Rock A Rail Tour 2025 kicks off at Hintertux Park Opening

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Rock A Rail kicks off its 2025 tour at Hintertux Glacier, joining forces with the legendary Park Opening for an unforgettable start to the season.

For the first time, the Rock A Rail crew and the organizers of the legendary Hintertux Park Opening have joined forces to kick off the season with a bang. A perfect match: Rock A Rail complements the Park Opening, which has been celebrating freestyle culture in all its facets for over 20 years. It is a fixed date in the calendars of the snowboard community and the ideal way to launch into the winter season together. The Rock A Rail Tour is known for urban street style at a world-class level, featuring creative and challenging setups. Hintertux marks the first of five tour stops in fall 2025.

The open qualifier on Friday at Betterpark Hintertux up on Hintertux Glacier drew a large crowd of riders eager to secure one of the coveted spots in Saturday’s big showdown alongside an elite crew of invited riders. For the first time, the brand-new Rock A Rail setup was unveiled at the valley station, showcasing exciting new features and endless trick opportunities. Riders lit up the night with an explosion of tricks, thrilling the crowd and proving that the new setup has passed its baptism of fire with flying colors.

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Paula Benito, Rock A Rail Hintertux. Photo: Alba Pardo.

In the snowboard women’s division, the ladies impressed across the board with courage, style, and technical finesse. Italy’s Stella Accati claimed third place. Just ahead of her was 2024 Rock A Rail Tour champion Paula Benito (ESP), landing stylish tricks to secure second. But the evening’s biggest surprise was 14-year-old Marie Kuhlmann (GER), who celebrated her first Rock A Rail win including a standout “50-50 to Backside Bluntside 270 Out” on the Down Flat Down rail. The 16 male riders tore the setup apart from the very first run. Standouts included Switzerland’s Nick Puenter with his wild street style, gaps and transfers, as well as Senna Van Drunnen (NED) and Nauris Putenis (LAT), who wowed the crowd with a “50-50 to Front Flip” off the Flat Rail. Øyvind Kirhkus (NOR) also impressed, though all narrowly missed the podium. Third place went to 16-year-old US rider Colin Frans. 2024 Tour winner Leon Gütl (GER) earned second with clean, stylish tricks on the C-Rail and an incredible “Switch Backside 270 to Forward” on the Down Flat Down. The well-deserved win went to Niek Van der Velden (NED), who landed one insane trick after another, including the banger trick of the night: a gigantic “Frontside Bluntside” on the Flat Rail to a “Backside 270 Transfer to Boardslide” on the Down Flat Down Rail, igniting roaring applause. Niek states: “The setup offers you so many possibilities. Lots of lines to pick and a lot of variety. I focused on the more technical tricks but also tried some gaps and transfers. Fun event overall, good crew and hyped for more.“

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Jaime Castro, Rock A Rail Hintertux. Photo: Jennifer Lang.

The Snowfest Village, which is an integral part of all Snowfest events, attracted a steady stream of visitors together with the industry’s Test Area at the Tuxer Fernerhaus. Highlights included an art workshop hosted by the World Rookie Tour in collaboration with Lebenshilfe Tirol, a dedicated companion for people with disabilities on their journey toward a barrier-free, self-determined, and fulfilling life. 

An epic start to the Rock A Rail Snowboard Tour. The tour now moves on, with the second stop already coming up this weekend at the Freestyle Roots Festival in Thun (SUI), from October 10–12, 2025.

Results Rock A Rail Hintertux:

Snowboard Ladies:

  1.   Marie Kuhlmann, GER
  2. Paula Benito, ESP
  3. Stella Accati, ITA

Snowboard Men:

  1. Niek Van Der Velden, NED
  2. Leon Gütl, GER
  3. Colin Frans, USA

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