thirtytwo Snowboards Celebrates Pat Fava’s Red Bull Heavy Metal Win in Helsinki
Pat Fava wins the first-ever Red Bull Heavy Metal outside of North
A packed and action-filled program featuring some of the best snowboarders in the world awaits at AbsolutPark next week. The action kicks off on Saturday with “A Day for Jake” at Shuttleberg. The following day marks the first competition day of the legendary Spring Battle Slopestyle and Rail Event, before the FIS Snowboard World Cup Flachau takes over from Thursday onward. The women’s and men’s finals will take place on Saturday, March 21st.
“A Day for Jake” is celebrated worldwide in memory of snowboarding pioneer and Burton Snowboards founder Jake Burton Carpenter, who passed away in 2019. Group rides in some of the world’s most iconic snowboard resorts celebrate Jake’s passion for the sport. Naturally, the Austrian stop takes place in Flachauwinkl.
Starting Sunday, the AbsolutPark Pro Line will be at the center of the action. The slopestyle course has been specially rebuilt for the event week and offers creative lines and plenty of opportunities for new tricks thanks to numerous features – including a wallride, three rail sections with various options such as a waterfall rail, high rail or shootout, as well as two large kickers with 20 and 22 meter tables.
Until Wednesday, riders at Spring Battle have time to capture their perfect run on video in one uncut take. As the longest-running snowboard contest in the independent snowboarding scene under the WSF, the event has continuously evolved through technical innovation and the progressive development of the sport. In the unique follow-cam jam format, snowboarders are accompanied by cameramen and high-speed drones as they attempt to put down their best run during the four competition days.
Over 150 participants
With a new participation record of more than 150 snowboarders, this year already marks the biggest Spring Battle ever. Not least thanks to the Rail Jam right in front of the Chill House at the base of the park – held as the highest-paying Elite Event of the WSPL – the rider field is stacked with top stars from both the rail scene and the slopestyle circuit. From Thursday to Saturday, the FIS Snowboard World Cup Flachau will take place on the same slopestyle course. The men open the competition with their qualification on Thursday, followed by the women on Friday.
From an Austrian perspective, hopes rest on double Olympic champion Anna Gasser, who is especially excited about the double event at her home resort. In theory, it could be the final World Cup of her career, but the Carinthian rider has not yet made a final decision. She will be supported by Kristina Holzfeind from Freestyle Club Villach, who has recovered from injury. The 18-year-old is making her FIS World Cup comeback after suffering an ACL tear last year.
In the men’s field, former Stams student Moritz Amsüss is among the big favorites in the rail contest. 2018 Spring Battle winner Clemens Millauer will be absent this time as he is currently overseas for a video shoot.
International Top Riders at AbsolutPark
From the international field, special attention will be on Japan’s Hiroto Ogiwara, who landed the first-ever 2340 (6.5 rotations) at the X Games in January. Newly crowned “Rookie of the Year” Eli Bouchard from Canada will also be competing. With his creative riding style, he delivers rotations and tricks that seem almost impossible, impressing snowboard fans and judges alike. His Canadian teammates Cameron Spalding and Francis Jobin are also among the favorites, alongside Justus Henkes (USA), Lyon Farrell (NZL) and crowd favorite Valentino Guseli (AUS).
In the women’s field, Mia Brookes (GBR) is one of the top title contenders in both the Spring Battle slopestyle and the World Cup, as well as in the Rail Jam. Germany’s Annika Morgan, who narrowly missed the Olympic podium with a fourth-place finish, is also aiming to return to the podium after finishing second last year. Young US riders Lily Dhawornej and Jessica Perlmutter will also be competing in AbsolutPark.
The packed on-mountain program will be complemented by the Spring Battle Award Show on Thursday evening, broadcast live from the Dips & Drops Sporthotel in Flachau on YouTube. After two weeks of spring-like temperatures, some fresh snow is expected on Monday before sunny conditions return – perfect conditions for a spectacular week of snowboarding at AbsolutPark.
Planned Program:
15.03. – 18.03. 10:00 – 14:00 Spring Battle Slopestyle Event
Sun. 15.03. 13:00 – 14:00 Spring Battle Rail Jam Qualification Women
Mon. 16.03. 13:00 – 15:00 Spring Battle Rail Jam Qualification Men
Tue. 17.03. 13:00 – 14:00 Spring Battle Rail Jam Finals
Thu. 19.03. 11:00 – 13:30 FIS World Cup Qualification Slopestyle Men
from 19:00 Spring Battle Award Show live at Dips & Drops and on YouTube
Fri. 20.03. 11:00 – 13:30 FIS World Cup Qualification Slopestyle Women
Sat. 21.03. 11:30 – 14:30 FIS World Cup Finals
Pat Fava wins the first-ever Red Bull Heavy Metal outside of North
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