Bagging, Boarding and Brilliance

In a contest of three snowparks the skilled winter sports fan generally expects a duel of the best riders. But at Red Bull Snow Palio the tasks included constructing shapers and kickers - which had to be completed under a tight deadline and the critical eye of the jury.

If David Coulthard had to quickly drive the asphalt-paving machine, over the track before the Silverstone GP, Felix Baumgartner had to mix the ferroconcrete for the skyscrapers that he's to jump off next, or if Travis Pastrana had to shovel the sand in the arenas before his Red Bull X-Fighters victories - this would approximate the concept of Red Bull Snow Palio, which took place from February 25 to 29 in Cervinio, Italy.

Three times nine adversaries

At the five-day competition teams from three Italian snowparks contested against each other. Representing Indianpark Cervinia, King Laurin Park Alpe di Siusi and Bardonecchia Snowpark were one shaper, a snowcat driver, five snowboarders and two freeskiers respectively.

Four days of stress and back-breaking work

The first task of each team was to design and construct the most creative and spectacular course possible. The pitfall: the site had to be ready for use within four days - a period of time that others take to procure the equipment alone. "It was more about survival training than about building a snowpark," groaned the exhausted shaper from the Bardonecchia team after the challenge. "But we did it!"

Efforts rewarded

However, the prize was won by Alpe di Siusi: Johannes Goegele and Richard Neulichedel, shaper and slope machine pilot respectively from King Laurin Park, won the 'Best Structure' contest for the most creative and precise execution of their shapers and kickers.

Prizes for Bardonecchia and Alpe di Siusi