A home for young freestyle professionals.
Intro
15 talented youngsters arrive at the Youthpalace youth hostel in Davos to take part in the ‘Davos Open 2020’ freestyle event. Tom and Vincent provide a brief insight into their daily training regime and competition activities. The Youthpalace youth hostel serves as both accommodation and sports camp in one for the young athletes: they not only eat and sleep here, but also wax their boards and prepare for the competition. Everyone has their own way of dealing with nerves and pressure. However, what they all have in common is knowing that a cosy and supportive home relieves tension and simply makes you happy.
Youth hostel: 50 times in Switzerland.
For over 90 years, the Swiss Youth Hostels have been the first port of call for budget-conscious and environmentally-minded travellers. The hostels not only ensure unforgettable holiday memories and leisure activities, but also a chance to meet similarly-minded people who are actively engaged in sustainable tourism.
Hint
It never gets boring here.
Tom, twelve years old, is the loudest and bravest member of the Iceripper team, but also the most social. They call him ‘Lucky Tom’ instead of ‘Lucky Jim’ because he’s always cheerful and little upsets him. This is where his high tolerance for frustration comes in handy. He likes to do rail tricks and loves flying through the air.
The youngest member of the Iceripper team
At the tender age of nine, Vincent from Obfelden in Zurich is the youngest team member. He has been snowboarding for over five years. Marcus Kleveland is his idol. Currently, he is practising his 360 degree turns and is constantly pushing himself to the limit. Vincent is very happy and cheerful, if sometimes a little dreamy. Movement is his way of letting off steam. He likes to fly through the air.
This home is my castle.
Davos Youthpalace Youth Hostel
Young and not-so-young guests alike will feel at home in this converted sanatorium with its antique deckchairs, situated on a sunny slope offering great views. During the wintertime, the Davos youth hostel offers table football, billiards, a reading corner and much more.
Daily schedule of the training camp
| 6:30 a.m | Wake-up call 15 min. to arrive at breakfast |
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast: Everyone waits to eat until everybody is seated at the table. |
| 8:00 a.m. | Meeting point in the ski room: The hustle and bustle begins. |
| 9:00 a.m. | Halfpipe Training Part 1: The pipe is practised on the flat first. This is then followed by several basic runs (without rotations) to achieve increased height and to gain confidence. More technically demanding manoeuvres are included in the runs during the second phase. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch: Picnic at Bolgen Plaza. 30 min. for lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. | Halfpipe Training Part 2: Working on the most demanding and difficult tricks. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Dinner: Some are very tired and others are more excited than ever. Only one serving from the dessert buffet is allowed. But some try to sneak in more, for example, Tom who was standing at the buffet table with about 5 mini cakes in his mouth when his trainer Flavio caught him. |
| 9:00 p.m. | Bedtime: First teeth brushing and the handing over of mobile phones. |
| 9:15 p.m. | Lights out and into bed. |
| 9:30 p.m. | Bedtime. |
Tom stuffed all the mini cakes in his mouth at once when he realised I was coming.
Warm Up!
Training for life
Flavio is a junior trainer with Icerippers and for him training as a snowboard professional means training for life: this includes learning to deal with frustration and success. Getting to know your strengths and weaknesses and leaning how to harness them in a positive way. There’s nothing Flavio likes better than passing on his passion for freestyle snowboarding to the youngsters.
My role as a trainer is not only to teach kids professional snowboarding, but also important life skills.
Davos Open
In February, freestylers compete for the best places on the Bolgen and at the Jatzpark Davos in the Audi Snowboard Series and the Swiss Freeski Tour. Friday’s European Cup Big Air Contest is the highlight of the event. There are three disciplines: Big Air, Halfpipe and Slopestyle. Thanks to its location beneath the Jakobshorn and with a view of Davos, the Superpipe on the Bolgen ranks as one of the most beautiful of its kind.
Freestyle.
Jatzpark in Davos
Short, intensive runs in a compact, varied and perfectly prepared park – that's what freestyle skiers and snowboarders can expect at the extended Jatzpark on the Jakobshorn. In recent years, Jatzpark has developed into one of the best parks in the Swiss Alps. Thanks to its location at 2,300 metres above sea level and modern snowmaking machines, Jatzpark ensures a long shred winter – with an early start and late end to the season.
Icerippers: The talent factory
Founded in 1983, the Iceripper camps have only been encouraging interested and talented kids and young adults in the greater Zurich area since 2010. Icerippers offers five programmes with different training intensities. Icerippers also became famous in the 90s for its flea market. The proceeds from the flea market go to promoting the young members of the Iceripper Snowboard Club. Snowboard camps are also held in the youth hostels in Grindelwald, St. Moritz and Laax.