Inferno Snowboard

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STATEMENTS

Eric THEMEL (Gargellen/Vbg.), winner:

"At first, I decided not to participate in contests, but concentrate on free-ride with film and photo shootings. But such a free-ride contest is always fun. When you stand at the start line, the ego awakens and you don't want to lose."

Christoph VONBANK (Braz/Vbg.), Zweiter:

"I really enjoyed the contest. Especially the party was really cool. The fact that fun was first priority I liked best. To bad that the final race was cancelled."

Manuel MONGARD (St. Gallenkirch/Vbg.), Dritter:

"It was fun. Especially because it was something new."

Martina WALCH:

"It was very funny. Thank God I got the best track in the climbing part and could advance many places."

Inferno at Sonnenkopf - 23. & 24. February 2002

klax.max. Snowboard Jam by ASA - Backcountry Boardercross at Sonnenkopf in Klostertal (Vbg.) on the 23rd & 24th of February 2002

On the 23rd and 24th of February 2002 the first back-country boardercross of the ASA was organized at Sonnenkopf valley resort. The qualification race on Saturday had a mass start, an Inferno. Due to heavy snow falls in the following night, the final race on Sunday was cancelled, the results of the qualification race were the final results. The Raiffeisen-Club Youth Challenge race was also cancelled - this race will be organized during the Austrian Open on 22 - 24 March in Silvretta Nova (Vorarlberg).

The weather god was mercifully and sent heavy snow falls before the event. More than 50cm, a real bliss after a long period without any snow. So there were ideal conditions for this one of a kind contest.

klax.max. Snowboard Jam - Backcountry Boardercross:
"Back to the Roots" - back to the roots of snowboarding is the motto of the ASA, shown best at this event. Because unlike in other races, the terrain was not prepared slopes and elaborate obstacles, but unseen territory. The participants knew how to appreciate this and had lots of fun, which was the most important thing in boarding.

The motto of Saturday was mass start and full speed from the hill to the valley. All participants had to get in line with attached boards for the start. After the start, they had to find the fastest way through the terrain to the finish line. For better orientation and as safety measures, the route was marked with some gates. The trace led over natural obstacles, including a steep part where the racers had to detach their boards and climb up. As soon as they arrived downhill, the racers had to go back up to the start, as the qualification race included two descends.

Safety was priority number one. The route (the original start had to be placed downhill due to avalanche danger) was surveyed by mountain guides. Each participant had to wear a helmet and avalanche beeper. New heavy snow falls led to the cancelling of the final race. Safety comes first with the ASA.

The obvious winner was Eric THEMEL (Gallenkirch/Vbg). In the first descend he had to give in to Daniel WINKLER (Braz/Vbg), but he won the second descend. In the second descend he took a bad line and came only eleventh in the overall standing.

Second came Christoph VONBANK (Braz/Vbg.), pushing Juergen WAGNER and Manuel MANGARD to the third position.

In the women's division the winner was Martina WALCH - she was sly, took the best line in the steep part and overtook many.

RESULTS

klax.max. Snowboard Jam by ASA - male
1. Eric THEMEL AUT (Gargellen/Vbg.)
2. Christoph VONBANK AUT (Braz/Vbg.)
3. Manuel MANGARD AUT (St. Gallenkirch/Vbg.)
3. Jürgen WAGNER AUT (Vbg.)

klax.max. Snowboard Jam by ASA - female
1. Martina WALCH AUT (Vbg.)
2. Brigitte DOLIBASIC AUT (Vbg.)
3. Sabine WALCH AUT (Vbg.)