KIDS LAAX OPEN 2023: Successful freestyle contest for young talent around Crap Sogn Gion

Stylishly over rails and high up in the halfpipe: that's exactly what around 360 children and young people did at the KIDS LAAX OPEN on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, 2023. The counterpart to the FIS World Cup LAAX OPEN for five to 18-year-olds took place for the fourth time last weekend. At the event, which is also part of the Swiss Snowboard Series and the Swiss Freeski Tour, many of them got their first taste of competition and measured themselves against their peers. However, the focus for everyone was on having fun – because that's what the KIDS LAAX OPEN is all about.

Positive conclusion after two days of competition

Due to persistent snowfall on the first day of competition, the Freeski Halfpipe Contest was canceled. However, this was no reason for the young freeskiers on the mountain to head home. Together with their coaches, families, and friends, they enjoyed the fresh powder in LAAX. The Snowboard Slopestyle Contest was quickly turned into a Rail Jam, where the snowboarders could compete against each other.

On Sunday, the snowboard halfpipe competition took place in the superpipe and the ski slopestyle competition in the ils Plauns snow park, which was specially prepared for the KIDS LAAX OPEN. The weather at Crap Sogn Gion cooperated and both competitions were able to go ahead as planned. Ivan Capaul, co-initiator of the KIDS LAAX OPEN, is thrilled: "It's just great to see so many kids on the mountain. This enthusiasm is thanks in no small part to the work of our coaches at the Freestyle Academy. Together, we have put a lot of heart and soul into our freestyle programs over the last few years. This work is now bearing fruit and a strong generation of freestylers is growing up."

Distinguished guests at the award ceremonies

Even those who didn't make it onto the podium had reason to celebrate: Flims freeski star Andri Ragettli not only presented the podium finishers with their prizes, but also busily signed autographs for everyone present. Whether on skis or snowboards, hardly anyone wanted to miss this opportunity. "I have so many childhood memories connected to this park. This is where it all started for me, and it's so cool to see how many young kids are doing freestyle sports here, whether it's freeskiing or snowboarding," Ragettli enthuses.

Local young snowboarder Mona Danuser also took the opportunity to hand out prizes and high-fives. "It's a great honor for me to be here. I used to compete in this contest myself. It was always the highlight of the season for me and I was always so nervous," recalls Danuser.

Snowboarder Valentino Guseli also dropped by spontaneously on Sunday. LAAX is like a second home to him. At just 17 years of age, the Australian could still be among the starters himself. In terms of age, that is. With his skills, he has long since conquered the World Cup stage. This is certainly something that some of the participants in the KIDS LAAX OPEN dream of too.