Nick Pünter won the 2019 World Rookie Fest in Livigno and the invitation to the X Games Norway qualification event!

“We are excited to confirm our partnership with the 2019 X Games Norway and to reward the best rider of the 2019 World Rookie Fest by Rock and Ride with an invitational ticket to the X Games Norway qualification. A great recognition for our project: to help World Rookie Tour riders to make their dream come true and to become professional snowboarders!” Marco Sampaoli, World Rookie Tour Co-Founder.  “Last year WRT Champion, Takeru Otsuka got a ticket to the X Games Norway were he conquer the gold medal and before him many of todays big snowboard name were rookie tour champion. Our mission is to discover and support the next snowboard star.”

Regarding the 2019 World Rookie Fest by Rock and Ride, from the 12th to the 16th of January Livigno and Mottolino Snowpark welcomed 90 riders from 10 nations!

After two days of heavy snow falls in which the all crew enjoy the livigno powder, the qualifications and the finals took place under a blue sky and in an amazing set up which consisted of three lines: M with four tables, three kickers (eight, ten and twelve meters), a jib crounch box and a pole jam; L with a thirteen meter kicker and a fifteen meter kicker and a cannon box; XL with a eighteen and nineteen meter kickers and a rainbow piramid.

Also this year Rookies and Groms left the public and judges astonished by their riding level and did their best to win the legendary World Rookie Fest Champion title and a spot in the X Games Norway qualification event.
The girls started first and  Tina Steffensen conquered the highest spot of Rookie podium with her run which included a 50/50 front 260 out, indy, backside 360 melon, frontlip grab. The norwegian won on two riders: Maisie Hill and Shirly Kolodziej. Also Grom Girls showed their best: Evy Poppe took the first place with a blunt 270, frontside 720 indy, backside 9 mute and cab 270 in 270 out, Mia Brookes and Kamilla Espeli Olsen the second and the third.

Odin Røhrt won in the groms’ category with a score of 91,2 in his run where he landed blunt 270, frontside 720 indy, backside 9 mute and cab 270 in 270 out. Benedikt Fridbjornsson rounded out the podium as second and Sander Mork Danielsen as third.

Nick Pünter arriving first in the Rookie’s category and winning the 2019 World Rookie Fest by Rock and Ride Champion title and the ticket to the X Games Norway Qualification Event that will take place on February the 16th in Hafjell! Nick now is only 1 victory away to join the X Games Norway! On the male rookie podium after Nick there were Øyvind Kirkhus and Gabriel Almqvist. Last but not least, Norway conquered the title of best team!

At end of the day, the Black Yeti waited all the riders at Miky’s Pub supported by Rock and Ride to concluded this great experience in the best way possible, with a live concert of punk rock music by local band “Vasellax“.
In the next days, from Thursday to Saturday, immediately after the slopestyle competition, a limited number of World Rookie Tour riders have the chance to train on the Air Bag landing set up in Mottolino snowpark.

Download HERE  the complete results of the event.

Find all the pictures about 2019 World Rookie Fest by Rock and Ride below:

2019 World Rookie Fest  – Arrival Day – Event Presentation – Yoga Session
2019 World Rookie Fest – Quali Day 
2019 World Rookie Fest – Competition Day

Photo Credits: Ania Grzelka

Thanks to 2019 World Rookie Fest by Rock and Ride sponsors and media partners: Red Bull, Livigno Touristic Office, Mottolino Fun Mountain, Mottolino Snowpark, Skipassion, Union Binding Company, TSG, Level Gloves, Jail Jam, SurftoLive, Sticker Mule, Elle-Erre, Rock and Ride, Moon srl, Boardriding, Pleasure Magazine, Quattro Media, World Snowboard Federation and FSI Federazione Snowboard Italia.

Have a look at the next World Rookie Tour events: