Last weekend saw the 8th edition of the Volkl Nice and Landed slopestyle contest in Lech am Arlberg Austria. A well groomed park awaited riders for qualification and the Junior Jam session on Saturday morning - a damn good setup considering organisers had to reshape the park exclusively built for the contest three times beforehand! Snowboarders from as far away as New Zealand, Sweden, Great Britain and Argentina battled against Germans, Swiss and Austrians to secure a place in Sunday's Showdown with fifteen invited riders.  Sixteen year old Vorarlberger Paul Dreher from Pipeline shop tore the park apart with smooth backside 7's to win the Juniors division and also the chance to ride in Sunday's final.  In the Girls division GB's Lizzy Dalton and Electric's Lea Baumschlager rocked the park also qualifying for Sunday's final. After a quick reshape on Saturday afternoon the last kicker came alive with huge coloured halogen lamps and decorated with Palm trees for a special night session.  Three photographers including Marcel Lammerhirt, Alex Kaiser and Filmer Perman Perranin were there to capture the action. Volkl's Alex Schmaltz and the two Kiwi lads Mark Anderson and Rob Mitchell were the definite standouts of the night. Smooth Cab 5's, 7's, Switch 7's and stylee old skool three's to name a few of the solid tricks being preformed.   A one and a half hour session was enough to capture some sick pix, footage and give Alex Schmaltz the 'Destroyer of the Night' title.  Lights out and just enough time to catch some Sleep for the grand finale on Sunday. After checking the whiteout weather conditions I wasn't motivated to get out of bed but after three black coffee's and a leberkase semmel the heavy snowfall was already easing off to occasional snow flurries but nothing to stop the shredders shredding! The kickers were a little slow due to the fresh snow but the riders adjusted to make the most of the various lines in the park.  An easy Jam Session begun with as many runs as you like, but 2 chosen runs were judged to put six riders through to the finals.  Bregenzerwald local Patrick Huber made his mark over the two days with his signature rodeos on every obstacle possible.  The corner was covered with a meter fresh powder which was pretty cool for the first half of the morning!  Alex Schmaltz and Volkl team manager Jens Anselstetter cruised casually through the park (maybe just a little to casual to make the final round).  Christian Bell from Altons Skatehouse was looking hot with a mixed bag of super smooth moves to put him into 3rd place although  I think he was more stoked to take 1st place in the Robotic Dance off.  A dual between Photographer Carlos Perez and Christian Bell to take home the Disco Ball and Limited edition Carerra goggles!

Innsbrucker and Volkl Shredder Michi Schatz was on fire gapping the flat down rail to floorless BS slides along with some smooth "how low can you go" Five O 360's out. If Michi decided to actually enter the contest he would have won the Best Jibber award! 

At two o'clock the finals began with riders Louis Purucker, Patrick Huber, Simon Holzneck, Christian Bell and Rob Mitchell all fighting for first place with two judged runs.  Patrick Huber showed his diversity hitting all obstacles with a gigantic BS Rodeo seven on the Corner giving him the overall 'Best Rider' title.  Kiwi Rob Mitchell came in strong to secure first place with a BS7 to FS7 to BS3 which was pretty sick considering it was fully dumping by the end of the day.  
Bacardi Redbulls, Rauch, Bionades and Fohrenburger Beer were flowing aplenty throughout the day whilst riders and spectators chomped on Powerbars to recharge energy.  Henry Jackson our MC along with Thomas Alton were hilarious on the Mic.  Full props to these boys for a great day of entertainment.  

At ten in the evening the Pipeline after party and prize giving begun with Six DJ's in Lech's Archive Bar and Coffee shop. Fur coats and moon boots were out in abundance bopping to beats from Einhorn, Audiomed and Uwe Walkner. Audiomed almost lost his decks and Vinyl when Chris Bell was on stage re in acting his Robotic dance.  Skull Candy headphones and sweatbands were flying around the bar clobbering people in there forehead as product was tossed out to the hundreds of hungry party munga's.  Sweaty bods and hot girls danced into the night with the sweet aroma of Lesettes perfume samples. Party goers, drunks and make up dripping off faces were met early in the morning with a perfect sunrise and 40 cm's of fresh snow icing the mountains of the Austrian Alps......Wuuuuuuuuuu whoooooooooo!!!!

Official Results:

Nice and Landed most impressive snowboarder- PATRICK HUBER (A): Nitro, Electric, Pow gloves

Nice and Landed 1st Place Mens- ROB MITCHELL (NZ): RPM, Spy
Nice and Landed 2nd Place Mens- PATRICK HUBER (A): Nitro, Electric, Pow Gloves
Nice and Landed 3rd Place Mens- CHRISTIAN BELL (A): Altons Skatehouse Nice and Landed 1st Place Womans- LIZZY DALTON (GB)
Nice and Landed 2nd Place Womans- STEFFI HUBER (A)
Nice and Landed 3rd Place Womans- LEA BAUMSCHLAGER (A): Electric, Altons Skatehouse, Skull Candy

Nice and Landed Ist Place Juniors- PAUL DREHER (A): Pipeline

Nice and Landed Night Session- ALEX SCHMALTZ (D): Volkl, Electric, Volcom

Nice and Landed Best Jibber- CARL STEVENS (NZ): Allian, Convert, Oakley

Nice and Landed Robotic dance off- CHRISTIAN BELL (A): Altons