BANKED SLALOM LAAX 2026: Snowboard cult event brings together riders of all generations

LAAX, February 27, 2026. Dream conditions for another international event in LAAX. Coming from Crap Sogn Gion towards Curnius via the P60 slope, the freestylers' playground, things are hotting up: turn after turn, 17 and a half times in total, the new banked slalom course presents itself. Your thighs might be burning by the time you reach the finish line! A total of 300 riders will be making their rounds this weekend through the hand-scooped steep turns, known as banks. The youngest is 5, the oldest 65. In 13 categories, they will be competing for the 11th time to be the fastest in this most original form of snowboarding.

Big names from the professional snowboarding scene of yesterday, today, and tomorrow are on the start list. These include Peter Bauer, Reto Poltera, Therry Brunner; Christian Haller, Mikkel Bang, Nicolas Müller, and Severin van der Meer, LAAX OPEN slopestyle rider Cool Wakushima, and banked champions Joshua Dirksen and Harry Kearney, who have both won in LAAX and at the legendary Mount Baker in America. The largest field is made up of banked slalom enthusiasts, namely the Masters (over 40 years old) and Open categories (ambitious riders between 18 and 39 years old). Families also dance through the curves, splitting up on Saturdays and Sundays, as the juniors take their turn on the second day. Over 80 kids and teens, including defending champions and favorites Kai Kestenholz and Leo Thoresen. Everyone is cheered on, as this intergenerational event is all about celebrating snowboard culture together.

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