Last weekend, both adult freeriders and young up-and-coming athletes met at the “Stoamandl” for the 2* FWT Qualifier and the 2* FWT Junior competition. “Kapplaska” has once again lived up to its name. After last week's snowfall, Saturday brought eight hours of sunshine with so-called "prime conditions" for the first two competitions in this year's OPEN FACES contest calendar.

The riders' eyes were already shining in the twilight of the morning. Not only because the OPEN FACES contest season started again, but also because a new contest slope, the "Stoamandl", was to be skied. The participants were therefore faced with a new challenge and had to prove that they were able to find their optimal line even on a completely new face. New contest slope with many variations

The “Stoamandl” turned out to be a varied face with sections for freestyle elements and “big mountain lines”. Co-commentator Flo Örley looked at the contest slope last week together with the reigning freeride world champion Valle Rainer and was just as enthusiastic. However, a so-called “roll-over” in the middle section required the riders to have good orientation, as they could not see the terrain behind it.

Kick-off of the new season by juniors

The young talents started the contest day with 21 riders and Emma Hayon (USA) had “first line” with start number 1. In the Junior Snowboard Women category, she took second place behind the 14-year-old Austrian Ylvi Heregger, who immediately won her first contest and
thus emulated her uncle - the former skier Björn Heregger. Nicco Aray-Oliver (USA) fought for victory in the Junior Snowboard Men category with a swift run and a safe cliff drop. The German Niklas Frauenstein took second place with a smooth run and Noah Dorman (USA) came in third, who unfortunately couldn't finish his run. Simon Zwischenbrugger from Austria was able to do a wide 360 in the Ski Men and with another jump he lived up to the description of freerider Andi Jenewein, who called him a “brutal sender”. He was therefore assured of first place and behind him were two Norwegians, Andreas Bakke and Alexander Aulin. Bakke not only showed a stylish shifty jump with a grab, but also a 360 and Aulin did a long jump over the “roll over” without slowing down much.

In the Ski Women, birthday girl Jana Häusl (AUT) gave herself the gift of victory and showed a run “as if from a single mold,” as Flo Örley put it. With a completely different line choice, but safe jumps in the upper section, Kira Livernois (USA) took second place and Ida Feen (NOR), who comes from Oslo, secured third place.

In the Ski Men there was another category, the U16, in which Niklas Pfenniger (AUT) achieved a home win. He scored points with a smart line choice and already showed 3 jumps in the upper section. Emilien Bruchez (SUI), whose home region is the well-known freeride spot Verbier, once again took a podium place in a junior event, followed by his compatriot Sebastian Kling (SUI).

Lots of airtime and spectacular jumps at the 2* FWT Qualifier

Immediately after the juniors, the first qualifier competition of the season was held. The rider field with 71 international starters promised to be a show. The jury's evaluations were correspondingly tight, which was evident, among other things, in the Ski Women category. Hannah Gruber (ITA), ski instructor and model from Italy, was able to prevail here with 2 safe jumps and a quick pace. Only three tenths separated second and third place. Emma Ledet (DEN) narrowly had to admit defeat to the Austrian Amelie Rosa Deniffel, who started the race with a great choice of lines and a good dose of self-confidence.

It was also close for the Ski Men - only 5 points separated places 1-5. At the end of the day, Nico Partell (AUT), who led an Austrian triple victory, celebrated on the top podium. He started his run at high speed with a 360 and a backflip in the upper steep area and scored points overall with a lot of airtime. After a straight air jump over the wind lip, second-placed Simon Widauer (AUT) performed the first backflip in this competition and then did a 360.

Florian Michelini (AUT) also proved that he can flip, taking third place with a front flip combined with a wide cliff drop and a back flip in the middle section. Co-commentator Flo Örley already recognized the potential of the winner in the Snowboard Women category, Nina Schleifer (AUT), during her smart, safe and fluid run. With her on the podium were second-placed Lisa Sabrina Peck (AUT) and two-time Wild Face winner Lilli Schmitt (GER). Florian Handschuh (GER) won the Snowboard Men category this year after his 2nd place last year. The 34-year-old former freestyler has set himself the big goal of getting into the Freeride World Tour. Behind him was Sebastian Kepplinger (AUT), who despite the high starting number looked for a “fresh line” and impressed with a 360 in the lower area. With a stylish jump over the wind lip in the lower section, Tommaso Gazzini (ITA) took third place. Örley's saying “Plan the ride and ride the plan” described how important a good face check, assessment of the terrain and orientation was in this competition with a new contest slope. At the end of the day, a spectacular first OPEN FACES stop took place in prime conditions and has us looking forward to the Freeride Junior World Championships next week in Kappl/Paznaun.

The entire contest can be viewed in Re-Live at www.open-faces.com. There is also a highlight button on the Instagram page with the best stories of the day.