Kona International Rookie Games @ Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis

Drops, flips, whips and spins, topped with plenty of style are on the menu Saturday afternoon in Austria’s most versatile bike park for the “Rookie of the Year Slopestyle”. 11 young guns below the age of 19 face the challenge of MTB freestyle and impressed spectators and judges alike with tricks like “backflip no-hander” or “table top backflip”. Victories for this unique FMB bronze event for rookies go to Austria and Germany. 

All you Brandon Semenuks and Sam Pilgrims of this world, be warned! – the new slope style blood gave one hell of a demonstration at the “Kona International Rookie Games” at Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. After last year’s premiere, a whole new bunch of riders showed off their style over the six obstacles – and they all want to return next year. 

Bernd “trick-machine” Winkler from Styria, Austria, made the best of it and took the win in the U19 class: “I’m so stoked! My pedal broke off during my first run, but fortunately I had a spare to swap. I’m so happy I could win this year, unfortunately I’ll be too old to compete next year again.”

Also being awarded with the “Best Trick of the Day”, the 18-year-old now holds a wild card for the “White Style” contest in Leogang, which is part of the FMB World Tour.