The results did not disappoint. During Friday’s practice, the crowd more than doubled the 2023 North American event, attracting industry leaders, fans, and supporters who gathered at the bottom of the course to catch a glimpse of the action while passers-by dropped what they were doing to push in for a better view. The energy surged on into Saturday’s qualifier round, where 25 riders advanced to the finals. The music was pumping, the Monster drinks were flowing, and shirtless male fans with painted faces were hoisting the riders on their shoulders, running up and down the course to cheer on the girls.

The judges were hard-tasked to decide the winners as it took over 30 minutes to come to a decision. “There were so many riders who could have been on the podium, it was a really tough call but ultimately it shows how much undiscovered talent there is”, judge and event organizer Nirvana Ortanez reflected.

In the end Telma Särkipaju from Finland took the top spot, followed by Livia Tanno from Switzerland in second and Kaili Randmäe from Estonia in third. Maisie Hill hailing from the UK took the win for best air on the hip jump, as well as best trick on the staircase feature with a hard way front 270 gap on the kink rail. Australia’s Mela Stalker had a perfect noseslide pretzel on the waterfall rail and earned her the best trick award for the jib zone, while Kaili Randmäe took home the title of most creative overall.

Beyond the competition itself, the event fostered a sense of camaraderie and solidarity among participants, reinforcing the importance of supporting and uplifting one another. “Being at this Euro Qualifier was like opening a Christmas present that you were really wishing for,” said Finnish special guest and Union/Capita team rider Henna Ikola. “For some girls, it was the first time that they got to be part of a big event, to feel included and seen. I’ve never witnessed 60 women at the same event in Europe. It was awesome to see how everyone was genuinely so hyped and grateful to be a part of it.”

This sentiment was evident during the Sunday Laps Community Ride Day that followed the competition, where riders from all levels were welcome to participate and receive free coaching and prizes. As the weekend drew to a close, The Uninvited crew expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to its success, from the resort staff, athletes and judges to the park crew, spectators, and industry attendees.

ABOUT THE UNINVITED
The Uninvited was spearheaded in 2017 by Jess Kimura, one of the most influential snowboarders of the past decade. After recognizing an abundance of talent without a proper platform to showcase it on, she self-produced an award-winning film trilogy that challenged the gender disparity in the action sports industry. The Uninvited series launched multiple careers for girls, women, and non-binary riders who needed a place to shine.

Harnessing the same energy and intentions that fueled those films, we have channeled them into a competition series where these riders aren’t just a subcategory; they are the main event. By providing the platform and tools needed for them to thrive, our goal is to empower these athletes to rise above expectations and rewrite the narrative for generations to come. The Uninvited Invitational serves as a platform to showcase and enable the highest level of progression in a street-oriented environment.

The Uninvited Euro Qualifier
Presented by Union Binding Co. & CAPiTA Snowboards
With Support from Monster Energy, Method Magazine, Blue Tomato, and Absolut Park