02.08. - 08.08.2010
Ferien im Downhillpark...

Das Canyon Oakley Freeride Jugendcamp im Bikepark Leogang:
Ein voller Erfolg

Leogang, Österreich, 11. August 2010 – Große Namen der Freeride Szene, erfahrene Coaches und über 100 Kids für eine Woche unter einem Dach, um zusammen den Bikepark zu shredden:  Ein einfaches und geniales Konzept,  das der Organisator Rob J das zweite Jahr in Folge im Bikepark Leogang nahe an die Perfektion brachte. Mit langjährigen Weggefährten und Freunden wie Tibor Simai, Cedric Gracia, Andre Wagenknecht, Andi Wittmann oder Angie Hohenwarther konnte den Kids ein fachkundiges Training und jede Menge Spaß garantiert werden. Der Kona Groove Approved Bikepark in Leogang sorgte durch seine Vielseitigkeit dafür, dass Fahrer aller Könnerstufen stets eine neue Herausforderung finden konnten.
 
Insgesamt zehn Coaches, einige wohl bekannte Gesichter, wie der ehemalige Deutsche Downhill Meister Andre Wagenknecht, die erfolgreiche Fourcrosserin Angie Hohenwarther oder der Vollblut Freerider Andi Wittmann, nahmen die 101 Kids am Sonntag vor einer Woche in Empfang. Die erste Kennenlernrunde erfolgte in lockerer Atmosphäre, wobei von Anfang an die Grundregeln des Camps kommuniziert wurden: Kein Alkohol, keine Zigaretten, Zimmer sauber halten, zum Personal freundlich sein, Bettruhe ab 22 Uhr wie auch das durch gegenseitigen Respekt geprägte Verhalten auf und neben den Bikepark-Strecken.

Am Montag wurden die 101 Kids in Gruppen eingeteilt, um allen Teilnehmern die optimalen Bedingungen zu ermöglichen. Hauptkriterien waren: Fahrkönnen, Alter, Größe und Material sowie die Interessen des einzelnen Teilnehmers, sprich in welcher Gravity-Disziplin (Dirt, Freeride, DH) dieser primär etwas dazulernen möchte.
Jede der acht Gruppen sollte sich somit unter der Führung eines fachmännischen Coaches optimal entfalten, explizite und individuelle Tipps einholen, wie sich letztendlich im Laufe der Woche deutliche Fortschritte erarbeiten können.
 
Ab Montagmorgen konnten die Kids ihrem Bewegungs- und Lerndrang ungezwungen und wohlbehütet freien Lauf lassen:
 
Die reinen Downhiller ließen es auf der UCI Worldcup Strecke, dem sogenannten „Speedster“, unter der Leitung von Andre Wagenknecht richtig krachen. Die „Freeride und Downhill“ Gruppe von Andi Wittmann flowte dem Flying Gangster hinab. Dort wurde neben den schnellen Lines auch am Style gefeilt. Die Freeride Gruppen von Tibor Simai, Leander Angerer und Christian Morgenroth nutzen die 4X Weltcup Strecke, dessen Drops wie auch die Hangman und Bongo Bongo Singletrails für Basic-Fahrtechnik. Angie Hohenwarter und Felix Gotzler gaben mit den Kleinsten auf dem pumptrackartigen Kids Mini Bikepark Gas und tasteten sich hier an erste kleine Drops heran, während die Dirt Gruppe mit Mathias Schell beim Sprung ins Foampit Airtime sammelte.
 
Ein abwechslungsreiches Rahmenprogramm sorgte für Auflockerung und die Chance zahlreiche Sachpreise abzuräumen:
Timo Pritzel und Cedric Gracia kamen zu Besuch, um eine kleine Show auf der 26TRIX Dirtline zu machen, Bunny Hop Tutorials zu geben oder zusammen mit den Kids den richtigen Tweak an Hips zu üben. Aber natürlich hielten sie auch Signing Sessions ab und standen allen Fragen Rede und Antwort. Am heißesten Tag sorgte ein Besuch im Leoganger Freibad für Abkühlung und das Üben eigensinnigster Tricks und Bewegungsabläufe vom Sprungbrett hinab in das kühle Nass.
 
Der Sponsor Canyon unterstützte das Freeride Camp mit ihrem Testcenter und Servicekräften, welche den Kids bei Reparaturen unter die Arme greifen konnten. Die Oakley Lounge diente zum "Auftanken" mit Eistee nach jedem Run und war dementsprechend gut besucht. Ansonsten standen natürlich alle Betreuer den Kids jederzeit bei Fragen, leichten Blessuren oder sonstigen Wünschen zur Seite.
 
So gestoked, wie Cedric war, wird er wohl auch nächstes Jahr wieder einer der Special Guests sein: "Es ist toll zu sehen, wie diese Kids ihre Limits pushen. Ich bin echt überrascht, wie ehrgeizig und ambitioniert die Jungs sind. Wenn ich eines der Kids im Jugendcamp wäre, würde ich viel mehr Party machen wollen!“
Tja, Cedric hat ja seinen Ruf als Party-Gott weg und muss diesem entsprechen. Die Kids hatten auf jeden Fall eine gute Zeit, wofür auch die extrem wenigen Blessuren sprechen, wie Rob J sagt: “Absolut Top was die Verletzungsbilanz angeht. Noch nie gab es so wenige Verletzungen bei einem Jugendcamp. Das ist den super erfahrenen Coaches und den guten Strecken im Bikepark Leogang zu verdanken.“

Kornel Grundner, Prokurist der Leoganger Bergbahnen, spielt den Ball an Rob zurück: „Gratulation an Rob J und sein Team - er hat mit seinem Jugend-Camp einen Volltreffer gelandet. Das Kids und Jugendlichen gemeinsam mit den Pros und Stars der Freeride- bzw. Gravity-Szene ein Camp machen, hat sich als perfektes Konzept gezeigt! Ich freue mich, dass der Bikepark Leogang, mit seinem unterschiedlichen Angebot vom Foam Pit bis zur Downhill-Strecke, als idealer Park für dieses Camp ausgewählt wurde und dies auch im nächsten Jahr seine Fortsetzung findet!"
 
Für die nächstjährige Wiederauflage des Jugendcamps – vom 31. Juli bis 6. August 2011 – kann man sich bereits ab Dezember unter www.go-alps.de anmelden.

 
Alle weiteren Informationen zum Bikepark Leogang stehen auf www.bikepark-leogang.com zur Verfügung.
 
Presseanfragen jeglicher Art werden unter high@rasoulution.com gerne beantwortet.

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

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.

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

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