Tara Mountain in Serbia saw the first Ticket To Ride event in Serbia, the 2star Swatch TTR “Protest Balkan Rookie Fest”, third international stop of the World Rookie Tour 2009. Riders from Serbia, Croatia and Slovenja joined the event and shred the park in front of an unespected chair man: Emir Kusturica, the world famous film director and resort owner.
Most of the best youth from the balkan area partecipated to this event, including the slovenian 12 years old Tim Kevin Ravnjak, who rock the slope style obtaining an easy win among the grom category. Aljosa Krivec (SLO) resulted the best Rookie, while Rovena Jesensek and Taja Korpar, both from Slovenja, won the girls rookie and grom categories.
“We are happy to bring an international rookie slope style in european areas like the Balkans where there are still few infrastructure for freestyle and few projects for the development of youth snowboarding.” sayd Marco Sampaoli, World Rookie Tour director. “The effort of the local organizers was great and the way they manage a last minute resort change showcase an high level of professionality. We are honored that Emir Kusturica presented the prize giving. I coudn’t image a better event for the Serbia stop and of course we will be more than happy to come back there with the world rookie tour 2010.”
The prize giving ceremony of the event saw an unexpected chair man in the person of Emir Kusturica, the world famous film director, owner of Tara Mountain ski resort. The best 2 rookies obtained free invitations to the 4star Swatch TTR “Protest World Rookie Finals” in Ischlg, Austria, togheter with Protest Surf Camp in Lacanau, France.
Top riders at Protest Balkan Rookie Fest
Rookie:
1. Aljosa Krivec / Slovenija
2. Luka Jeromel / Slovenija
3. Tim Korpar / Croatia
Groms:
1. Tim Kevin Ravnjak / Slovenija
2. Andrej Marincic / Slovenija
3. Timon Sturbej / Slovenija
Rookie Girl:
1. Rovena Jesensek / Slovenija
Grom Girl:
1. Taja Korpar / Slovenija
Emir Kusturica … can you image a cooler chair man for a prize giving ceremony?
Check out all World Rookie Rank results here
ABOUT WORLD ROOKIE TOUR & WORLD ROOKIE RANK
Only the best rookies in the world will be granted access to the World Rookie Tour big final: the Swatch TTR 4Star “Protest World Rookie Finals” in Ischgl, Austria, from April 15 to April 19, 2009. Only the winners of the previous qualifiers will be able to go to Ischgl, together with the best athletes of the World Rookie Rank on April 5, and the wild cards that single nations give to their most promising rookies. The World Rookie Rank is a classification for under 18’s only and it is developed by the World Snowboard Federation (WSF) in collaboration with TTR. At the end of the World Rookie Tour, the final winner will be awarded with the title of World Rookie Champion. He will be offered a unique opportunity to enter the world of professional snowboarding: an invitation to a Video Shooting with the Pirate Movie Production, a Photo Shooting by On Board Europe and an invitation to an event which is still kept secret are awaiting the winner.
ABOUT THE WORLD SNOWBOARD FEDERATION
WSF is the only international organisation working uniquely to develop and support snowboard at all levels, including competitions and education, disable and adaptive snowboarding, activities for riders of any age. WSF is a network of national snowboard associations cooperating worldwide for the development and promotion of the sport. Members find in WSF a source of inspiration and support to their activities. WSF can create added value for everybody involved in snowboard on national level and offers ideas, handbooks and initiatives, the result of an organization whose components share the same goal: progression of snowboarding at all levels. www.worldsnowboardfederation.org
