Snowboarding moves in mysterious ways! This is what crosses one’s mind if snowboard contests and the North of Germany are mentioned in the same breath. Last Saturday almost 70 riders responded the call of the Burton AM Tour and united in the Snow Dome Bispingen in order to kick off the new season of the series. The dome welcomed participants from 8 different countries willing to match each other and to show off their pimped tricks in front of the judges and the paparazzi. Again this year’s park with an awesome set-up was shaped into perfection by the so-called ingenious2, Hannes and Stefan, two guys from Unit-Parktech.com. To get to the point conditions were just insane and contributed to the riding level of the participants.

After a highly competitive qualification it became obvious that the finals of the boys categories would be fought out among the Dutch and the English riders. Mr. Rock n’ Roll of the Junior Boys category became Jamie Nicholls from Great Britain whose "play list" contained one chart toper after an other: Noseslide 270 off on the straight rail, Backside 180, Cab 720 and Boardslide on the curved Rail. With this symphony he received the highest scores from the stoked judges and won the category and the overall ranking. In the younger category, the Youth Boys, Gino Rupp, last and this year’s winner in Bispingen, approved his qualification performance in the finals.

With her first appearance on the AM Tour stage in the category of Junior Girls, Rachida Aoulad-El-Haj-Amar presented an incredible show in the finals with a Frontside Boardslide, Noseslide and a Frontside 180 which secured her the first place. In the younger category, the Youth Girls, an other English young-blood named Katie Ormerod called the judges attention the most and achieved the first place.

The first event of the Tour is over, winners are chosen and riding levels are set. Reaching the top is hard; remaining there is even harder. Remember: Join, Create, Progress... The AM Tour continuous... we’ll see you there.

Gino Rupp


Overall winners : Jamie Nicholls and Rachida Aoulad-El-Haj-Amar

All photos © Ueli Christoffel