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ISF Snowboard Opening
On Friday, Oct. 16, the first crowd of people filled the glacier and the parking lot, where the snowboard industry presented its gear. Friday was an easy day for the riders. The ones who participated in the High Jump had a short training session, the others who took part in the Style Jump on Sunday, had a "free day". The weather was beautiful; another reason the mountain was really crowded.
In the evening, the big opening party took place in the huge party tent down in Feichten. "Keilerkopf", a German crossover band gave their performance, later the party continued until the wee morning hours. Most of the riders didn't show up in the party tent, they preferred to stay at the bar of the main hotel, where some interesting "getting to know each other" was going on. Michi Albin (SUI) was there, although everybody thought he would stay in Saas Fee, where he was training the last few days. Rumours have it the evening before he left to Kaunertal he fell in love with Satu Jarvela (FIN). Yes, right, with the HP World Champion 95. Nevertheless Michi found his way into the small valley, which was definitively a good decision. You could also see Nici Pederzolli (AUT) and Xaver Hoffmann (GER) hanging out together. Maybe that was the reason why Nici didn't show up on the glacier the next morning where she had photo shooting with a film crew. The film crew waited for her until noon, when she finally did find her way up to the glacier.
Saturday night was definitively the highlight of the whole weekend. Anthrax was playing in the party tent. Their first gig ever in Austria, so lots of Mosh-Metal fans showed up. Most of the riders don't listen to that kind of music anymore, but some of them were true Anthrax fans of when they were younger. Like Tommy Kiel-Johanssen (NOR) stated: "I was in the tent and I really felt like a 15-year-old boy again. They were my heroes when I was that age and it was always my big dream to see them live. Now, years later, I had this possibility and it was great! When I was younger my parents wouldn't let me go to a concert like this! So I really enjoyed every minute of it!"
The Style Jump was pretty good, although the landing was too flat. The riders showed a great performance and the Scandinavians dominated the field. The Swiss rider Michi Albin was the only one who could beat the Scandinavians with his "Cab 540 Double Bone" and therefore he got the biggest part of the US$ 10.000 prize money. "During the summer I mostly relaxed and had a lot of sun, when I was surfing. Now I am ready for big contests like the Air & Style!" Michi said. The Scandinavians followed on rank 2-4. Arild Brun Kjeldaas (NOR) finished second before the two Finnish riders Jussi Oksanen and Wille Yli-Luoma.
Well, this was this season's Opening. Countless people, crowded bars and restaurants, too many beers and other drinks, some injured riders and a lot of people who were too hung over to make it up the mountain the day after the party. Hope to see you there next year. It's worth the trip! Birgit Gruber, Mountain Zone European Correspondent |
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