Stories from the ski areas

On tour with Välley Rälley

Let's shred!

Eyes light up, faces are beaming: The Zillertal Välley Rälley is not just the springboard for young talent from all over Europe to get into professional sport, but also the most stunning and emotional snowboarding contest in the Alps.

His heart is racing. His hands in the thick gloves are shaking. One last deep breath, then Rico picks up speed with his board and heads for the kicker, an imposing ski jump made of snow. Seconds full of tension: Will the trick be a success? Will he manage the landing? And how will the Ästhetiker boardriding jury rate the jump? Then the utter cry of joy. And everyone agrees: This is something you only experience at the legendary Välley Rälley!

Young talent in a competitive frenzy

Under the leadership of the “Die Ästhetiker” snowboard club, Zillertal transforms into an impressive show stage for young snowboarding talent on four weekends between December and April. At each contest, a total of 100 participants from all over Europe compete in “slopestyle” and take the opportunity to work on new tricks under the guidance of real professionals. It’s not surprising that many of today’s World Cup or Youth Olympic champions won their first gold medal at the Välley Rälley. Over the last 12 years, the tour has developed into one of the most important European snowboarding events for young talent. The youngest participants are aged 5, the oldest about 25 years old,” explains Rudi Kröll from Die Ästhetiker.

“Young talent come together to participate
in one of the most beautiful and emotional
snowboarding contests in the world.“

Fun is always the top priority

A major incentive to participate in the Välley Rälley is undoubtedly the connection to the “World Snowboard Point List” and the “World Rookie Ranking”. At each tour stop, the young snowboarders earn points to qualify for international competitions and can even secure a ticket to the Olympics.

But just as important as the sporting challenge are the passion and pure joy of snowboarding that can be felt every day at the Välley Rälley. You stand together at the edge of the piste, cheering, clapping and experiencing every run as a shared highlight. Organisers, participants, families and coaches form a warm, family-like community in which friendships are made across all national borders.

Unique: Four stops in four regions

Each of the four tour weekends takes place in a different part of Zillertal. The snow parks in the ski resorts are turned into the perfect stage for this. The Saturdays are all about coaching: Die Ästhetiker live for passing on their skills to the next generation and are also happy to help newcomers with the first freestyle attempts. Sunday is then contest day. The tension is in the air. After all, everyone has only two runs to present their best tricks in perfect order and execution.

The judges come from the ranks of the Die Ästhetiker snowboard club – one of the first boardriding crews in the world to emerge in the early 1990s. The all have a career as professional snowboarders behind them and hold high-calibre qualifications as coaches and judges. While the children and teenagers reach deep into their box of tricks, the judges discuss the performances, sympathising when someone doesn’t “stomp” a trick. Each snowboarder’s final score is then recorded. At the end of each day of the contest, the winners are selected and celebrated in four age groups: 
Under 12s – Super Groms Boys & Girls
13-15 years old – Groms Boys & Girls 
16-17 years old – Rookie Boys & Girls 
 From 18 years old – Open Class Women & Men 

Image: Philip Geisler and Text: Pia Schröter, Nicole Ortner
Zillertal Magazine Year-Round Edition 02

Even more stories from the Zillertal

Der perfekte Begleiter für deinen Urlaub: Im Sommer und im Winter