Hiroto Ogiwara & Evy Poppe are the 2021 World Rookie Snowboard Champions!

From April the 29th until May the 2nd, after the end of the freeski event, almost 80 snowboarders from 16 different nations came to Hintertux, for the most awaited youth snowboard event of the season: slopestyle competition, art workshop, music contents and avalanche camp were some of the magic ingredients of this unique event.

In fact, in the heritage of the WRT events, the 2021 Snowboard Final was not only an international slopestyle competition, but as well it offered to all participants several side activities thanks to a strict Covid Concept which ensured the safety of all.

The 2021 World Rookie Snowboard Final competition went down in Hintertux Glacier, at the Betterpark Snowpark, in very difficult weather conditions, with permanent clouds and some wind, which obliged the Local Organizing Crew to adapt the program day by day. Finally, all the riders were able to showcase their skills with a regular slopestyle contest fort he male rookie category and a rail jam for all the others.

Male Rookies challenged for the 2021 World Rookie Tour Champion title on a slopestyle course consisted by three tables with different kickers and one table with three jib obstacles at the end. Judges scored each rider using overall impression. Hiroto Ogiwara (JPN) conquer the victory and the World Rookie Champion Title with a Cab Double 900 mute, bs double 1080 mellon, fs 720 toe edge and front plant 450 out on the last rail. Hiroto was awarded, among the many prizes, with a ticket to 2021.22 FIS World Cup. Liam Johnson and Lucas Ferry, both from the USA, got second and third and completed the male rookie podium.

All the other participants, female rookies and male/female groms, unfortunately were not able to compete in the slopestyle due tot he very bad weather condition and, on Sunday, competed fort he WRT Champion titles on the rail line, on a two run - best one counts format.

In the Female Rookie category, former 2019 WRT Champion Evy Poppe from Belgium, won again the 2021 World Rookie Champion Title with a solid run consisting of a perfect Noseslide and a 50/50 frontside 360 out.

In the grom category, among the male Lenny Fenning from team Whyaintyou GBR won with a Cab 270 on and Cab 180 on BS 360 out. In the female groms Yura Murase from Japan won with a Boardslide to Fake and cab 180 on. They both conquered the World Grom Champion Title.

The 2021 Snowboard World Rookie Champions were both awarded with invitations for the 2022 Spring Battle at the Absolut Park and for the 2021.22 Hintertux Opening, and an invitation to a Red Bull Experience to be announced soon. For the male World Rookie Champion only was awarded a spot for 2021.22 FIS World Cup Slopestyle. Other riders on the podium were awarded with surf week with our historic partner SurftoLive.com and with many goodies from all our sponsors.

Download all the results from the 2021 World Rookie Finals Snowboard here

1. Yura Murase, JPN, 69.0

2. Soha Jannet, SUI, 45.5

3. Heli Bockhorni, GER, 39.5

1. Evy Poppe, BEL, 81.5

2. Matilde Pizzuto, ITA, 67.0

3. Andrina Salis, SUI, 65.5

1. Lenny Fenning, GBR, 84.5

2. Liam Garandel, FRA, 80.5

3. Brooklyn Depriest, USA, 74.5

1. Hiroto Ogiwara, JPN, 88.5

2. Liam Johnson, USA, 87.5

3. Lucas Ferry, USA, 84.0

The event offered a program of side activities under a strict Covid Security Protocol to create a safety bubble and allow the organization of social moments. During the event took place a workshop about “Wood Photo Printing” by Andreas Monsberger, where they learned how to print a real picture in a piece of wood, making real artworks. The program also included “Avalanche Clinic” with theoretical and practical parts run by MOON Agency and a Karaoke Session.

All the World Rookie Tour organization would like to thank you all for the determination and for the support for our project. We hope to see you next year in better conditions.

Day 1 – Training

Day 3 – Grom and Girl Rail Jam

Male Rookie Training - Part 1 & Part 2

Video Credits: Andreas Monsberger, Maurino Castellani, Silvio Ottonello

Covid-19: In cooperation with the ÖSV, a comprehensive Covid-19 security concept was implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.

World Rookie Tour Media Manager

Marco Sampaoli - marco@moonsrl.it - Phone +39.059.9783397 or +39.340.328.55.69

World Rookie Tour Event Coordinator

Meinhard Trojer - meinhardtrojer@powdern.com - Phone +43.650.56.37.424

ABOUT THE WORLD ROOKIE TOUR

The World Rookie Tour is organized by the Black Yeti ssrl in collaboration with World Snowboard Federation, National Snowboard, Ski and Skateboard Associations and selected action sport agencies. It was born in 2005 as a series of youth snowboard event and it consists now of a selection of high quality International events for snowboard, freeski and skateboard, the so called “Rookie Fests”, reserved for riders under 18’s only, in Europe, North and South America, Oceania and Asia. The World Rookie Tour consists not only of competitions: it also features loads of other activities to help rookies to grow in the field of professional action sports, such as photo & video shootings, avalanche and rescue clinics, meetings with photographers and international team managers, parties and English talks. Since year zero, it awards tickets to world-class events such as X Games Norway, Audi Nines, The Arctic Challenge, The Air & Style, The World Snowboarding Championships, Red Bull Roller Coaster, Simple Session, Mystic Sk8 Cup, invitations to professional photo & video shootings, and shooting trip all around the world. Every year the tour crowns the World Rookie Champions at the end of season, during the World Rookie Finals, a unique event format where the best youngsters from almost 30 countries compete and have fun. More information at www.worldrookietour.com.

ABOUT BLACK YETI ssd

The Black Yeti is an amateur sport club dedicated to the realization of snowboard, freeski and skateboard projects for boys and girls up to 18 years of age, in Italy and abroad. One of the most successful project is the World Rookie Tour, the biggest and the most famous tour in the action sports world that attracts 2.000 young athletes from 30 nations to the events called “Rookie Fest”, organized all over the world: Italy, Europe, North and South America, Oceania and Asia. The Rookie Fests program includes not only the competition but also many side activities such as avalanche and rescue clinics, workshops and English talks.