Takeru Otsuka (JPN) and Kokomo Murase (JPN) are Slopestyle World Rookie Champions 2017. Chase Blackwell (USA) and Sena Tomita (JPN) won the Halfpipe contest
The 2017 World Rookie Finals went down with fantastic vibes as the quest to unveil the next Rookie snowboard superstars heated up when the world’s finest young snowboarders converged on Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Austria. Around 140 riders from all over experienced a whole week full of snowboard action having fun in the Snowpark Kitzsteinhorn, and – of course – to battle it out for the famous and much desired title of the World Rookie Champion.
Chase Blackwell (USA) and Sena Tomita (JPN) are the first ever World Rookie Champions in Halfpipe. At this year’s edition, it is the first time that the World Rookie Finals include Halfpipe as a discipline. The title was hard fought as becoming the first World Rookie Champion in Halfpipe is one of the greatest rewards for tomorrow’s pro snowboarders. The riders field was 40 boys and 18 girls packed with a large variety of nations.
But Chase Blackwell from the USA and Japanese rider Sena Tomita, who both landed heavy runs, were better than the rest, and take home the Black Yeti trophies and prizes such as TSG helmets, Nitro bags, Surfcamp from Surftolive, Pieps, Shooting in Kitzsteinhorn Monday-Wendsday, Ticket for 2 weeks freeride trip to Chile, Pieps, shovel.
Slopestyle World Rookie Champions are Takeru Otsuka (JPN) and Kokomo Murase (JPN). High creativity level and crazy riding skills were sent by this years’ World Rookie Champions. On the boys’ side, Takeru Otsuka (JPN) topped the podium after having thrown a Blunt 270 on the first rail, a Frontside Double Cork 1080 and a Backside Double Cork 1080 over the jumps and finished his run with a Crippler Transfer to Nose Slide Prezel on the last features. He came slightly before Davide Boggio (ITA) and Minsik Lee (KOR) who became 2nd and 3rd. Best boy in the Grom category (below 16 years) was Swedish shredder William Mathisen.
Kokomo Murase from Japan defend the title as female World Rookie Champion from last year and impressed the judges with her winning run including a Blunt 270 on the rail, a Frontside 720 and Backside 720 on the kickers and a Rock to Fakie to Switch Board Slide on the last feature. She shared the podium with 2nd placed Antonia Yanez from Chile and Iina Puhakka from Finland who grabbed the 3rd spot. Check out the full results lists of the whole contest here.
Watch the video from the first days of 2017 World Rookie Finals
If you are a snowboard fan or if your dream is to start a professional snowboard carrier, then Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun Zell am See, Austria, is the place to be! Find all the info about the resort below:
Web
www.kitzsteinhorn.at, www.zellamsee-kaprun.com
Facebook
www.facebook.com/zellamseekaprun
www.facebook.com/Snowpark.Kitzsteinhorn
Instagram
kitzsteinhorn #kitzsteinhornsnowpark #zellkaprun
Download here all the results from 2017 World Rookie Finals www.worldrookietour.com/downloads/wrt2017/WRF_Results.zip
Photo Credits by Gustav Ohlsson
On the top: Sena Tomita, first Halfpipe World Rookie Champion
Everybody knows it, every kid loves it, and every champion was here! The 2017 World Rookie Tour, along with locations and formats, is as follows:
2016.17 World Rookie Tour – Calendar
South America Rookie Fest (SS) – Valle Nevado, Chile 12-14 August 2016 – DONE
Australian Rookie Fest (SS) – Thredbo, Australia 1 September 2016 – DELETED
World Rookie Rail Jam (Rail) – Modena, Italy 29-3 October 2016 – DONE
Corvatsch Rookie Fest (SS) – Corvatsch, Swiss 15-18 December 2016 – DONE
World Rookie Fest (SS) – Livigno, Italy 14-19 January 2017 – DONE
Transilvanian Rookie Fest (SS) – Sibiu – Arena Platos, Romania 20-22 January 2017 – DONE
Bulgarian Rookie Fest (SS + HP) – Pamporovo-Mechi Cal, Bulgaria 27-29 January 2017 – DONE
Trentino Rookie Fest (SS) – Monte Bondone, Italy 08-12 February 2017 – DONE
Oslo Rookie Fest (HP) – Oslo, Norway 25 February 2017 – DONE
USASA Grom Fest (SS) – Keystone, USA 25 February 2017 – DONE
Indy Park Rookie Fest (SS) – Nekoma, Japan 25-26 February 2017 – DONE
Rev Tour Rookie Fest (SS + HP) – Seven Springs Resort, US 09-10 March 2017 – DONE
World Rookie Finals (SS+HP) –Kitzsteinhorn, Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria 04-09 April 2017 – DONE
Contacts for: registration, information and booking:
Matteo Fregni: email rookie@worldsnowboardfederation.org, phone 0039.059.9783397
If you dream to become a professional snowboarder,
then your future starts from Rookie Fest!
ABOUT THE WORLD SNOWBOARD FEDERATION
The World Snowboard Federation (WSF) is the international organization exclusively working to develop the sport of snowboarding at all levels. Program areas include: competitions, Para-Snowboard, judge and shapers, education and certification, and snowboard activities for riders of every age. The WSF represents a network of National Snowboard Associations (NSAs) who work together at a worldwide level to promote the development of snowboarding. NSA members can find a source of inspiration and support from the WSF for the activities they are conducting within their nation and by working towards the same goal: progression of snowboarding from the ground up. The WSF collaborates with the TTR Pro Snowboarding, the owner and operator of the TTR World Snowboard Tour and the TTR World Ranking System. Through this collaboration and coordination of events at the TTR World Snowboard Tour, The WSF and the TTR want to create an environment that fosters the development of competitive snowboarding. In February 2012, the WSF and the TTR hosted the inaugural World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo, Norway, an elite level event to be held every four years in alternating cities around the world. Official website: worldsnowboardfederation.org.
About TTR Pro Snowboarding & World Snowboard Tour
TTR Pro Snowboarding is a non-profit organization that oversees a professional network of events and athletes. Our objective is to develop and showcase the sport of snowboarding through the World Snowboard Tour, while facilitating a fair and open competition environment that includes innovative judging and ranking systems. We encourage riders to develop from rookies into world-class athletes through a 6 Star level rating system; which will be replaced by a new 4-tiered structure from October 2014. Under the new World Snowboard Tour 2.0, the 4-tiered structure will encompass Elite, International, National, and Regional event levels. Elite events will comprise the WST Pro Series (current working title). The Regional, National, and International levels of the WST 2.0 will make up the WST Qualifying Series (working title).
