Laax, March 5, 2023 – The highlight of the SuddenRush Banked Slalom LAAX is Junior Day. In three age groups, 70 young riders between the ages of 6 and 17 shred their way through the course, with the largest group being the under-10s, with 35 starts. And there are equal numbers of girls and boys! Many of the youngsters come from the Freestyle Academy LAAX, whose director Ivan Capaul already took part in the Masters on Friday. Even though it's exciting at the start, sometimes tedious on the course, with some riders caring about their times and others not, and the 17 turns being taken at speed or playfully – everyone clearly enjoys snowboarding.
Thanks to Kai and Kalani, aged 6 and 11, the Kestenholz family is bringing home a full set of medals. Kalani says: "It's so cool, I think it's really special. Dad Ueli won the Fastest Race, Kai came second and I came third. Now we've really filled the entire podium." Paula Bauer followed in the footsteps of her father Peter, who is also a partner in the event with Pally Hi, and took first place with the same flair and speed as him.
At the very end, everyone rides together in a single category: 6-year-old Nesta Lounis, former pipe specialist Ariane Staib-Glaus, the shaper crew, and photographer Fabian Schönenberger, who receive huge applause for riding fakie. When asked why he always starts last in the fakie race, Zen Snowboards founder Reto Neiger replies: "Because I watch the others to see how they master the course." It worked. And so, with the last run of the contest, he still manages to secure a podium place in 2023, standing proudly on the podium alongside winner Tommy Wolf and the 18 kids and juniors who came before him, and receiving the victory trophy.
Incidentally, it can be used immediately. A pineapple-yellow bow sits atop a block of scrap wood. It is molded as organic wax, the event logo of SuddenRush LAAX, which can be used to care for snowboards. Conceived and manufactured regionally, and even CO2-certified, it underscores the fact that Banked Slalom is the most sustainable snowboard event in LAAX.
All information and results can be found at www.laax.com/suddenrush.
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Attached media material for free editorial use (photo credit: Ruggli, LAAX)
All information and results can be found at www.laax.com/en/suddenrush.
Attached media material for free editorial use (photo credit: Ruggli, LAAX)
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Banked Slalom
Astrid Nehls
Tel.: +41 79 902 42 15
Tel.: +43 676 4314410
Email: astrid@services-sbc.com
