Mitchell Davern and Annika Morgan are the slopestyle winners of the 2019 World Rookie Snowboard Finals

Sometimes dreams come true easily, sometimes you just need a little help. The Black Yeti is therefore proud to help young talent to achieve their best goals. This is the aim of the World Rookie Tour and was the spirit of the 2019 edition of the World Rookie Snowboard Finals.

From the 25th to the 30th of March Kitzsteinhorn Zell am See – Kaprun welcomed the best U18 snowboarders of the world and the winners of the previous WRT stops in Europe, South and North America, Oceania and Asia, who arrived in Austria full of enthusiasm and ready to conquer the podiums and the titles of World Rookie Champions.

The halfpipe qualifications and finals took place on Saturday and Joonsik Lee and Ruki Tomita became the Halfpipe World Rookie Champions. Here you can find report, results, video and pictures.

On Sunday the Kitzsteinhorn Snowpark was the perfect playground for the long-awaited slopestyle finals and offered riders an amazing course (watch the video preview here).

The World Rookie Champions Slopestyle gained the prestigious Golden Ticket for next season World Rookie Tour stops, a spot for next season FIS World Cups and the invitation for the legendary Audi Nines!

The girls started first and Annika Morgan (GER) took the first place in the rookie category showing her style with cab 540 tailgrab, backside 720 mute, backside nosbutter 360, fs lipslide prezel out, swicth backside blunt 270 out, sw bs to normal, bs boardslide. “I am really hyped to win the Nines wildcard that has always been my dream! So stoked!”. Annika was followed by Mona Danuser (SUI) and Addison Gardner (USA).

In the grom girls category, Evy Poppe (BEL) gained the highest score and conquered the podium. Evy landed a: cab 540 mute, frontisde 540 indy, switch backside 280, 50-50 fs 360 out, bs blunt to fakie, front board slide. Belgium girl was followed by Marilù Poluzzi (ITA) and Mia Brooks (GBR).

Mitchell Davern (NZL) dominated the rookie boys category and won the World Rookie Boy Champion title. His riding level was very high and his tricks very technical. Mitchell’s run consisted of a cab double cork 1080 indy, switch backside 1260 mute, backside 360 tuckknee, underflip 540, 50-50 bs 360 out, bs up the rail, fs, ds 270 in backside boardslide. Yuuto Yamada (JPN) and William Mathisen (SWE) won respectively the second and the third place. Michtell impression: “I did not come with any expectations, just wanted to put down my run and I am super happy.. so stocked”.

Among the grom boys, an impressive Valentino Guseli (NZL) arrived first thanks to his run: switch backside 900 mute, backside doublecork 1080 mute, frontside 180 indy, front board to fakie, switch lip normal, 360 sul wall, switch lipslide 270 out. Rikuto Wakanabe (JPN) and Odin Rohrt followed him and completed the podium.

Another edition of the World Rookie Snowboard Finals came to an end. Rookies and groms had really fun not only during the competition but also in many lifestyle activities such as during the capoeira lesson, where they discovered the Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, music and acrobatics, during the glass blower workshop where they learned how to make glass, and the workshop with Viva con Agua, charity based organisation campaigning for clean drinking water worldwide.

Congratulations to all the winners and see you next year! Thank you to all the sponsors who provided beautiful prizes for the winners: SurfToLive, Level Gloves, Nitro Snowboards, Union Bindings, TSG and Boardriding. Here the pictures from the last day.

Watch here the video highlights of the slopestyle winners. Enjoy!

– SP Rookie Boys Final
– SP Grom Boys Final
– SP Rookie Girls Final
– SP Grom Girls Final

Check out the results lists here below:

– SP Rookie Boys Final
– SP Rookie Girls Final
– SP Grom Boys Final
– SP Grom Girls Final

Pics: Gustav Ohlsson
Video: Andreas Monsberger

2018.19 World Rookie Tour Calendar
South America Rookie Fest (SS) – Valle Nevado, Chile 9.14 August 2018 DONE
New Zealand Rookie Fest (SS+HP) – Cardrona, New Zealand 14.16 August 2018 DONE
New Zealand Rookie and Grom Fest (SS+H) – Cardrona, New Zealand 2.5 October 2018 DONE
Corvatsch Rookie Fest (SS) – Corvatsch, Switzerland 12.16 December 2018 DONE
USASA Grom Fest (HP) – Copper Moutain, US 6. January 2019 DONE
World Rookie Fest (SS) – Livigno, Italy 12.16 January 2019 DONE
USASA Grom Fest (SS) – Keystone, US 10 February 2019 DONE
Indy Park Rookie Fest (SS) – Nekoma, Japan 9.10 March 2019 DONE
Rev Tour Rookie Fest (SS+HP) – Mammoth, US 13.14 March 2019 DONE
Pila Rookie Fest (SS) – Pila, Italy 13.17 March 2019 DONE
World Rookie Finals (SS+HP) – Kitzsteinhorn – Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria 25.30 March 2019 DONE