Birk Sneen and Maria Gasslitter are the new freeski winners of the Livigno Rookie Fest 2024
Another successful goal for the Livigno World Rookie Fest 2024, with the Black Yeti bringing 70 young freeskiers from around the world to Livigno for the nineteenth edition! The event started with the presentation evening at Cinelux on January 17th, with all riders and coaches engaged in watching the new World Rookie TV Show and the warm welcome of Ian Rocca, Marketing Manager at Mottolino SpA. He greeted and praised the incredible level of preparation of the athletes and expressed hopes of seeing them compete in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Livigno.
The following day, athletes competed in the qualifications at the renowned and always-appreciated Mottolino Snowpark, which left athletes and coaches in awe. The park featured three different lines: L/XL with a rail section, two kickers, a cannon rail, and the M line composed of three kickers and another rail section.
Moreover, they also had the opportunity to learn the basic rules for proper freeride behaviour by participating in the avalanche camp held by Moon Agency. In the afternoon, at the Cinelux cinema in the centre of Livigno, two workshops were held: a yoga and cool-down session to relax muscles and minds in preparation for the finals the next day, and an inclusive artistic workshop created in collaboration with Simone, an artist and tattoo artist from Dragon Ink in Livigno. During this artistic workshop, athletes unleashed their creativity by customizing skateboard decks using Uniposca colours alongside users with disabilities from CDD, the Disability Day Center of Livigno.
The finals took place on Friday, January 19th, during which, the Women Grom and Rookie categories competed first, followed by the Men Grom and Rookie.
The winner of the World Rookie Fest 2024 was Norwegian Birk Sneen with the following run: Left 270 on, right foot on front 450 out, left double cork 1080 safety, right bio 1080 opp tail, right foot on back 450 out. Second place went to Victor Knutsen (SWE), and third place to Theo Thoren (SWE).
In the Grom Men category, Melvin Seliberg from Sweden won for the second consecutive year with a fearless run featuring a Switch left lip 270 on back 270 off, left 270 on front 450 off, left cork 720 blunt, right cork 720 reverse japan, right foot on back cork 8 out, ahead of Timothee Usannaz (FRA) and Oliver Blomberg (SWE).
Maria Gasslitter was the first Italian athlete who won the Rookie Women category with a Switch left foot on, right foot on back 270 out, right 360 safety, left 360 critical, left foot on front 270 out. Second place went to Simona Revjagin (EST), and third place to Nora Wold Lunner (NOR).
In the Grom Women category, another Italian athlete claimed the top spot on the podium Asia Galli with a run featuring Switch right 180 japan, right 360, left 360 safety, right foot on front 270 out, winning ahead of Poppy Mcgree (FRA) and Marta Silvestri (ITA).
All riders on the podium, rookies, groms, males, and females, qualified for the World Rookie Freeski Finals 2024, which will take place at Madonna di Campiglio from March 10th to 15th.
Finally, the legendary Black Yeti chose Sweden as the Best Freeski Team.
The future is definitely here!
For those who would like to witness the extraordinary level of these rookies, follow the links below
Rookie Man Birk Sneen
Grom Man Melvin Seliberg
Rookie Woman Maria Gasslitter
Photogalley Livigno World Rookie Fest 2024
Photo Credits: Teo Trabucchi
Video Credits: Federico Romanello, Mattia Caravello
