Gjermund Braaten is the World Rookie Champion 08

The WSF world rookie tour is over after the last stop “Volkl World Rookie Fest” in Ischgl, Austria. After 3 days of massive riding, the norwegian resulted the best team of the event as Gjermund Braaten got the title of World Rookie Champion 2008, and Kari Opsal-Maeland the Best Girl.

Gjermund Braaten from Norway is the World Rookie Champion 2008
Final report from Volkl World Rookie Fest 2008 in Ischgl, Austria

Gjermund Braaten dominated the finals

Volkl World Rookie Fest showcase snowboarding future stars coming from 12 countries at the last Swatch TTR 3star event of the season, hosted in Ischgl, Austria. With massive switch bs7 and cab9, the norwegian Gjermund Braaten obtained the title of World Rookie Champion 2008. In the grom category under the 14 years, Dimi De Jong resulted the best with impressive tricks live fs900 tail grab while Kari Opsal Maeland won among the girls.

Dimi de Jong was the best grom of the event

The set up of the last World Rookie Fest of the season, powered by Volkl, was impressive with 2 table top and several rails in the slope style. The first day of the event was kissed by the sun and after the training Pieps organized a free avalanche clininc with both pratical and theorical parts. The competition format was based on overall impression on both rail and kicker lines with 3 runs. On the qualification day 35 selected youngsters from 12 countries challenged for the last spots of the finals of which 8 were already assigned from the previous world rookie fests in Italy and Czech Republic and several 1 and 2 star rookie events world wide.

Giorgio Ciancaleoni from Italy got the second place

The level of riding was sick and culminated in a great showcase during saturday finals. Gjermund Braaten resulted the most impressive rider of the event and winning the World Rookie Champion title, a ticket to Nokia Air&Style rookie challenge in Munich, a road trip in Canada featured in the next Pirate Movie Production “Boarbegged” offered by Tobis Travel Solutions and a fresh meat on Method Mag.

Petja Piiroinen hit the best trick of the event: a huge bs7

As best trick a huge bs7 on the 20m kicker from the finnish Petja Piironein. Giorgio Ciancaleoni from Italy combined several 720 on the kikers with the sickest rail trick of the day (270in on the kinked) conquering the second overalla position. Kari Opsal Maeland impressed the jury with back loops and sick rail triks obtaining an invitation to a photo shooting in Italy by Snowpark.it. As usual, Norway resulted the best team of the rookie fest obtaining an holiday on Garda Lake, Italy. Many of the finalist won tickets to the World Rookie Fest 2009 in Livigno and for the best groms Dimi de Jong and Maria Delfina Maiocco a Golden Card to join every WRF 2009 for free. Finally also 2 international sponsorship were assigned: Volkl snowboard welcomed in its team Yuki Motoki from Japan while Protest did it with austrian rider Florien Merten.

The only female grom of the competition: “Bibi” from Italy

Grom Female
rank-bib-surname-name-nationality
1 85 Maiocco Maria Delfina aka “Bibi” ITA

Grom Male
rank-bib-surname-name-nationality
1 91 De Jong Dimi HOL
2 94 Usletten Emil Andre NOR
3 95 Thorgren Sven SWE

Rookie Female
rank-bib-surname-name-nationality
1 21 Opsal Maeland Kari NOR
2 12 Fuller Aimee GBR
3 2 Fazi Francesca ITA

Rookie Male
rank-bib-surname-name-nationality
1 20 Braaten Gjermund NOR
2 29 Ciancaleoni Giorgio ITA
3 31 Niemelaa Nuutti FIN

Gjermund get his tickets!

Best Trick
Petja Piironein (FIN) huge bs720

Best Team
Norway

Norway resulted the best team

Overall TTR Men Rank
rank-bib-surname-name-nationality
1 20 Braaten Gjermund NOR
2 29 Ciancaleoni Giorgio ITA
3 91 De Jong Dimi NED
4 31 Niemelaa Nuutti FIN
5 33 Piiroinen Petja FIN
6 94 Ulsletten Emil Andre NOR
7 23 Pircher Simon AUT
8 3 Bergmann Darek CZE
9 5 Koo Teddy JPN
10 13 Skottheim Johannes SWE
11 26 Merten Florian AUT
12 32 Tonteri Roope FIN
13 95 Thorgren Sven SWE
14 6 Motoki Yuki JPN
15 89 Scherrer Jan SUI
16 18 Sprecher Anian SUI
17 98 Grigis Marco ITA
18 1 Dreher Paul AUT
19 4 Gutwirth Filip CZE
20 90 Koch Lucien SUI
21 27 Reichmuth Stefan SUI
22 14 Landmark Zebastian SWE
23 86 Mikyska Martin CZE
24 88 Paulicek Dan CZE
25 24 Kroell Steve AUT
26 8 Ollie Jackson GBR
27 25 Corzelius Flo GER
28 28 Brutto Francesco ITA
29 7 Ota Seiki JPN
30 30 Vagheggi Davide ITA
31 99 Courtier – Jones Lewis GBR
32 87 Kriz Dusan CZE
33 93 Baume Lucas SUI
34 17 Pozzi Felice SUI
35 11 Horsfield Dean GBR
36 92 Macciotta Youri ITA
37 22 Rackouesi Mark HUN
38 19 Kluivers Mike NED
39 16 Franc Philippe SUI
40 97 Shackleton Henry GBR