sponsors: One Big Park, CamelBak, KONA, Bikepark Leogang and Tourismusverband Leogang-Saalfelden
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Andreu Lacondeguy wins White Style 2009 in Leogang
Leogang, Austria, January 31st – Twenty years old Spaniard Andreu Lacondeguy won the White Style presented by Kona on January 30th. Lance McDermott got the “Sickest Trick Award” for his tuck no hand frontflip, which was showed for the first time ever at a mountain bike competition.
The riders of the White Style presented by Kona had to cope with a super-sized slopestyle course in combination with a soft and snowy surface. Not an easy job for the 23 athletes from 12 nations that made their way to Leogang, Austria. Kona Clump Team rider Grant “Chopper” Fielder designed and built the whole track with just one aim: to enable the riders to go big!
Indeed, the guys just went crazy: Thomas Zejda from the Czech Republic throwing down tailwhips at the starting drop, Amir Kabbani showing off with a backflip x-up one foot the step-up or the Swede Martin Soederstroem pulling clean double tailwhips at the final booter. But Lance McDermott performed the sickest trick. The well-known guy from Manchester threw himself into a tuck nohand-frontflip at the last jump. Unfortunately he didn’t stick it 100% clean, because he slipped both pedals. It was the first tuck nohand-frontflip shown at an international mountain bike competition ever. The whole situation might have remembered Lance of the Whistler Crankworx Slopestyle. It was the same game: Andreu Lacondeguy again put Lance into second place - this time by sending huge flatspin 360’s, real extended superman seat-grabs and backflips up and down the “inabler” (step-up-step-down box). Andreu could obviously make good use of his FMX experience:
“Man, I love those doubles. Chopper made a great job! That’s the way they should be: BIG! I hope most of this year’s comps will go even bigger than last season. The progression has to go on. We ride mountain bikes, not BMX bikes. We need huge jumps at least 10 meters + in distance!”
Amir Kabbani (3rd place), Martin Soederstroem (4th) and last year’s White Style winner Trond Hansen from Norway (5th) also showed great tricks like opposite 360’s, frontflips, 360-tailwhips, superman seat-grabs or 360 drops.
The results:
1st Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP / Kona)
2nd Lance Mc Dermott (GBR / Scott)
3rd Amir Kabbani (GER / Cannondale)
4th Martin Soederstroem (SWE / NS Bikes)
5th Trond Hansen (NOR / Specialized)
6th Grant Fielder (GBR / Kona)
7th Yannick Granieri (FRA / Giant)
8th Sam Pilgrim (GBR / Diamondback)
9th Damian Siriski (CZE / Author)
10th Niki Leitner (AUT / Kona)
All the riders rode hard, showing their skills on the tricky surface, and partied even harder. The official White Style presented by Kona after party ended at five o’clock in the morning and some of the athletes even still had the energy to party on in their hotel.
The Bikepark Leogang, KONA, CamelBak and ONE BIG PARK are proud to have presented Europe’s best riders, a lot of airtime, the newest tricks, as well as a rocking party.
Watch out for the official White Style presented by Kona video clip that is being edited by Boston Joy Productions right now and will be available mid of next week.
For high res pictures and all general requests, please drop us an email: high@rasoulution.com
About the Bikepark Leogang and ONE BIG PARK:
All information about the Bikepark Leogang, his range of tracks and services, as well as the upcoming events in 2009, please visit: www.bikepark-leogang.com
With its new youth brand ONE BIG PARK, the SalzburgerLand now offers young people a wide variety of opportunities and specials for a truly exciting vacation. In winter, snowboarders and free-skiers alike can have the most fun imaginable in perfectly shaped parks with kickers, corners and rails. In summer, the wide range of options for mountaineering, biking and freesports promises virtually boundless ways to get out and about in this fantastic natural setting. Locations and special events, our top youth-focused hotels and attractive vacation packages, along with the locals’ very best insider tips, are all available online at www.onebigpark.at
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IXS Downhill Cup / Finale in Leogang
21. Sept. 2008
Nick Beer siegt beim Finale des iXS European Downhill Cups
Das letzte Rennen des iXS European Downhill Cups wurde in seinem ersten Jahr im österreichischen Leogang ausgetragen. 200 Fahrer aus 20 Nationen gaben sich die Ehre und kämpften um wichtige Punkte im Gesamtklassement. Bereits im Vorfeld wurde deutlich, wie stark das Fahrerfeld sein wird und dass es auf der 2,3 km langen Strecke mit einem Höhenunterschied von 480 Metern zahlreiche Titelaspiranten geben wird.
Einen ersten Vorgeschmack auf seine Ambitionen auf den Gesamtsieg lieferte Nick Beer (SUI - iXS Sports Division) beim Vorlauf am Samstag. Mit über zwei Sekunden Vorsprung konnte er den Seeding Run vor Sam Blenkinsop (NZL - Yeti) und Marcus Klausmann (GER - Ghost) für sich entscheiden.
Bei unverändert kalten, aber trockenen Bedingungen startete am Sonntag das Finale. Die Strecke wurde durch die Trainingsläufe stark ausgefahren und dadurch immer schwieriger, so dass von den Piloten neben dem fahrerischen Können viel Kondition abverlangt wurde. Bestens zu recht kam Nick Beer auf dem Kurs mit dem bezeichnenden Namen „Speedster“ und sicherte sich mit 4.06 min die Bestzeit. Mit nur 3 Hundertstel Sekunden Rückstand fuhr Marcus Klausmann auf Platz 2, gefolgt von Marcel Beer (iXS Sports Division). Sam Blenkinsop, der Gewinner des Weltcupfinales in Schladming, konnte seiner Favoritenrolle nicht gerecht werden, da er sich nach einem Sturz nur auf dem 33. Platz wiederfand.
Das Rennen der Junioren konnte wieder einmal Joseph Smith (GBR - Tomac) mit einer Zeit, die in der Elite Klasse für Rang 4 gereicht hätte, gewinnen. Hinter ihm reihten sich Boris Tetzlaff (AUT - Solid Aclass) und Roman Roschi (SUI - Suspension Center) ein. In der Klasse der Elite Women siegte Petra Bernhard (AUT -Ancilotti) mit über 10 Sekunden Vorsprung vor Diana Marggraff (ECU - cdp-zenith) und Anita Molcik (AUT - Yeti). Die Kategorie der Masters dominierte Wilfred van de Haterd (NED - Nox Cycles) und verwies Marcel Waldmann (SUI - DT Swiss/Nicolai) und Tino Beutel (GER - Zonenschein) auf die nachfolgenden Plätze.
Als Gewinner des Gesamtklassements steht nun Nick Beer mit 400 Punkten fest. Vier Tage nach seinem 21. Geburtstag konnte der Fahrer vom iXS Sports Division Team aus Matten sich sein wahrscheinlich schönstes Geschenk selbst bereiten. Zwar bestritt er aufgrund einer Weltcupteilnahme in Canada ein Rennen weniger, jedoch ging er bei allen vier teilgenommenen Rennen als Gewinner vom Platz. Als zweiter der Gesamtwertung reiht sich Nicks älterer Bruder Marcel ein und komplettiert somit den Doppelsieg des Teams vom Titelsponsor der Serie. Dritter wurde Marcus Klausmann, der wieder einmal bewies, dass er im internationalen Vergleich Deutschlands Nummer 1 ist.
Der Gesamtsieg bei den Frauen geht an Miriam Ruchti (SUI - Suspension Center) vor Caroline Sax (FRA - Vario) und Harriet Rücknagel (GER - Zonenschein). In der Juniorenklasse gewinnt Großbritanniens Nachwuchshoffnung Joseph Smith die Serie. Die Masters Kategorie führt abschließend Marcel Waldmann an.
An den kommenden zwei Wochenenden finden auch der iXS German Downhill Cup in Bad Wildbad und der iXS Swiss Downhill Cup in Bellwald ihren standesgemäßen Ausklang. Zusätzlich wird es als Saisonabschluss am 18. Oktober am Gurten bei Bern die End of Season Party mit der Siegerehrung des schweizerischen Cups sowie einem Konzert und DJ´s geben.
Weitere Informationen sind unter www.ixsdownhillcup.com zu finden.
iXS Downhill Cup / Finale in Leogang 26TRIX | | 
Der 26trix Sieger: Trond Hansen li. ... Sam Pilgram re. (Copyright: by AleDiLullo)
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21. Sept. 2008
Trond Hansen wins 26TRIX in Leogang
Video 26TRIX 2008
Munich September 22nd, 2008 – Last Friday and Saturday, 30 riders from 12 countries rocked the mega sized 26TRIX dirt line in Leogang, Austria. With two stunning runs Norwegian Trond Hansen took first place and earned himself 3.500 Euros in cash. Andi Wittmann from Germany showed technically very difficult combos on the most tricky parts of the track and won the Oakley Sick-O-Award.
On Thursday evening the bottom part of the Bikepark Leogang was packed with riding, chilling and chatting young guns from all over the world. The guys from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Australia and the US had to get used to the revised 26TRIX track: nine jumps consisting of big sized doubles, hips, step ups and downs. It started with two qualifying runs on Friday afternoon, then the top 15 riders went straight to two final runs followed by two more final runs on Saturday in the early afternoon. The best two runs of all four were summed up to determine the winners. The riders were fighting heavily against the wind in the main part of the dirt track on both days. It was hard to go really big, but most of the riders managed it and stepped up the level of last year’s event:
Trond Hansen shot his tricks like out of a machine gun: superman seatgrabs, 360 one foot tabletops, backflips, tailwhips, 360-opposites and frontflips. His runs were super clean and smooth. It was no question that the judges had him in first place. Trond was pretty happy winning the 26TRIX: ”I’m just super stoked. I already had a great season, but winning the 26TRIX is some kind of special for me. Furthermore, the big air time here in Leogang is a good preparation for the upcoming Rampage!”
Amir Kabbani backflipped x-uped not only the first step up, but also showed tailwhips or superman backflips and got second place which was well-deserved.
Sam Pilgrim made his way on the podium doing tuck no hands, tailwhips, 360-table tops, backflip x-up one footers, but crashed twice during the finals on two double tailwhip attempts.
The other competitors also showed a great performance, which lead to following final ranking:
1st Trond Hansen, Specialized, NOR
2nd Amir Kabbani, Cannondale, GER
3rd Sam Pilgrim, Diamondback, UK
4th Linus Sjöholm, Scott, SWE
5th Andi Wittmann, Giant, GER
6th Mischa Breitestein, Kona, CH
7th Andrew Taylor, Versus, USA
8th Pascal Breitenstein, Kona, CH
9th John Alm Högman, Scott, SWE
10th Sam Reynolds, DMR, UK
11th Yannick Granieri, Giant, FRA
12th David Acedo, Mondraker, ESP
13th Grant Fielder, Kona, UK
14th Martin Söderström, NS Bikes, SWE
15th Lluis Lacondeguy, Kona, ESP
Besides, the rider with the best skills and most props had to be crowned with the Oakley Sick-O-Award. It was a tight battle between Andrew Taylor’s backflip on a step down jump that didn’t give him much time to rotate and Andi Wittmann’s jump in the finals at the first step-up: Andi pulled a nice and clean 360 x-up one foot at the first step up, followed by a backflip x-up one foot at the big double after the hip jump. The judges were totally stoked about this trick combination. Sebastian Grobholz, Alex Dropsy and Bibi, who are all former or active BMX pros, had no other chance to dedicate the Oakley Sick-O-Award to him. The 500 Euros cash was for sure a nice add on for Andi.
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The Out of Bounds Weekend 2008:
Pure freeride fun even though 26TRIX got cancelled
Leogang, June 9th 2008 – Last weekend, fast changing weather conditions didn’t curtail the riders’ and spectators’ joy during the mountain bike freeride festival in Leogang, Austria: racers battled one-on-one in the Kona Top2Bottom Terminator, world’s best dirt jumpers showed some of their hottest tricks and the legendary “De Buam” after-party more than coped the expectations.
The weather didn’t make it easy for the riders, spectators and event organizers. Long periods of heavy rains alternated with short sunny moments on Thursday (purposed 26TRIX training day) as well as on Friday, when the 26TRIX qualifications were planned to be held. All the rain turned the dirt line into a muddy track. The course builders tried to cure the berms and jumps with flamethrowers, but the rain came back too fast every time, so there was no chance to secure a proper ridable course. Many big name riders – such as Andreu Lacondeguy, Cam McCaul, Timo Pritzel, Sam Pilgrim, Benny Korthaus, Jamie Goldman, Martin Söderström, Lance McDermott, Alex Pro or Trond Hansen – had a good time in Leogang anyway. If they were not using the very few and short chances to show their skills on the 26TRIX jumps, they raced Leogang’s go-car track, battled each other with water balloons or shredded the various trails of the bike park.
At least it was not raining in the evening, so everybody could enjoy the barbecue party including a bunny hop contest in front of the B3 on Friday. Martin Soederström stoked the other riders showing 180’s and barspins up to 85 centimeters (34 inches), but Marius Hoppensack was the only one to make the one-meter-mark (almost 40”). So he got the props of everybody and 200 euros in cash on top.
The Saturday did not bring any changes in the weather conditions, but a weather forecast that could not have been worse: rain all weekend long! So on Saturday midday it was decided to cancel the 26TRIX comp. All the pros kept on shredding the Bikepark Leogang tracks and the Kona Top2Bottom qualification showed some nice racing action. The “De Buam”-party rocked Leogang afterwards: Leogang’s event hall was filled up with hundreds of people and a lot of women in particular. No question, the riders had a very good time till the early morning.
The finalists of the Kona Top2Bottom Terminator must have left the party earlier, because they showed hot rocking dual slalom action on Sunday morning. It was Andre Wagenknecht (Team RSG 52 Stollberg) to win the competition in a hard one-on-one battle against Florian Gottschlich. Right after his last run, Andre was pretty stoked: “It was a perfect weekend: I decided to come to Leogang just at the end of the week and the dual track here showed up to be built the way I love it. Winning the Kona Top2Bottom is a great feeling, but I had a good time riding the other bike park trails during the last days, too. Oh yeah, it was really a perfect weekend!”
Oakley’s biggest bag and 200 euros in cash will make Andre’s travels even more comfortable in the future. But following finalists got cash and non cash prices, too: Florian Gottschlich (Norco Schwalbe), Andi Zehentner (ASKÖ Trendsport X-Dream) and Adrian Kapsalis (RSV Garching).
It could be stated, that the Out of Bounds Weekend was fun for everybody who didn’t care about the weather. But just to be sure that you didn’t get it wrong: the 26TRIX is not meant to be cancelled in complete. The event organizers are confident of being able to find another date in 2008 to celebrate this great international dirt jump competition. Of course some points have to be clarified before, but the riders promised to come back to Leogang to rock the awesome and huge sized jumps!
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Trond Hansen - The winner of the Nissan White Style presented by Kona
On Saturday, February 2nd, the third anniversary of the Nissan White Style presented by Kona showcased sizzling international mountain bike freeride action in Leogang, Austria. The riders ripped the perfectly shaped slopestyle course until the late evening. Trond Hansen from Norway won the contest by showing the crowd a trick loaded run with lots of style. But also the other competitors surprised the spectators with amazing riding performance.
After the arrival on Friday the 22 riders out of eight countries were able to test and ride the well and diversified shaped course of Grant Fielder for the first time. Two big sized doubles right after the start were followed by a huge berm and the very technical satellite dish. The challenge went on into the step-up /step-down box providing a 12ft. drop/road gap which the riders had to launch over the Nissan truck. After this tricky obstacle the last double marked the end of the course. The riders had lots of airtime over the last jump and the spectators enjoyed the great variation of tricks.
The two qualifying runs on Saturday afternoon were dominated by Grant Fielder, Martin Söderström and Benny Korthaus. Grant came up with a nice and clean line, including a x-up-one-footed backflip, a superman-seatgrap, a no-footed cancan out of satellite dish and a stylish tailwhip at the last big air.
The young Swedish rookie Martin Söderström impressed the judges with a 360-tailwhip, a 360-barspin, a lookdown at the satellite dish and a barspin up the step-up and an overall very clean and technical run.
Benny Korthaus rocked the course and the spectators went nuts when they saw the height of his jumps. He pulled a 360-table top and a backflip at the first two doubles followed by a big 360 from the huge step down box and a backflip tabletop at the last obstacle. With this amazing run Benny qualified first for the finals and surely was the man to watch for the finals’ win.
The crazy young gun Andreu Lacondeguy couldn’t control his Spanish blood and tried in his second run a double backflip at the last jump. The Kona Clump team rider had too much speed, he got the highest amplitude, but unfortunately over rotated the double flip and landed at the end of the slope right on his back. Being knocked out for a few seconds, he had to fight the rest of the day suffering some pain, but he kept on riding, making his way into the finals.
The judges already knew after the Qualifying that the level among the top 12 riders is very high and it will be really hard to predict who will be on the podium. All 12 riders had great chances to make it into the top 5.
After the riders had warmed up by drinking Hot Bull in the chilling Nissan Dome and the sun had gone down, the lights were turned on and it was time for the finals. At 09.00 pm numerous spectators were waiting for the riders to show how progressive freeride mountain bike action can be - even on snow.
Benny Korthaus had a lot of bad luck in his two final runs. He crashed in both runs, once attempting again the 360-drop and in his second run he fell when trying the 360-whip at the big final jump, so he finished 10th at the end of the day. But the German riders were still fighting for the podium.
Andi Wittmann used the first two doubles to do a 360 and a x-up-one-footed backflip, table toped out of the satellite dish, barspinned the step-up, ended his run with a big tailwhip indian air and got third.
Amir Kabbani from Munich even topped this run by showing a tailwhip and backflip first, pulling a nice no-foot cancan out of the satellite dish, barspinned the step-up, x-uped the step-down and finished his run with a stylish and perfectly landed superman seatgrab.
There was only one rider who could top these two runs: Trond Hansen. Next to a 360-table top, a Backflip right after the start and a clean table top one-foot at the satellite dish, a barspin onto the step-up he landed one of the highest jumps in the contest - a perfect frontflip at the last double.
In between the two runs the Boom Boom Clap Soundsystem with Tai Jason und Ali A$ heated up the crowd with a raw German rap performance and a special verse about the White Style.
After a short break for the judges to eliminate the best 5 riders, Trond was holding his 2.000 € check in his hands and said: “It was a great day for me. Riding the snow wasn’t that difficult like I thought, I got good grip and enjoyed every minute. Well, dirt is the better choice of course for me, but I had fun, real fun and now I am really motivated for the upcoming season.”
All the riders and a lot of the spectators were partying until the early morning in the Kralleralm, enjoying tight beats from the Lionhouse Crew. Due to the sizzling atmosphere, even Andreu forgot his pain and everybody enjoyed themselves.
Results Nissan White Style presented by Kona:
Nissan White Style presented by Kona - Best of Video
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Closing Weekend
05.10. - 07.10.2007
The BikePark Leogang is opened last weeekend and last days for the season 2007!
> 30 % discount on BikePark cable car tickets
> Barbecue Party
> American SALE im Bikeshop ....
Mark this weekend in your calendar and enjoy the Closing Weekend in Leogang with your friends! |
iXS Downhill Cup
30. June / 1. July 2007
Another new event at Bikepark Leogang this year will be the iXS Downhill Cup.
The race tournament series, which takes place in Switzerland , Germany , will now arrive at Leogang for the first time, making it the only stop in Austria .
The event is that most important downhill series in the German-speaking world.
Up to 300 downhillers are expected at the starting line on the weekend of 30.6 - 1.7.2007. Every downhill enthusiast should make a note of this date in their diary. The event counts towards international world ranking.
Race-track
IXS-Downhill Cup Link
ONLINE REGISTRATION |
KONA WHITE STYLE LEOGANG
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