Our photographer in Leogang this weekend, Alex Boyce, has sent us his first update from this weekend's big freestyle competition in Leogang, Austria. His two words to describe conditions today? Dark and cold. It was mainly preparations for tomorrow's practice out there today... Enjoy!
Monster White Style 2012 kicks off here.
Day one kicked off with riders arriving and the organisers putting the finishing touches to the course. As riders' gave their feedback the crew fine-tuned the course ready for them to take to it for practice.
First things, first though: unpacking bikes. Sam Reynolds demonstrated his environmental credetials by unpacking a muddy bike as the snow would wash it for him... Then he started to change to spiked tyres for more grip in the snow, but first he had to find a tyre lever, and a pump… nobody seemed to have one, was it the competitive spirit or just the fact that they had all forgotten to throw the stuff into their bike bags?
After the top section was completed a few riders walked the course and started getting a feel for each jump, with the middle section having a seriously huge drop off. Martin Soderstrom, hit it straight out throwing down a 360. He's definitely not lacking confidence this season.
This year the course is made of 100 percent snow and the riders found some sections in the rapidly fading light (some would call it the dark) quite icy as the temperature drops to -14 degrees celcius, or more. The extreme nature of the course plus the extreme conditions had all the riders taking a good look and slowly trying out each section. Sam Pilgrim was in a relaxed mood and had discovered a light sabre in his bag which he was using to "help" the other competitors. Grant "Chopper" Fielder, the course builder, found some Kryptonite and tried to swallow it, giving him super human strength for tomorrows battle.
The course with town below, it looks easy, but the drops are huge.
Sam and Sam, wondering what to do next...
Martin Soderstrom concentrating on bike set up.
Sam's Light Sabre.
Mud tyres for snow use.
Local scenery...
Mr Double front flip having a laugh.
Clouds coming over the horizon, the weather's not looking good for tomorrow.
Lining up to try the drop as the sun dissappears.
Walking the course.
Bienvenu Augardo manges to almost slide over the lip of the next jump.
360 out of the mouth. No flash, it's basically dark.
It would be seriously risky. You have very little grip and if you manage to do the drop you have 0 chance to brake before the last double. Been there last year and it's not something that should be a casual trail or is safe for everyday use. Too much risk for the resort.
I think he means something similar to this for bikers to use. So like a special "Bike zone" which was for only bikes and had some small jumps and tracks and stuff, that would be sick, cause i love skiing and biking, put them both together and i think i would be in heaven.
Still riding on hard packed snow is really hard. A better option is to have an indoor track like our local burn dirtpark or just go snowboarding. Trying to get them into one is a bit silly.
@ spaced: didnt want to say that it has to be as big as the white style. But the snowparks in the Alps are for everyone. Beginners and Pros. -> Everyone on a bike should also have fun on it. Problem is more, that if the snow isnt packed enough we could demolish kickers etc.. Thats why they dont want us. If they could decide from day to day, depending on the wheather, if they let us to the park it would be a nice solution. Btw if ure not on a icy black route u really can brake preatty fast. I think safety isnt a reason.
if you mean the travis rice thing, it's called supernatural. I know the dude who helped build the features (the guy sharpening the saw chain in the vid below). choppers flying past my office window taking people up there everyday. seriously. makes me daydream about puffing through nipple-deep powder when I'm supposed to be working. sigh>
Simon Godziek ran it last year on a hardtail last year and came 6th with a huge flip on the last double. It can be done. I'm suprised how many people run hardtails this year. Last year top5 was all on FS bikes.
Sam Pilgrim also was on hardtail (NS Majesty park frame), and as i remember he won White Style 2011, so top5 couldn't was on fs bikes Just 2nd to 5th places
Not last year. Last year he was on a full suser. I've been there.
Also full suser there helps grately. It gives you a bit more traction (which is allways good on snow) and helps a lot with a hard landing from the drop (it is the same as last year and it was haard)
Just 2nd to 5th places 
Pilgrim fell off ;P
