Higher, faster, further: on Saturday, the 28th of January the freestyle elite met up in the Senoner'park Hochkar, in order to match each other in hot head to head battles! In the categories Men and Ladies, the riders gave it their all, showcasing their skills on an exquisitely shaped Big Air Kicker. Michael "Stani” Stanschitz won the Snowboard Contest!

Even before sunrise, the Shapecrew had catered for a perfectly shaped kicker, which should become the riders' battle ground in the contest and thanks to a perfectly sunny day it looked just spot on! As is custom at the Hochkar Open, also this year the tension increased to the breaking point. Small wonder: 1,000€ prize money, massive TSG and Sport Senoner Goodies and the prospect on credits for the QParks Snowboard Tour, meaning loads of glory, made it easy for the riders to be motivated for the contest. The riders gave it their all, battling each other on a massive Big Air Kicker by every trick in the book!

The snowboard contest was positively nail-biting. Here, local Michael "Stani” Stanschitz won the battle, delighting judges and spectators alike. Maja Löfvenmark turned out to be the snowboarding queen of the day. "Stani” was absolutely stoked by his home win: "I made it up the mountain quite late and missed the training. Still, I entered the finals, which was just great! I loved the fact that the kicker was even bigger this year and I was able to show many stylish tricks. The Hochkar Open is my home contest, so being part of it really is something special to me. My whole family is here and that really gives my confidence a boost!”

Marvin Salmina, who managed to enter the top three, convinced the judges and showed the Best Trick. The young snowboarder Florian Prietl had a real surprise in store: because he was the only rookie registered, he was entered into the Men's contest – and managed to make it into the finals. He had to surrender to the winner, which he isn't ashamed of, however: "I never thought I'd come this far, I'm absolutely stoked! I've already taken part in a few contests of the QParks Snowboard Tour and there are more to come, which I want to be part of, too!” Once again, the QParks Snowboard Tour as well as the Hochkar Open proved to be the perfect step stones for young talents: Albert Senoner, main sponsor and benefactor of the Senoner'park Hochkar and the contest alike was so taken by Florian Prietl's skills, that without much ado he offered the rookie a one-year sponsoring: "I was instantly stoked by Florian's riding level! He really deserves to be supported!”

Here are the first results:

Snowboard Men
1. Michael Stanschitz
2. Flo Galler
3. Marvin Salmina
4. Pitter Patrick
5. Viktor Szigeti

Snowboard Ladies
1. Maja Löfvenmark
2. Lisi Wurzenberger

>>> Best Trick Snowboard: Marvin Salmina

But not only the Big Air contest itself was a sight to be seen. A DJ pampered the audience with electrifying beats, providing the perfect priming coat for the competition. At the traditional BBQ, no one had to go hungry and Albert Senoner himself once again took the opportunity to care for the sizzling steaks and sausages. His upshot on the contest: "It was absolutely massive: perfect weather, high riding levels, many people – this really is as good as it gets!”

The QParks Snowboard Tour Continues!
Already next week, on Saturday, the 4th of February 2012, the QParks Snowboard Tour will move on to Germany, at the TWO FIFTY Masters Feldberg. All freestylers will again get the chance to demonstrate their skills in a massive contest. Learn more about it here! For more recent information and news, go to snowboard.qparkstour.com or visit the Facebook Fanpages of the QParks Snowboard Tour. Stay tuned for drama and glory!

Mountain High is proud to announce two members of its newly formed professional snowboard team medaled in the Snowboard Street event at the 2012 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Ryan Paul took Silver with his impressive technical tricks including a 270 onto the Jersey Barrier to 450 out, a gap to 50-50 on the down-flat ledge to a backflip out, and a Cab 180 to 50-50 on the ledge to backside rodeo out. Nick Visconti held off some series competition to win the Bronze with his smooth style and hammer tricks including a hardway cab 3 on the down rail, a 270 onto the curved C-rail, and frontside 50-50 to 180 out on the massive cargo container feature.

"X Games was so awesome. I'm super stoked on how it all went and can't wait to get back next year,” says Ryan Paul. "Mountain High has been a great training ground to learn the tricks that have helped me excel as a professional snowboarder.” "It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'm excited to participate in annually,” says Nick Visconti. "I'm thankful and feel blessed to represent the core side of snowboarding in the X Games for my sponsors including Mountain High.”

Paul and Visconti have become an exceptional part of Mountain High's new professional snowboard team that also includes Marc Frank Montoya, Kyle Lopiccolo, Harrison Gordon, Cory Cronk and Spencer Link. For more information on Mountain High's team check out: http://mthigh.com/archive/pro-team/index.html

On Sunday March 18, 2012, X Games medalist's Nick Visconti and Ryan Paul will team up for a signature event at Mountain High dubbed "The Great White Park Attack.” This will be a great opportunity for snowboard enthusiasts to come out and meet the professionals who took home Silver and Bronze from the Winter X Games in 2012.

Look for the entire Mountain High professional snowboarding team throughout the season as they film for the Drive In web series and their first full-length snowboard movie "Los Angeles” that will be released in the Fall of 2012. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact John McColly at 760 316 7803 or john@mthigh.com.

Mountain High is Southern California's closest winter resort located just an hour and a half from Los Angeles and Orange County. The area consists of three separate mountains (Mountain High East, West, and North), and offers a wide variety of lifts and trails, a world-class terrain park, an outstanding Winter Sports School, and the region's largest tubing area. Night skiing & snowboarding is available 5 nights-a-week and snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes. Mountain High has been the first resort to open in Southern California for the past 14 years and traditionally operates from mid November to mid April. Get more at mthigh.com.

The Black Yeti proudly announce the first Halfpipe event of the World Rookie Tour. The best European junior teams are awaited in Monte Bondone, Trentino, where is placed one of the very few permanent European super pipe. Don't miss the opportunity to train and compete in this 3star halfpipe event and join also the 3Star Italian Halfpipe Championships to be held in the same location on February 12th, just one day after the finals of the Halfpipe Rookie Fest 2012.

The 4 days program will include training session with Pros, a 3Star Halfpipe contest, a night session, video premiere, an unforgettable party, a visit to Trento. The event is also connected with the 3Star Halfpipe Italian Championships, held in Monte Bondone on Sunday 12th February and with 3.000€ prize money to grab. Two 3star halfpipe contests in few days to climb the World Rank and compete with the best halfpipe riders of the Alps.

Moreover, to support the crew coming at this first Halfpipe Rookie Fest, the coach of each national team registered with at least 3 riders, will enter the event for free receiving hotel in halfboard, event pass and lift ticket.

In addition don't forget the upcoming 2Star slopestyle Transilvania Rookie Fest in Arena Platos, Romania, from 27 to 29 January! All info are here.

Event Program for Halfpipe Rookie Fest in Monte Bondone, Trentino, Italy
8 February _ Arrival Day + Welcome Pizza at Hotel Montana.
9 February _ Training with Pros + Visit to Trento.
10 February _ Qualification + "Rookie Trip to Chile" film premiere at Hotel Montana.
11 February _ Finals + Night Session in the park + Final party
12 February _ 3Star Italian Halfpipe Championships 3.000€ Prize Money.

Prizes
2 tickets for the Protest World Rookie Finals 2012 in Ischgl, Austria
2 tickets for the World Rookie Fest in Livigno 2013
2 invitation to the Rookie Shooting in Val Senales, Italy in summer 2012
3 surfcamp in Santader offered by Surftolive.com
CHUCKBUDDiES and Tech Riders and other goodies offered by the sponsors.

Entry Fee
All inclusive package including hotel*** in half board from 8 to 12 february, 4 days lift ticket and event pass _ 300€
Only 4 days lift ticket (from 9 to 12 febbruary) and event pass _ 100€
Only 3 days lift ticket (from 9 to 11 febbruary) and event pass _ 80€

Registration, info and bookings
rookie@worldsnowboardfederation.org - 0039.331.9027656

Follow the Yeti online @
web: worldrookietour.com and worldsnowboardfederation.org
facebook fan page: facebook.com/worldrookietour
vimeo channel: vimeo.com/channels/worldrookietour
Mpora WRT channel: mpora.com/worldrookiesnowboardtour/
The Halfpipe Rookie Fest in Monte Bondone, Trentino, Italy, is organized by the World Snowboard Federation in collaboration with Board Riders, and it was made possible by TRENTINO, Trento Funivie, APT Trento Monte Bondone e Valle dei Laghi, Hotel Montana, energized by REDBULL, supported by Tech Riders and CHUCKBUDDiES. You can follow the Halfpipe Rookie Fest on our international media partners Onboard European Snowboard magazine, Cooler, MPora and on our italian media partners Snowpark.it, Entry Magazine and Board.tv.

The world's top snowboarders unite at the iconic Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck to throw down their tricks, fight for the title and lay claim to the prestigious Ring of Glory.

On the 4 February 2012, 20 charged riders and live music acts SIDO and Beatsteaks will gather before 15,000 amped spectators for the final 6 star event on the TTR Big Air World Tour. Joining the action will be burn units

Ståle Sandbech - recently scored 3rd place at Air & Style Beijing
Ulrik Badertscher - holds the title for Air & Style Beijing
Werni Stock - won 3rd place in 2011
Marco Grigis - new comer to the contest & eager to show what he can do

New This Season At Air & Style
New for this season and spicing up the event is the burn jib section. Separating the rippers from the rookies, the new section demands creative flare and masterful rail skills. Having landed the jump, riders must cruise the burn jib section which now consists of the burn can and two massive 8m rail stair sets (one straight and one double kinked). The burn jib section will now count for 20% of the riders overall score

Burn Fire & Steel Rail Contest
Following the success of last year and setting the scene for the Saturday action, burn will host the Friday night burn Fire & Steel rail contest. Taking over Innsbruck's most historical boulevard, 20 riders will shred the burn stair set, as crowds line the streets. Live music from Indie rock band The Heavy accompanies the action. To add to proceedings and build suspense, the rider draw for Air & Style will be announced amid the action.

Afterparties - Let Burn Fuel Your Fire
And it doesn't end there… burn will be fuelling the official after-parties across the city. Bring your lederhosens and dancing shoes, raise your steins and prepare to party all night long.

Check the official teaser film at: http://www.burn.com/en_GB/movers/air-style.html

Scuol, Switzerland -- TTR and WSF are pleased to announce the confirmed rider field for the World Snowboarding Championships taking place February 10th-19th in Oslo, Norway. Over 200 men and women from over 25 countries around the world, including 3-times TTR World Tour winners Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) and Jamie Anderson (USA), 2012 X-Games winners Mark McMorris and Torstein Horgmo (NOR) as well as Olympic gold medallist Kelly Clark (USA), will compete for the Slopestyle and Halfpipe World Champion 2012 titles and $500,000 in total prize money.

With this immensely strong gathering of athletes in competitive snowboarding, spectators around the globe can expect a massive dose of action in the halfpipe and on the slopestyle course. More than a 100 independent TV stations will broadcast the WSC worldwide.

TTR Pro Snowboarding, World Snowboard Federation and the WSC organizers in Oslo are pleased to welcome the athletes to the first World Snowboarding Championships for snowboarders by snowboarders since 1999.

A final round of Wildcards for influential riders, who weren't able to qualify through competition in the past year, were handed to: Olivier Gittler and Arthur Longo from France to enter the Halfpipe contest. The Women's Halfpipe contest sees Elena Hight (USA) join the start field.

The confirmed riders have been anticipating the World Snowboarding Championships for over a year now and can't wait to drop in and ride the world-class Slopestyle course and Halfpipe. ‘The WSC is the most prestigious competition in Freestyle snowboarding in 2012, and I am very honored to be a part of it. We have all been focusing on this the whole season, it's that time to show your stuff' says Belgian Seppe Smits.Hosting country Norway will warmly welcome many of their favorites in the Oslo Vinter Park Arena, such as Torstein Horgmo, Gjermund Braaten and Stale Sandbech in the men's field, and Kjersti Ostgaard-Buaas, Silje Norendal and Linn Haug in the Women's competition.

Henning Andersen, event director: ‘Oslo is ready for the action: The snowpark is in good condition and the final phase of the shaping process has started. The city of Oslo is welcoming everyone to the biggest sports event in 2012.'

The complete overview of all confirmed athletes can be found at: www.wsc2012.com / www.ttrworldtour.com

TTR caught up with 21 year old Sarka Pancochova from Czech Republic finding out how she got into the world of snowboarding and what competitive snowboarding means to her.

Sarka’s the No. 1 female representing Czech right now and with skills and abilities like hers, going bigger and spinning smoother than most girls her age, she’s able to battle it out with the girls she’s grown up idolizing. She has snowboarding in her blood, and with plenty of points already posted, and an exciting desire to push female riding to the next level, eyes will be glued to Sarka as she amps up the contest

The fourth and final day of X Games proved to be more exciting than anticipated. With the first ever snowmobile front flip thrown down in X Games competition and Shaun White achieving a perfect score in his half pipe run fans were anything but let down.

http://redbullusa.com

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=redbull

Jib on slopes like back in the day, but with the style and skills of today! It doesn't always need to be a perfectly shaped park to have fun, sometimes a simple slope with natural obstacles is all that's needed to be creative on snow. That's what Red Bull Jibmunks is all about, a slope tricks contest consisting of terrain full of natural obstacles, just like a great natural slope should be.

The event takes place Feb 25th in Grindelwald, Switzerland and will feature riders that will need to show world-class technical skills, unrivalled board control and best of all a lot of individual creativity.

Patagonia snow ambassadors get after it in the backcountry.

The LADIES FIRST CHALLENGE is the first freestyle tour only for girls in Switzerland and is a 3Star TTR event.

This winter, The Ladies Fist Challenge has three slopestyles: two qualifiers contests, one being Thyon then the next stop is Wildhaus (18.02.2012) and then the Final in Leysin (23-24.03.2012).

Check out this video from the first stop of the tour in Thyon on Saturday 14th Janruary 2012.

For more info check out the TTR event page at http://www.ttrworldtour.com/events/season-1112/3star/the-ladies-first-challenge.html and keep checking the blogs for updates at http://www.ttrworld