Where skiers and snowboarders swish along the white Pistes in winter, in the snow and frost free times the mountain bikers and freeriders take over again. The high point for 2011: The Dakine FREERIDE Festivals Saalbach Hinterglemm powered by Nissan

Time for the second round: 2nd Dakine FREERIDE Festival Saalbach Hinterglemm powered by Nissan from 8 to 10 July 2011

Freeride-Paradise Saalbach Hinterglemm

After the successful festival premiere in 2010 the popular tourist location in the Austrian state of Salzburg will once again become a Mecca for the international freeride scene from 8 to 10 July. Over 10.000 freeride fans will be expected again this year. Over 60 exhibitors with 100 brands will be represented and will present their new products and offer them to "try out" free of charge. For the "who's who" of the international freeride scene the Dakine FREERIDE Festival 2011 is a fixed date on the event calendar.   

The programme for the second edition of the Dakine FREERIDE Festival in Saalbach Hinterglemm once again offers first class freeride sport on all three days in 2011. Those who want to experience the purest form of freeriding far from the hustle and bustle of the festival can't go wrong with the "Big 5 Bike Challenge" (www.big-5.at). The gondola supported XXL tour at an altitude of 5.000 metres, whereby only an altitude of 1.000 metres must be overcome under your own steam, will once again be used by many freeriders during the festival weekend.

On Friday evening the first side event is on the programme. In "Maxxis Dual Eliminator" it's man on man and woman on woman in exciting double races next to each other. By drawing lots it is decided whether it will come to a duel between two pro bikers, two friends or even a fight between pro and hobby biker on the 500 metre long slalom route built specially for this event. For the many spectators on the route the final runs on Friday evening will be an exciting start to the festival. Finally the participants and spectators will meet at the rider's party in the legendary "Goaßstall".

On Saturday morning another freeride route will be officially opened with the new "Milka Line" on the Kohlmais in Saalbach (Press conference: 9. July 2011, 9.30 at the middle station Kohlmais).

The family-friendly freeride route powered by Milka runs over 3.2 kilometres from the middle station, past two snapshot stations and the "Milka Lila Pause" Maisalm over easy terrain directly to the valley station of the Kohlmais train. On Saturday lunchtime the junior bikers will also be giving it gas on the race track of the „Maxxis Dual Eliminator“. In the "Kids FREERIDE Challenge" children from 6 to 16 compete with each other. Of course the kids don't go home empty handed. There are cool prizes and trophies awaiting the young freeriders. 

At the "YT Best Trick Award" powered by Bagjump each participant can be chosen as king of the air on Saturday afternoon. The huge 10 x 10 metre air cushion from Bagjump ensures a soft landing after every jump. The air cushion is available to visitors on all three festival days.

The urban slope style contest "Dakine Airstrike" on Saturday evening promises to be an absolute festival highlight. The course by Joschua Forstreuter and Pierre Edouard Ferry is a good one once again and has been extended for 2011 and promises even more excitement. The pro freeriders jump from one hotel roof to the next - wall rides and kickers follow. It is not for nothing that the spectacular contest "Dakine Airstrike" was accepted into the list of selected tour stops of the FMB World Tour (Silver status). Finally the band "se'plotfish" ensures a party atmosphere with a live concert on the Red Bull brandwagon. Also in 2011 once again many top riders such as last year's champion Amir Kabbani, Geoff Gulevich, Szymon Godziek, Simon Hofstädter, Mitch Chubey or Sam Reynolds have said that they are coming.

The last festival day is also going to be a good one. At the "Rose Speedwheelie Contest" the participants do a wheelie along a 150 metre track into a speed trap. For wheelie king Bobby Root the measuring device showed the fastest speed at over 60 km/h in 2010. But the competition has not been asleep and have prepared themselves well for 2011.

On Sunday afternoon the "Scott Gang Battle" will once again be the sporting high point and crowning conclusion to the second DAKINE FREERIDE Festival powered by Nissan in Saalbach Hinterglemm. This new race format is a down hill race with a mass start - similar to the popular avalanche series.

There were spectacular pictures in 2010 for the thousands of spectators at Austria's first mass downhill. A total of 398 starters from nine nations set themselves the challenge of the eight kilometre and 1.000 metre altitude route on the X-line of the Saalbach Schattberg and battled for a total of €3.500 prize money. This year the organiser predicts over 500 participants.

You can find all further info about the Dakine FREERIDE Festival Saalbach Hinterglemm powered by Nissan as well as photos and registration forms for the individual side events on the festival homepage www.freeride-festival.com. contact: Carsten Hark, Delius Klasing Verlag,
Tel. 0521 – 55 99 04, E-mail: c.hark@delius-klasing.de

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