From February 21st to 24th 2008, the SNICKERS NORDPARK SESSIONS 2008, presented by Atomic & Nike ACG, will reunite snowboarders and skiers, freestylers and freeriders at the legendary Nordpark ski resort high above the rooftops of Innsbruck. Two freestyle sessions at the park and the half-pipe and the traditional ‘Check the Ripper’ contest will be part of this special event, luring riders to Europe’s snowboard and freeski capital.

Slopestyle: Skyline Expression Session, February 21-22, 2008

Fly high over Innsbruck! From February 21-22nd, the Skyline Expression Session will kick off the Snickers Nordpark Sessions. A huge kicker and a quarter-pipe will be built to guarantee awesome riding and the chance to produce some outstanding footage. The most impressive rider will be elected and photographers and film-makers will be invited to cover the whole session. Their output will be shown at the After Contest Party at JIMMYZ snowboarding bar in Innsbruck.

Superpipe: Hit da Pipe – Night Pipe Session, February 22, 2008

For this special evening the pipe will be perfectly groomed and exclusive for all inscribed riders! A special tent with some nice food and hookahs for ‘maximum relaxation’ are waiting for you… Again, photographers and film-makers will be invited to cover the whole session and the output will be shown at the After Contest Party.

One for all: Nordpark Check the Ripper, February 23-24 2008

The main goal of the Nordpark Check the Ripper contest is to select the perfect all-round rider – simply the RIPPER! That’s why the course contains all kinds of rideable terrain. The competition will be a single timed run through three different sections. First, the course will lead through the park where riders can earn a massive time bonus performing freestyle tricks on two different elements (corner & kicker) – depending on the difficulty and style of the trick. The second section will flow through well shaped banks. Riders will need a lot of feeling and ride smooth to maintain the speed. Physical strength and total board control will be the main criteria for the last section of the course: a steep off-piste slope with very few gates. Due to the length of the course absolute physical fitness will be required of all the riders to prevent injury. This new and unique contest format intends to set the standard for how to find a true all-round snowboarder or freeskier.

Located directly over Innsbruck, the Seegrube offers everything a snowboarder or freeskier could dream of: steep chutes, deep bowls, a natural freestyle playground and a funpark with a super-pipe! Check the Ripper tries to represent all these different kinds of rideable terrain in one contest.

A highly demanding single timed run will determine the perfect all-rounders in snowboarding and freeskiing. The combination of both style and speed is unique. Only those who gain time through freestyle tricks AND possess extraordinary freeriding abilities stand a chance of winning. The field of participants is made up of well-known freeriders, freestylers and local rippers.

This contest format has not only proven itself successful but is continually being revised and improved by rider feedback and fresh ideas. One of the new moves will be an additional freestyle element and a slight change to the layout of the course. In addition, due to great demand, there will be more starting places allocated for freeskiers.

Prizes worth 15,000€ up for grabs

The winners of the Snickers Nordpark Sessions will be rewarded with non-cash prizes worth € 15.000, e.g. three Bionicon downhill mountain bikes, surf boards and holidays. But not only the participants will have the opportunity to win something: there’s also a Samsung YP-P2 MP3 player up for grabs – just head to the website to enter!

After Contest Parties

Innsbruck’s Jimmyz bar will be the party area for the whole week starting on Wednesday, February 20th 2008, with the SNICKERS WARMUP PARTY. After the Check The Ripper contest, the legendary wild boar BBQ will be set alight at Hungerburg to the rhythm of relaxing chillout beats. The party will then move on to the JIMMYZ in Innsbruck where the prize-giving will be held alongside live gigs.

For more information and possible changes, click on to the Nordpark Sessions website.

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, 20/02/2008

• Registration

• Snickers Warm-up Party in Jimmyz

Thursday, 21/02/2008

• Skyline Expression Session: Slopestyle, Photoshoot

Friday, 22/02/2008

• Training Check the Ripper

• Hit da Pipe: Night Pipe Session, Riders’ Dinner

Saturday, 23/02/2008

• Check the Ripper

• Wild boar BBQ

• Prize-giving for Check the Ripper and Draw your line

• Party (Location tbc)

Sunday, 24/02/2008

Bad weather day