Words and pictures courtesy © Kareem El Rafie

The 8th annual FrontLine Railjam just went down last Saturday October 6th.

Riders from 12 countries around the world were invited to come shred the new rail setup down the classic stairs of Sweden most famous square “Sergels Torg” in the heart of Stockholm.
The riders where split up in 2 heats with 16 riders in each heat. Each heat had an open jam session where the riders had 40 min to send it there style and try to make it to the finals.

6 riders from each heat with a total of 12 made it to the finals chosen by the pro judges Hans Åhlund, Jonas Carlson and Jonathan Nillson.
The Finals was again a jam heat for 40 minutes and event organizer Kareem El Rafie had 50.000 Sek which is approx 6.000 Euros / 8.0000 USD and was handling out cash for each dope stomped trick so riders could collect and stuff their pockets with cash.

After an insane level of riding and a good time with thousands of stoked people in the audience best tricks on each rail and a first and second place was chosen where the winners took the rest of the price pot.

After the rail jam a massive after party was held at “the Slaughterhouse” a dope underground night club in Stockholm with over 900 party people attending with a movie premier of the new Helga son movie “Pepping” and live performances from some of Sweden biggest rap / reggae groups and doss.

Winners!

Overall Winner: Marc Swoboda
Second Place overall: Wojtek Pawlusiak
Best trick double kink: Ludvig Lejkner
Best trick down rail: Halldor Helgason

Frontline Clothing who is the organizers and founders of the FrontLine Railjam would like to thank there sponsors for once again oiling this sick independent rail event through and everyone already looking forward for next year.

Peace out / Kareem El Rafie

FrontLine Railjam presented by Junkyard.com Sponsored by: 32, Etnies, Monster, Endeavor, Airhole, FL Clothing, Oakley and Methodmag.

Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar are training in Leogang, check out this exclusive helmet cam preview! Scary track!

Thomas Genon from Belgium can call himself the 26TRIX fueled by Monster Energy champ 2012. With an amazing run he put Martin Söderström (SWE) and Sam Reynolds (GBR) on the lower podium places. What an incredible event! For the 7th time the Bikepark Leogang enjoyed hosting the top-class riders of the dirt jump scene for the Out of Bounds Festival, but never before on such a high trick level. The finals of the 26TRIX fueled by Monster Energy went down this Saturday in front of the picturesque backdrop. With perfect weather conditions the riders performed tricks on an extremely high level, so the crowds went berserk.

The huge dirt line provided the proper speed for six jumps, which boosted the riders up in the sky. With a perfect first run, big airtime and technical tricks on all obstacles Thomas Genon was able to convince the judges in the super finals and took home first place. For the first time in Leogang, the best six riders from the finals had the chance to improve their scores in the super final for the victory in the Golden status FMB World Tour event.

Genon in his first Gold event victory made clear that we can expect more from him in the future. After showing an absolute clean performance in the final, he could step it up one more notch: He astonished the visitors with a front flip, followed by a 360 barspin to x-up, a double tailwhip, a decade, a tailwhip and completed with a gigantic 360 flat spin, that brought him the highest score of the day. The 18-year old Belgian goes home with 6,000 Euro prize money and lots of FMB World Tour points.

Martin Söderström from Sweden was nearly on the same trick level as Genon, throwing down an amazing triple tailwhip, a nac nac seat grab, followed by a 360, 360 double tailwhip, tailwhip and a 360 table top at the last set.

Sam Reynolds from Great Britain as well in best shape threw down a flipwhip, then 360 x-up, flip no hand, followed by 360 whip, a straight air and a massive double back flip at the last hit.

As the result of an injury, last year’s winner and hot favorite Brandon Semenuk was still not able to compete as well as Swedish Linus Sjöholm.

Final results:

Steve Peat is a legend. Check out this first episode of the series, featuring some boxing with David Howe, some Ape Piaggio driving and of course the sickest downhill sessions.

The first time I saw Phil Zwijsen riding was in Varazze during the second edition of the Off the Wall Spring Classic skate contest. What I remember the most about him are his stylish red socks.

And he was a damn fine skater, too! After some time I popped in my dvd player “Get Busy Living” by Element. And once again I found myself watching Phil skateboarding with the same red socks. I felt amazed, it was like a circle. Far from joking, he not only got mad skills, he’s a real innovator. I’ve rarely seen so much inspiration and curiosity in a single skater! Drop in boy!

Hi Phil, quick intro, where are you from, how old are you and how long have you been skating?
I’m From Edegem Belgium. I’m 25 years old and ive been skating for the last 12 years.

Sponsors and hook-ups:
Ashes Griptape, Carhartt, Vans, Monster Energy, Element, Rockers Wheels, Lockwood Skateshop, Area 51 skatepark

You’re with no doubt one of the most recognized upcoming skaters at the moment in Europe, and I’ve heard you’re doing great even in the US in the DEW Tour. What brought you there? Did you really plan skateboarding as a career or things came just along the way?
I’ve been going the last 3 years to dew tour. Three years ago I had invitation and I went. I never tought it could be a career. But now I’m super stoked the way its going.

I’m really surprised by your bag of tricks and by the innovative way you ride the city. What’s your primary source of inspiration?
Skating with my friends and skating every day. I get alot of inspiration out of busenits grant taylor, Omar salazar

Your fav tricks – on ramp, street and rails?
Ramp : Fs smithgrinds
Street: Ollie
Rails: Boardslide

Can you still remember your first board? And how did skateboarding change your way of living? Any regrets?
My first board was a blind board. Skateboarding helped me alot in travelling, learning new things, meeting a lot of new people all the time. Regrets: I wish I started skating vert earlier.

You’re travelling worldwide… Is there any particular location, park or spot that’s always in your heart?
There are too many good places. Theres so many different countries and they all have something different. That’s why it’s hard to choose one. I like to visit new places.

What do you think about Varazze? Did you enjoy the Vans OTW? The event is getting huge, are you planning another visit?
I went 2 years ago and I really liked it. I couldn’t go last year because we did a vans trip to China to film for the Four Courners. But this year I’m coming for sure !!!! I don’t want to miss out this year

I was stoked – well, also shocked – by Get Busy Living. Amazing video and your part was killer. Are you currently working in other projects?
Thanks a lot. I’m filming for a few different projects.

What are your plans for the next summer? Where could we meet you skating?
I’m currently living in barcelona. But not about the summer. I really like berlin or new york. But nothing is sure yet.

Silly question, do you really have a stock of red socks? Lol
Not really I had a few. But I lost them.

Keep it up man! Thanks for the interview! Feel free to add whatever you want in the last line:
See you in Varazze !!! Can’t wait to go !!!! Thanks for the intervieuw. Greets Phil

Keep following Phil and dig for his sick video part! Go skateboarding!

Coming soon: The legendary Out of Bounds Festival in Saalfelden Leogang is drawing near. From May 24th – 27th the world’s best mountain bike gravity athletes will travel all the way to Leogang to rock the idyllic Salzburger Land for one epic weekend. From the dirt jump contest 26TRIX fueled by Monster Energy to the iXS European Downhill Cup to a multi-faceted side program – the festival caters to every taste. Not to forget the fourcross racers, that will fight some exciting battles in the Euro Fourcross Series. The Out of Bound festival promises to once more become a fantastic weekend and at the same time the perfect rehearsal for the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships taking place from August 29th – September 9th in Saalfelden Leogang this year.

For everybody who is into spectacular tricks and air acrobatics, the 26TRIX fueled by Monster Energy will be the highlight of the year. The dirt jump course in Saalfelden Leogang is known as one of the most challenging ones of the scene and guarantees impressive jumps and massive airtime. But there is more: since the 26TRIX is a Gold level event in the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour, the stars of the international dirt jump scene won’t hesitate to fly over and pull out their most impressive tricks to place themselves well in the run for the overall FMB World Tour Champion 2012 title.

Another must-see of the weekend are the races of the Euro Fourcross Series that picked Saalfelden Leogang as one of its five stops. You can expect action at its best when four riders give everything in the head to head races to decide who is Europe’s most fast and furious fourcross racer.

Anyone with weak nerves better stays at home when the downhill athletes tear down the track during the iXS European Downhill Cup. At the same time, the race is the perfect main rehearsal for the downhill race of the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships that will draw huge crowds to Saalfelden Leogang from August 29th – September 9th. At the latest when the titans of downhill challenge each other the technical course, every bike fanatic will definitively get their money’s worth.

If that is not enough, make sure you don’t miss the by now legendary Bunny Hop Contest and the Override Afterparty. Every year, this is where pro riders and fans hang out and party together until dawn. To calm the nerves, the annual BBQ at the B3 and the expo area to catch up on the latest trends in the bike scene, is the place to be.

So mark May 24th – 27th in your calendar, pack your good mood and off you go to the beautiful biking paradise in the Salzburger Land.

The Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona saw the epic winning of British rider Sam Reynolds. Swedish Martin Söderström can celebrate his second place and Antoine Bizet from France took third place. Enjoy the highlight clip below and some breathtaking pictures of the best tricks.

Pictures: (c)Ale DiLullo, (c)Bartek Wolinski

Leogang is opening the new year bike season with the Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona, featuring once again a high caliber line up of participants. The latest addition to the riding field is a famous US rider: Mike Montgomery, 24-year-old from San Diego has confirmed his participation at the last minute. This young Monster Energy rider is well known for his extravagant tricks and huge jumps like the “california roll” or his “backflip barhop”. Mike Montgomery is looking forward to attend the Monster Energy White Style for the first time this year and with a second place at the Kokanee Crankworx 2010 in Whistler, Montgomery has already gathered plenty of experience at big events. Fingers crossed that we’ll get to see Montgomery’s california roll as an European exclusive in Leogang!

A great event also needs a great supporting program: The Tyrolean shooting stars THE NIHILS will take care of that task. The visitors of the Monster Energy White Style can already look forward to rock out to the melodic Indie-Rock-Pop sound of THE NIHILS on January 27th 2012 at 6:30 pm next to the slopestyle course.

The Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona takes place for the sixth time on January 27th 2012 in Leogang. So far, it has not been part of country lore that British are exceptionally comfortable in Austria. But in the case of the Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona, this thesis has proven to be accurate over the last few years.

FMB World Tour rider Sam Pilgrim has already reserved January 27th in his time table to visit Leogang again, continue his series of victories and try the hat trick: Three wins in a row, adding the third to his first places in 2010 and 2011. The Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona has been able to gain the reputation of a truly unique winter event over the past few years. There is no comparable competition on snow, worldwide. It is no wonder then that the entire freestyle elite comes to Leogang year after year.

Beside the double winner from the last two years, Sam Pilgrim, there is another UK national traveling to the Salzburger Land in the deepest winter: together with the course builders from HU Cooperation, freestyle veteran Grant „Chopper“ Fielder has been designing the massive jumps for years, building them only from snow and wood. Thanks to the winterly conditions, Chopper’s very daring course layouts go beyond the ordinary dimensions of a mountain bike freestyle event, and are – not only for the British – a very welcome taste of what is to come; to shorten the long and eventless winter, and to blow off some steam before the actual season beginning.

The Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona participants are known to show in Leogang what kind of new tricks and moves they have been practicing over the winter months. The event is a sort of indicator and teaser for the new FMB World Tour season starting at the end of March. A lot of fun, the latest moves and tricks from the freeride circus, and of course the spectacular scenery always make it an extraordinary experience for the spectators as well the riders.

The Bikepark Leogang is already excited to see this year’s ideas of the course designer and is looking forward to a high-class rider’s line-up. If you want to find out what the special relationship of the British pros with the White Style is all about, (Lance McDermott and Sam Reynolds were already on the podium in Leogang as well) and if Sam Pilgrim can manage the hat trick, January 27th 2012 at the Schanteilift in Leogang is the time and place to be.

ICELAND is a mini-movie featuring the sickest riding of  Halldor and Eiki Helgason, presented by Hoppipolla Heaadwear. As you may guess, there’s no need to say that’s great.