Earlier today, Yawgoons dropped their 20th edit. The Yawgoo Valley boys showed once again that a dodgy rope tow, a handful of features, access to your parents’ record collection and a complete disregard for human biomechanics is all it takes to have one of the best series out there.
Jump to the opposite end of the freestyle spectrum and you’ll probably land somewhere near the Audi Nines. This is about as far from back yard snowboarding as you can get – a V8 powered, energy drink guzzling, laws-of-physics-defying park setup that has seen some of the sport’s biggest feats of progression over the last few years.
Originally a freeski event that started eleven years ago, snowboarders joined the party in 2013, with the men and women going on to compete in the Nine Queens and Nine Knights, culminating with the Nine Royals in 2017. The following year saw the arrival of the Audi Nines, which expanded its scope to include an absolutely bonkers boarder/skier cross setup.
For this year, the ladies are back stronger than ever with the addition of a second resort that has its own features designed in collaboration with the athletes. There was a resounding call to once again create a unique setting for women during the week-long film and photo sessions, providing the right environment to maximise their own progression.
The new venue will host a complete ladies’ takeover, where female riders, female photographers and, for the first time in event history, a team of female shapers will gather for an exclusive week-long progression session
Building on the success of last year’s Audi Nines debut in Sölden, the event will now expand to an additional location at nearby Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (no, really, it’s a place). The new venue will host a complete ladies’ takeover, where female riders, female photographers and, for the first time in event history, a team of female shapers will gather for an exclusive week-long progression session.
The Audi Nines will simultaneously take place between the two resort locations, with the dedicated women’s location setting up perfectly for twice the action and twice the progression.
We can’t wait to see what the new setup brings. The event has historically raised the bar in freestyle riding and park setups and even featured a couple of world firsts.
The Audi Nines takes place in Tyrol, Austria, from the 22nd to the 27th of April 2019.
