< PROTEST WORLD ROOKIE FEST 2012

Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen – the ultimate Freestyle El Dorado

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The new winter season is almost upon us, and soon, Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen will be brimming with enthusiastic snowboarders and freeskiers. This prestigious snow park in the heart of the Zillertal valley isn’t just one of Europe’s largest: it is also seen by the freeskiing community as the best snow park for innovative, progressive design, and has been for many years. So for the 2011/2012 winter season, the park’s operators have once again come up with a potpourri of innovations to ensure shredheads of all kinds enjoy freestyle fun par excellence.

Lots of major restructuring work in Vans Penken Park has already been completed over the past year, making a major contribution to the ongoing refinement of the park’s design and ensuring there are ideal runs for all types of visitors. Perhaps in recognition of the park crew’s efforts, the international freeskiing community voted Vans Penken Park the best snow park in Europe for the first time ever at the recent Snowboarder MBM Rider Of The Year awards. But this was no reason for park designer Sven Toller and his crew to rest on their laurels – after all, they want to win the award again this season, too! So skiers and boarders had better brace themselves for some pioneering additions to Vans Penken Park.

Tried-and-tested quality now boasting a new look

For the 2011/2012 winter season, the many lines that have been created over the years will be divided into separate groups for the first time. Vans Penken Park now comprises six different areas offering unlimited freestyle thrills for freeskiers of all ability levels. One of the main new attractions is located on the left-hand side of the park, where the race track used to be. This is the home of the brand new Fun Area, which also has its own entrance. It’s a little reminiscent of a boarder cross run, and three or four people can traverse it at the same time. The Fun Area leads directly into the Medium Area, where advanced freeriders can hone their skills on the triple kicker combo, which features a variety of jumps and jibs of medium difficulty. Next to the Medium Area is the Advanced Area, which features a range of jibs plus a challenging kicker combo – perfect for extended shred sessions. Directly beneath the Sunjet 4-seater chairlift is the long-standing centrepiece of Vans Penken Park: the Pro Area. Leading names from the international freestyle scene – like Halldor Helgason, Sage Kotsenberg, Seb Toots and Mark McMorris – were in action here last winter, testing their mettle on the 16-20 metre monster kickers. Aside from the kickers, there’s a also a new pro rail line, which promises thrilling rips for everyone from young guns to pros.

Vans Penken Park also caters to less experienced freeskiers with the Beginner Park, on the right-hand side of the park by the Mittertrett lift. Finally, there’s also the well-loved halfpipe, located between the Pro Area and the Kids’ Park.

THE Multijib “BeastBox” – a variable mega set

Alongside a whole armada of new boxes and rails, the crowning glory of Vans Penken Park this season is the brand new Multijib “Beastbox”, a mega obstacle specially designed for the park by the company Schneestern. The Multijib “Beastbox” can be traversed in a variety of ways, making it a real highlight and a brilliant addition to the Staircase Set. Instead of conventional steps, it features a ramp around 8 metres wide from top to bottom. With 4 rails and a box, the Multijib “Beastbox” is cleverly designed to thrill jib lovers to the max.

Events FOR EVERYONE

In recent years, Mayrhofen has gained a reputation not just for its outstanding skiing area, but also for its wide range of events for guests of all ages. 2012 is set to be action-packed for Mayrhofen and Vans Penken Park. On 6 January, which is Epiphany in Austria, up-and-coming young stars will take to their boards at the Groms Open. This leads into the third Mayrhofen Freeski Open, which runs from 8^th – 11^th February and is open to freestylers of all kinds. From 17^th to the 24^th of March the Wängl Tängl, founded by the snowboard pioneers of Mayrhofen – the Ästhetiker – celebrates its 10^th anniversary. It’s gonna be a one week long lasting “Contest-ival”, mixing snowboarding and skateboarding with music and art. Nearby the park SAAC will be running free avalanche camps lasting several days. Held from 25 - 26 February and 26 February – 2 March, the camps offer a balance mixture of background information and practical experience for off-piste enthusiasts.

Think that Mayrhofen will be all partied out by the end of the winter season? Think again. From 9 – 14 April 2012, Snowbombing is back in town! One of Europe’s biggest snow and music events, Snowbombing’s name says it all: a decadent party experience without compare that really does offer something for everyone.

The coming winter season in Mayrhofen and Zillertal looks set to be more action-packed than ever. And the thousands of snowboarders and freeskiers that come to visit will be able to see for themselves that yes, Vans Penken Park really does live up to its leading international reputation!

New for 2011/2012:
Kinked Box 10m
Butterbox 3m
Industry Flat Rail 6m
Industry kinked module 7m
Indzustry Cannon 6m
S-Box 12m
Wallride 3mx6m
Stairless Set Multijib

Events:
6 Jan 2012  HOTZONE.TV´s Groms Open
8-11 Feb 2012 Mayrhofen Freeski Open - powered by Nordica
25-26 Feb 2012  SAAC Camp - Basic Camp
26 Feb-2 Mar 2012 SAAC Camp - SAACnd Camp
17-24 Mar 2012 Wängl Tängl - Ästhetiker Jam
09-14 Apr 2012 Snowbombing

 

 

Category: Events, Mayrhofen, Parks

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