From 7 to 10 january 2006, the Snowboard League organized the european edition of the WSF World Rookie Fest, a world tour (Japan, Italy, USA and a final in Austria to be defined) for riders from 1988 and up. Every WRF06 counts as qualifing event for the Arctic Challenge by Terje Haakonsen. The event in Livigno, totally dominated by norwagian team, with 40 extraordinary riders from 11 country, a spectacular snow park, lots of extra activities and a very good organization, was the best edition of ever.
7 january. Arrival Day and Opening Contest.
The WRF started with a little regional contest in the "medium" snowpark of Livigno with 15 riders from 5 country. Easy contest winned by Bobby Witty (USA) while Britte Van Der Pow was the best woman after one hour of jam session.
Rank SL Rookie Tour, 7 genn 06, Livigno Boys
1st Bobby Witty (USA)
2nd Tresten Swigard (USA)
3rd Sam Cullum (UK)
4th Thomas Eschwaller (Italia)
5th Pier Frassì (Italia)
6th James KcElvany (UK)
7th Maarten Van der Pow (NL) Girls
1st Britte Van Der Pow (NL)
2nd Denise Balza (ITA)
3rd Caroline Frassì (ITA)
For the entire day the others rookie teams enter in Livigno while the firsts arrived could enjoy the "snow mini half pipe" owned by Kikko Ciapponi (presenter of the event and nice italian pro). At the first riders meeting in the evenig, the positive vibration of the rookie event were around us. Fortunatly the meteo was supposed good for the 3 days...everything sounds good.
8 january. WRF Training In early morning all the WRF crew went up at the spectacular Mottolino "pro" snowpark: on the start a car, then a straigh rail 7m long or a rainbow one, after follow the huge table top with 3 kickers (22,15 and 10m) followed by a double step up (15 and 12m). On the finish line a "wave" rail 8m long. During the 3 hours of training, the rookies tried the slope style and all the present focus how high was the level of riding: staff, media, coachs and people around were incredibly impressed for the level of the rookies! Of course, some of them was extraordinary ...but the avarege level was really high...Rookie Rulez!
The 5 norwegian were incredible and soon some of them became the favorits of the event: Badertscher Ulrik , Aanestad Stian and Sivertzen Stian. Very good training from the swiss captain Cristian Haller, like the Czeck rider Dlahy Roman (which will be the youngest finalist). An other very good riders was Bobby Witty, USA junior champ in half pipe and slope style...not less from the austrians Felix Wander and Sharmer Roland. Good surprise from the belgium team too, arrived with 6 rookies of which De Lange Wonter and Sleeckx Yannik seemed the bests. For Holland Maarten Van Der Putten and Britte Van Der Pouw get a lot of good tricks like the russian Sir Sergey Lapushkin (he get 36 hours of travel alone to join the WRF). Quite interesting the italians, english and pollish even if they need something more to compete with the others.
In the evening there was a Arva /Pinps simulation with training on freeride security and avalache procedure. Later, at the riders meeting, there was a short expanation on the point system of the slope style while there was a video review with the film footage of the morning training.
9 january. WRF Slope Style Everything is ready for one of the most interesting junior event of the season. Photografers, filmer, coach,s judges, staff and, above all, the 40 rookies were waiting for the start. Another hour of training before the 2 qualifing runs to select the 16 riders for the finals in jam session format. Riders were incredibly positive and everybody smile for the entire day... positive vibrations is what the WRF want to give...and that was.
Qualify runs were quick and the best 16 riders selected soon: all the norwegians enter the finals with their huge rotations and solid rails. Very good performance even from belgium riders (4 on 6 in the finals). Bobby Witty (USA) is 3rd in qualifing and the austrians are very good too entering the finals in 2. Maarten Van der Putten (Nederland) enter the finals like the russian Sir Sergey (check individual rank for more details).
During the finals nothing changes in the attitude of the rookies, everybody was happy and getting a nice riding in Livigno with some friends ...but the level incresed sensibly...in the hour of jam session there were a lot of excellent tricks: lots stylish rails and very good jumps like sw900, Rodeo7, 720crk and huge bs1080 by Ulrik. Great level. WRF crew, people and media receive an important vision on the future of snowboarding.
Ulrick Badertscher (Norway) was absolutely the best rider of the WRF06 winning a ticket to TAC06 while Britte Van der Pouw (Nederland) was the best woman... but the WRF went above the ranks, giving everybody a positive and memorable experience...again: Rookie Rulez!!!
After the competition, last appointment was at the closing party with the video footage of the finals. Everybody was happy and remember for a log the great time at the WRF06 in Livigno.
From the WRF it's all folks...of course, until next edition!
WSF World Rookie Fest by SL, Livigno 7-10 genn 06 Individual Rank
RANK BIB SURNAME NAME YEAR OF BIRTH NATION BEST QUAL. BEST FINAL
1 22 Badertscher Ulrik 88 NOR 24,9 26
2 32 Haller Cristian 89 SUI 17,4 25,1
3 26 Aanestad Stian 89 NOR 18,7 21,3
4 4 Witty Bobby 89 USA 22,3 20,7
4 25 Sivertzen Stian 89 NOR 15,7 20,7
6 12 De Lange Wonter 89 BEL 18,2 19,6
7 23 Krohn Sebastian 88 NOR 20,4 19,5
8 14 Sleeckx Yannick 90 BEL 15,9 19,4
9 24 Truls Handstand Berg 88 NOR 22,5 19,1
10 3 Lapushkin Segery 89 Russia 17,5 19
11 11 Wander Felix 88 AUT 21 18,8
12 6 Van der Putten Maarten 88 NL 18 18,6
13 17 Reynders Christophe 89 BEL 17,7 16,9
14 21 Dlahy Roman 91 CZ 15,8 14,3
15 15 Smits Seppe 90 BEL 21,1 14,2
16 9 Scharmer Roland 88 AUT 20 7,6
17 13 Bronkaers Kevin 90 BEL 15,6
18 16 Smits Antony BEL 14,7
19 28 Cullum Sam 88 UK 13,7
20 7 Massar Sjors 88 NL 13,5
21 5 Sweigard Tresten 91 USA 12,5
21 33 Faffenarcht Fabian 89 SUI 12,5
23 18 Dytkowski Jakub 88 POL 12
24 34 Krummenazart Florian 90 SUI 11,8
25 35 Buzzoni Lorenzo 88 ITA 9,7
26 10 Pribik Thomas 89 AUT 9
27 41 Frassì Pier 92 ITA 8,2
28 40 Frassì Calle 92 ITA 7,2
29 8 Van Der Pouw Britte 90 NL 7,1
30 29 McElvaney James 89 UK 7
31 42 Frassì Caroline 86 ITA 6,3
32 36 Ferrari Jacopo 88 ITA 5,9
33 39 Sirtori Carlo 90 ITA 5,7
34 20 Selek Piotr 89 POL 5,2
35 37 Balza Denise 88 ITA 4,4
36 19 Szkaradek Jakub 90 POL 3,6
37 27 Leith Angus 88 UK
WSF World Rookie Fest by SL, Livigno 7-10 genn 06
Team Rank
RANK NATION
1 NORWAY
2 BELGIUM
3 SWITZERLAND
4 AUSTRIA
5 NEDERLAND
6 USA
7 ITALY
8 UK
9 POLAND
10 RUSSIA
11 CZEK REPUBLIK
For free download of pics, video, interview and extra content about the world rookie fest 06 in Livigno, check the official home page www.snowboardleague.com
Txt: Marco Sampaoli
Pics: Luca "Ciccio" Borghetti e Nicola Carignani