Ville Jukola and Laura Zaveska won the 18th edition
100 young snowboarders from all over the world came in Livigno to one of their best experiences of their life. The legendary World Rookie Fest, the oldest World Rookie Tour event, this year went down with some difficulties due to the bad weather but you know, things don’t always go as they should, the important is to fix them and get the best out.
Let’s go in order.
World Rookie Fest starts with the event presentation at the Cinelux, where all the participants had the chance to watch the new World Rookie Tour TV Show and where Ian Rocca told us the Mottolino Snowpark history and what will happen in Livigno at the 2026 Olympics Games. Then on Monday night we saw 30 riders competing with a lot of fun at the Nitro Rail Jam at the Snowpark20, in Livigno downtown. Dmytro Luchkin won the Best Trick and the overall contest went to Julien Merker.
About the slopestyle contest, the legendary Mottolino Snowpark offered also in this 18th edition of the World Rookie Fest a premium freestyle terrain to compete with two lines: L/XL line with rails section, two kickers, cannon rail, and M line with three kickers and rails section.
Unfortunately, due to the bad weather, the rookie men qualification didn’t start as scheduled and the Grom Men qualification results became the officially finals results. The day after, Rookie Men and all the girls competed to get the top of the podium. How did it go?
World Rookie Fest Champion 2023 is Ville Jukola from Finland, with the following winning run: Switch backside blunt slide 270 out, Switch backside doublecork 1260 mute grab, Backside 720, Fifty fifty backflip out. Second place for Elias Lionel (SUI) and Erik Jurmu (FIN).
In the Grom category, Dmytro Luchkin from Ukraine landed Cab 270 in frontside boardslide 270 out, Frontside 720 Melon, Backside doubecork 1080 mute, Fifty fifty frontside 360 out, and took the first place in front of Mille Kahrstrom (SWE) and Pyry Posio (FIN).
Laura Zaveska (CZE) took the first place with a Frontside boardslide to fakie, Switch backside 540 indy grab, Frontside 720 indy grab, Fifty fifty backside 180 out. Second place Lova Baeckstroem (SWE) and third place for Alice Ricci (FRA).
In the Grom Girls category Aono Pordie Okaniwa (FRA) landed Cab 180, Backside 360 mute grab, Frontside 540 no grab, Switch boardslide to normal and won in front of Laura Anga (EST) and Sky Remand (BEL).
All podium riders, rookie, grom, male and female, are qualified for the World Rookie Finals 2023 which will take place in Kitzsteinhorn Zell am See-Kaprun from 19 to 25 March 2023.
Finally, Black Yeti reserved for the Best Snowboard Team of the event a ticket to participate in the world finals of the “Red Bull Hammers with Homies” team contest in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. The surprises were not finished because Best Team of the event were two: Finland and France. See you in Madonna di Campiglio, at the Red Bull Hammers with Homies!
This week we saw the future international young stars of snowboarding. The future is definitely here!
For those who want to see the extraordinary level of these rookies, please follow the links below.
Rookie Men Ville Jukola
Grom Boy Dmytro Luchkin
Rookie Girl Laura Zaveska
Download all the results in pdf:
Photogalley World Rookie Fest 2023
World Rookie Fest – Day 1
World Rookie Fest – Day 2
Photo Credits: Ania Gzelka
Video Credits: Silvio Ottonello, Federico Romanello
Picture on the top: Ville Jukola (FIN)
For Snowboard and Freeski Calendar, please check the last online version here.
