In American snowboard contests you'll seldom hear the announcer incite drunken mayhem. But at the Vans Wangl Tangl in Mayrhofen, Austria, alive are the days where anything goes.

"Someone get the Schnapps," the Wangl Tangl announcer, Henry Jackson, yelled during the finals. "We need to start a ruckus, do something crazy. Get out your bum for the camera and I'll buy you a beer!"

Now in it's 10th year, the Vans Wangl Tangl has been called "Europe's wildest snowboard contest" by many, including Swiss Pro, Iouri Podladtchikov. After a week filled with deep pow, park shredding, and parties every night, we too agree with I-Pod's view.

Following a season filled with high-stakes events, the Vans Wangl Tangl provided riders with the chance to enjoy snowboarding in a pressure-free, party-filled environment. The laid-back atmosphere in Austria fostered an appreciation for snowboarding's roots and pros were simply stoked to ride with friends.

The snow finals went down on Thursday and teams of three sessioned the Vans Penken Park. The setup allowed for creative, progressive shredding as crews were judged on flow, technicality and overall style. When a trio wanted their run judged, they would let the announcer know they were ready to "wangl their tangl" before they dropped-- seriously.

The Finnish crew of Peetu Piironein, Janny Korpi and Ville Uotila took the overall win. Their winning run began with 720's over the first kicker. Then, Peetu spun a backside 1080 on the second jump while Ville transferred a backside 360 over Janne's backflip 180. As if that weren't crazy enough, the crew went on to stomp a backside 180 transfer over the wall ride, and each finished with an alley oop backside rodeo in the mini-pipe.

The Best Line of The Day went to Ville Uotila for his creativity and style on the course. His innovative approach to transfers, a frontside 360 bonk on the up-box and a massive backside 180 over the wall ride secured the win. Best Jib went to Arthur Longo and Kalle Ohlson, of the "Off the Wall" team for their Miller Flip high-five.

There was a skate demo following the snow event. And Mayrhofen went mental for two nights with concerts by Seether and M.O.P as the headlining acts. Yes, these bands are washed up in the States, but their performance in Austria was all-time.

While it can't be confirmed or denied that anyone ended up flashing their 'bum for a beer,' plenty of schnapps was shared, which created more of a ruckus than can be reiterated-- Super Gile!

Thanks to Vans Snow, and Quiksilver for showing us one hellva an Austrian adventure.



Watch all the action from the Snow Finals:



Results:
1st The Triple Cock's - (7200 Euro Prize) -- Janne Korpi, Peetu Piiroinen & Ville Uotila
2nd YMCA -- (3900 Euro Prize) -- Mathias Weissenbacher, Clemens Schattschneider & Adrian Krainer
3rd The Collective - (1800 Euro Prize) -- Max Buri, Boris Buhler & Tor Lundstrom
4th Team Off The Wall - (900 Euro Prize) -- Arthur Longo, Eric Willett & Kalle Ohlson

Most impressive: Mathias Weissenbacher
Best Line: Ville Uotila
Best Jib: Arthur Longo and Kalle Olsen Miller Flip Hi-Five

What happens when you take the world's best snow and skate pros, international artists, mega-music groups and toss them all together in the picturesque setting of Mayarhofen, Austria? The Vans Wangl Tangl.

The legendary event will celebrate it's 10th anniversary in a week-long "Contestival" kicking off March 18. The event has been called Europe's 'most exciting snowboard event' by renowned Swiss pro Nicolas Muller, and this year's event promises to live up to the hype.

Vans Snow Team Manager, Larry Nunez has been gearing up for the event for weeks and commented, "The Wangl Tangl is like no other event in the world. The combination of parties, music, art, skate and snow unifies the culture and lifestyle that we all love."

After a season of intense snowboard contests, pros Iouri Podladtchikov, Eric Willett and Arthur Longo look forward to the event as a way of celebrating the end of the season. Instead of competing against each other, this trio will join forces as the "Off the Wall" team. On Thursday, they will face 10 other crews in the Vans Penken Park where they will be judged on overall style, technicality and creative use of space.

Following a third place finish at Euro X Games last week, Eric Willett said he was "looking forward to a fun, creative event," at Wangl because it's "more than just a slopestyle contest."

The party scene is also a major part of the event's "festival" aspect, with local bands and DJ's playing venues every night. East Coast hip hop legends, M.O.P. (Mash-Out Posse) and rock-legends, Seether headline the event.

For info on the crews, schedules, and bands, visit: WanglTangl.com



Vans Wängl Tängl 2012 Teaser from Wangltangl on Vimeo.

It almost doesn't seem fair as these contests pass by us one by one. If Shaun White (the Flying Tomato that dons women's leopard print pants) doesn't show up, it's Louie Vito or Iouri Podladtchikov assuming the spot on top of the podium. If Kelly Clark isn't there, well, she'd probably still win. Just kidding. Spaniard Queralt Castellet and American Gretchen Bleiler are always hot on her heels, hungrier than ever to earn the win.

It's no secret that every one of these athletes is incredibly talented. But the same shredders seem to keep creeping up to the top everywhere they appear. Iouri (I-Pod), just claimed the prestigious title of World Champion at the first ever World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo, Norway in addition to scoring the silver medal at Winter X Games and the final stop of the Winter Dew Tour. And don't act surprised but which lady do you think claimed the win in every single one of those contest? Weird, Kelly Clark -- stomping 1080s every step of the way.

Now, I'm not sitting here claiming that the other riders don't push the top dogs to the impressive level they've attained. However, it's getting somewhat monotonous to see the same grinning faces on the podium at every contest. Shaun White is another story, since he picks and chooses which contests he will enter. Cough-- Winter X Games, Olympics-- cough.

The 2012 Burton European Open starts Saturday, February 25, marking the second-to-last stop of the Burton Global Open Series. And if I were a betting woman (usually only in Fantasy Football), I'd put my money on Clark and I-Pod.

Sure, Vito beat I-Pod for Winter Dew Tour champ this year. But keep in mind that they were separated by a miniscule two points. Iouri goes massive, has technical skill plus style, and is bringing new tricks to the game. As for Ms. Kelly Clark, well, she's won the past 15 halfpipe contests she's entered and no other girl is landing huge 1080s in the pipe. Enough said.

Stay tuned to Grind for recaps for the 2012 Burton European Open.

Photo courtesy of Eleonora Raggi

Kelly Clark and Iouri Podladtchikov made history today by winning the halfpipe finals at the inaugural World Snowboard Championships in Olso, Norway. The contest was one of the most progressive of the season, since the title of world champion was on the line. The wet, rainy conditions made the 22' superpipe run extremely fast, which allowed the riders to send and stomp lofty tricks.

The women kicked things off and an intense battle between Kelly Clark, Queralt Castellet and Gretchen Bleiler ensued. Each lady was riding exceptionally well, and challenged each other to ride to their full potential. Kelly Clark took first place with a run that included a frontside air, a backside 540 mute, a frontside 1080 mute, a Cab 720 mute and a frontside inverted 720.

This marks Clark's 15th straight halfpipe win-- a feat no other snowboarder has come close to earning.

Following her win, Kelly said this about her World Championship title: "It's an incredible feeling to win and compete against the best girls in the world. The shape of the pipe was incredible and the rain actually made the pipe faster. I'm honored for this win."

Directly after the women, the men took to the pipe and had three runs to give it their all. Swiss rider, Iouri "IPod" Podladtchikov stole the show with his impressive first run that included a backside double cork 1260 mute, a frontside double cork 1080 truck driver, a cab double cork 1080 mute, and a frontside 1080 tail.

This run earned a 90.8 which all the riders tried to top for the remainder of the contest. Matt Ladley and Louie Vito were close, and earned second and third respectively, but no rider was able to execute a run as technically advanced and stylish as IPod's.

Podladtchikov was elated with his win and said this following the contest: "I'm super happy that this was such an amazing event. It was so cool to ride. I gave it my best and it worked out. This being the World Championships, it's a sweet, sweet victory."

The WSC continues tomorrow with Men's and Women's Slopestyle Finals. Head to WSC2012 for a full recap, athlete interviews, and highlights.




Photos courtesy of WSC 2012

Halfpipe semi-finals at the World Snowboard Championships in Olso, Norway wrapped up on Thursday evening as the best pipe riders in the world took to the pristine 22' superpipe.

The men's and women's event was set-up in a two-heat format and each rider was given three runs to earn a spot in Saturday's finals.

The women were the first to drop, and a heavy battle between all riders ensued. In the first heat, Spain's Queralt Castellet took the top spot with a score of 79.9.

In the following heat, Gretchen Bleiler and Kelly Clark went head-to-head for the first place finish. Bleiler came out swinging and beat Clark by earning a 85.0 for a run that included huge, stylish spins, and her signature "Crippler." Clark has won the last 14 straight contests, and will be laying it all on the line during Saturday's finals to continue her unbelievable winning streak.

On the men's side of things, heat 1 was stacked with international riders. Taku Hiraoka from Japan earned the lead with a technically advanced and smooth run. Louie Vito was hot on his heels and earned a 86.7 for his efforts.

In heat 2, Iouri Podladtchikov looked a little off his game during his first and second runs. I-Pod sat in seventh place after his second run. But during his last attempt, I-Pod stomped two 1080s, a double cork 10, and a backside 9, scoring him a 88.3. This secured him second place, right behind Matt Ladley. The 21-year-old shredder from Breckenridge, CO took the lead today for a run that included a huge backside 1260 on his first hit, which helped him earn the high score of 90.8.

Today's event was very progressive. But it was only a sampling of the action that's sure to come during Saturday's finals.

Head to WSC2012 for full results and schedules.