Balkan Rookie Fest 2026 goes down in Malyovitsa, Bulgaria

Everything is set for the Balkan Rookie Fest 2026, taking place this weekend at the Malyovitsa Ski Center, as the World Rookie Tour returns to Bulgaria with one of the key snowboard events of the winter season. Official activities kick off on Wednesday, 11 February, with riders on snow for training, followed by the full competition day on Thursday, 12 February 2026.

This event represents an important step for freestyle snowboarding in the region. The Balkan Rookie Fest will take place at the brand-new Fun Park Malyovitsa, built on the historic Mecha Polyana slope, an area deeply connected to Bulgarian alpine tradition. With the opening of this new park, Malyovitsa officially enters the freestyle scene, offering young athletes a modern playground designed for progression, creativity, and safe performance.

The slopestyle and rail setup has been carefully shaped according to international safety and competition standards. The course is designed to reward clean execution, technical control, and smart line choice, giving rookies and groms the chance to compete on a balanced layout in a true alpine environment.

Top 3 riders in each category will earn a direct qualification to the World Rookie Snowboard Finals 2026 in Kaprun, Austria, where the best young snowboarders from around the world will compete at the end of the season.

Podium riders will also receive products and prizes from tour partners Blue Tomato, TSG, and Contrabanda.bg, confirming the importance of this stop within the World Rookie Tour calendar. Entry fees are set at 20 EUR per athlete, payable in cash on site, plus a 20 EUR BIP deposit, also payable in cash and refunded upon return of the bib. Lift access on competition days will be free of charge for all officially registered athletes and coaches, ensuring a smooth and rider-focused event experience.