<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13.3333px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 13.3333px; text-align: justify;">However, before we move on to the festivities we’d like to remind you what this <span>spectacle was all about. Every season, our park crews give it all, to get the most out of the given conditions. In order to honor the commitment and creativity, the girls and boys put into their parks, QParks and NITRO initiated the Crew Battle for the first time. In this sporty-creative competition, the crews were to briefly introduce an obstacle, shred it and shoot it.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">In order to ensure that the <span><span>winning crew</span></span> is being selected as <span><span>fair</span></span> as possible, we came up with a <span><span>triple judging</span></span> system. Besides the <span><span>public voting</span></span> there were also a <span><span>rider jury</span></span>, consisting of <span><span>NITRO-team rider Dominik Wagner</span></span>, <span><span>freeski-pro Luggi Brucic</span></span> and <span><span>QParks Tour Head Judge Andy Lehmann,</span></span> as well as a <span><span>QParks jury</span></span>, composed of <span><span>Lukas Draxl</span></span>, <span><span>contest expert and event manager</span></span>, <span><span>QParks CEO</span></span> <span><span>Jürgen Kipperer</span></span> and <span><span>CEO</span></span> and <span><span>marketing boss Jan Zach</span></span>. These three decided on which crew was going to take home some <span><span>brand-new NITRO-backpacks</span></span> filled with <span><span>beer</span></span> and <span><span>500€</span></span> in cash for the well-deserved <span><span>after season party</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Result</strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The first part of the triple judging was a <span><span>public voting</span></span> which was <span><span>won</span></span> by the <span><span>underdogs</span></span> from <span><span>Familypark Zauchensee</span></span>. They managed to motivate all fans, friends, uncles and aunts and were rewarded with a considerable total of 132 votes. The second place went to the crew from <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span> who got 105 votes. The team from <span><span>Snowpark Gemeindealpe</span></span> came in as third with 90 votes. Props to that achievement and the dedication leading to this result. Whereas the public voting awarded Zauchensee with the crowd’s love and happiness, the overall judging process involves two more steps.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Now for the Rider Jury’s Decisions:</strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Luggi Brucic filled his personal podium as follows: The crew of <span><span>STANTON Park</span></span> St. Anton came in as <span><span>third</span></span>. The <span><span>second place</span></span> went to <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span> and the edit from <span><span>Mayrhofen’s Vans Penken Park crew</span></span> <span><span>convinced</span></span> him and made it to the <span><span>top</span></span> of the <span><span>podium</span></span>: “The <span><span>filming</span></span> and <span><span>cutting</span></span> were the <span><span>best</span></span> of all the edits, which motivates to go shredding. It was a <span><span>tight race</span></span> but in the end the <span><span>whole package</span></span> <span><span>convinced</span></span> me.” Luggi thinks it’s great that the Crew Battle honors the shape crew’s creativity, because “<span><span>freestyle is all about creativity</span></span>”, as he puts it.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NITRO-team rider Dominik Wagner came to the following conclusion: Dominik puts the crew from <br /> <span><span>St. Anton</span></span> on <span><span>third place</span></span>, places the guys from <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span> on the <span><span>second position</span></span> and thought that the edit from <span><span>Superpark Planai</span></span> was the <span><span>best</span></span>. He explains his decision: “I decided on the <span><span>Planai-project</span></span> because the crew managed to build a <span><span>feature</span></span> which wasn’t a “dead end”. It was possible to <span><span>ride</span></span> it <span><span>from any direction</span></span> and even <span><span>combine</span></span> features.” </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Head judge Andy Lehmann thinks that the <span><span>Crew Battle</span></span> poses as a <span><span>great</span></span> <span><span>possibility</span></span> for the shape crews, because they can <span><span>present</span></span> themselves and their <span><span>hard work</span></span> from the season. He finds it even better, that their efforts are being honored with <span><span>cool prizes</span></span>. “A small internal battle shows the crews where they stand and gives them a glimpse of what the other crews are up to!”, Andy says. Besides personal style, creativity is the most important part in freestyle. “<span><span>Creative riding</span></span> expresses the rider’s <span><span>personality</span></span>, <span><span>individuality</span></span> and <span><span>character</span></span>”, head judge Andy states. He placed <span><span>Snowpark Alta Badia’s</span></span> crew on <span><span>third</span></span> place. The shapers from <span><span>Superpark Planai</span></span> came in as <span><span>second</span></span> and the <span><span>winners</span></span> of his ranking were the guys from <span><span>Vans Penken Park Mayrhofen</span></span>. “The <span><span>quality</span></span> of the <span><span>edit</span></span> and the <span><span>filming</span></span> <span><span>motivates</span></span> right away to <span><span>hit</span></span> the <span><span>park</span></span> yourself! Also the creativity is top notch and almost everyone finds <span><span>various</span></span> <span><span>possibilities</span></span> to <span><span>shred</span></span> the <span><span>obstacle</span></span>,” Andy explains.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all, the <span><span>rider jury’s</span></span> result reads as follows: The <span><span>third</span></span> place goes to the crew from <span><span>STANTON Park</span></span> <br /> St. Anton and the crews from <span><span>Superpark Planai </span></span>and <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span> come in <span><span>together</span></span> <span><span>second</span></span>. In the rider jury’s view, the <span><span>winning team</span></span> comes from <span><span>Vans Penken Park Mayrhofen</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The QParks Jury’s Results</strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">For the third and last element of the triple judging, we consulted <span><span>three wise men from QParks</span></span>: the ranking from <span><span>Luki Draxl</span></span> comes as follows: <span><span>Alta Badia wins</span></span> ahead of the <span><span>Diedamspark</span></span>-crew and the girls from <span><span>quattro Snow Park Obergurgl</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">CEO Jürgen Kipperer puts the crew from <span><span>STANTON Park St. Anton</span></span> on first place, followed by the team from <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span> and the shapers from <span><span>Familypark Zauchensee</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Head of marketing and <span><span>CEO</span></span> <span><span>Jan Zach’s</span></span> number <span><span>one</span></span> is the crew from <span><span>Familypark Zauchensee</span></span> <span><span>ahead</span></span> of <span><span>Snowpark Gemeindealpe</span></span> and the shape crew from <span><span>Alta Badia</span></span>. “The crew from <span><span>Zauchensee</span></span> has impressively <span><span>proven</span></span> what a <span><span>creative</span></span> and <span><span>motivated</span></span> shape <span><span>crew</span></span> can do within limited <span><span>possibilities</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all, the QParks jury’s podium looks as follows: It’s a <span><span>tie</span></span> between the crews from <span><span>Diedamskopf</span></span> and <span><span>Gemeindealpe</span></span> who came in as <span><span>third</span></span>. The <span><span>second</span></span> place goes to the crew from <span><span>Familypark Zauchensee,</span></span> which means that the shape crew from <span><span>Alta Badia wins</span></span> this round.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>And the Winner is…</strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The three parts of the triple judging are to be seen as equal. The first place counts as 3 points, the second place counts 2 points and the third place counts 1 point.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">*drum roll*</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The crew from <span><span>Vans Penken Park Mayrhofen</span></span> comes in as <span><span>third</span></span> with 3 points in total, the <span><span>second</span></span> place with 5 points goes to the team from <span><span>Familypark Zauchensee</span></span>. For their <span><span>outstanding commitment</span></span> and massive <span><span>motivation</span></span> the boys and girls from <span><span>Zauchensee</span></span> shall not only <span><span>win</span></span> “the crowd’s love and happiness” but also sweet <span><span>backpacks</span></span> from <span><span>NITRO</span></span>, filled with <span><span>hoppy deliciousness</span></span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Constantly on the <span><span>podium</span></span> and therefore <span><span>deservingly</span></span> placed on <span><span>top</span></span> of the <span><span>podium</span></span> with 7 points, the crew from <strong><span><span>Snowpark Alta Badia</span></span></strong> may be called “<span><span>Best Crew of the QParks-Universe</span></span>” from now on. That title gets them not only <span><span>super nice backpacks</span></span> from <span><span>NITRO</span></span>, filled with a <span><span>keg</span></span> of mouthwatering <span><span>beer</span></span>. No, the cherry on top is a <span><span>500€ check</span></span> for the crew’s <span><span>after season party!</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Congratulations to the winners and a big thanks to all crews that participated in this year’s Crew Battle!</em></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The winning video is below but make sure to check out <em><strong><a href="https://vimeo.com/album/4513970" target="_blank">all other edits</a></strong></em> and prepare to be awed by the shape-skills and cinematic talents of the girls and boys bringing your parks into top condition each and every day.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Also we’ll be raffling a backpack from NITRO under all voters from the public voting. The lucky winner will be announced on the <em><strong><a href="https://business.facebook.com/qparks/" target="_blank">QParks Facebook page</a></strong></em> and will be informed via mail. By the way, you find the best shots from the QParks-universe on <em><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/qparksfreestyle/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></strong></em>.</p>