Rock A Rail Ski & Snowboard Tour 2025 Kicks Off At Hintertux Park Opening

A spectacular start to the Rock A Rail Ski & Snowboard Tour presented by Snowfest at the 21st Hintertux Park Opening at Hintertuxer Gletscher, Austria. For the first time, the Rock A Rail crew and the organizers of the legendary Park Opening have joined forces to kick off the season with a bang.

A perfect match: Rock A Rail complements the Hintertux Park Opening, which has been celebrating freestyle culture in all its facets for over 20 years. It is a fixed date in the calendars of the snowboard and freeski community and the ideal way to launch into the winter season together. The prestigious Rock A Rail Tour is known for urban street style at a world-class level, featuring creative and challenging setups, for both snowboarders and freeskiers. Hintertux marks the first of five tour stops in fall 2025.

The open qualifier on Friday at Betterpark Hintertux up on Hintertux Glacier drew a large crowd of riders eager to secure one of the coveted spots in Saturday’s big showdown alongside an elite crew of invited riders. For the first time, the brand-new Rock A Rail setup was unveiled at the valley station, showcasing exciting new features and endless trick opportunities. Riders lit up the night with an explosion of tricks, thrilling the crowd and proving that the new setup has passed its baptism of fire with flying colors.

In the snowboard women’s division, the ladies impressed across the board with courage, style, and technical finesse. Italy’s Stella Accati claimed third place. Just ahead of her was 2024 Rock A Rail Tour champion Paula Benito (ESP), landing stylish tricks to secure second.

But the evening’s biggest surprise was 14-year-old Marie Kuhlmann (GER), who celebrated her first Rock A Rail win including a standout “50-50 to Backside Bluntside 270 Out” on the Down Flat Down rail. The 16 male riders tore the setup apart from the very first run. Standouts included Switzerland’s Nick Puenter with his wild street style, gaps and transfers, as well as Senna Van Drunnen (NED) and Nauris Putenis (LAT), who wowed the crowd with a “50-50 to Front Flip” off the Flat Rail. Øyvind Kirhkus (NOR) also impressed, though all narrowly missed the podium.

Third place went to 16-year-old US rider Colin Frans. 2024 Tour winner Leon Gütl (GER) earned second with clean, stylish tricks on the C-Rail and an incredible “Switch Backside 270 to Forward” on the Down Flat Down. The well-deserved win went to Niek Van der Velden (NED), who landed one insane trick after another, including the banger trick of the night: a gigantic “Frontside Bluntside” on the Flat Rail to a “Backside 270 Transfer to Boardslide” on the Down Flat Down Rail, igniting roaring applause. Niek states: “The setup offers you so many possibilities. Lots of lines to pick and a lot of variety. I focused on the more technical tricks but also tried some gaps and transfers. Fun event overall, good crew and hyped for more.“

For the first time, freeskiers were part of the Hintertux Park Opening and made a strong debut. The women delivered powerful performances across the board. Austrians Hannah Langes and Sarah Schönach landed in second and third, only edged out by Alais Develay (FRA), who already made waves on the Rock A Rail Tour last season. The men’s field featured a strong international lineup. In the end, relative newcomer Stefano Gallina (ITA), previously unknown in the competitive scene, took the win. He showed some of the craziest tricks of the evening, including a “Right Frontside 360 Switch Up” am Double C-Rail. William Bostadlokken (NOR) and Jakob Koula (CZE) rounded out the podium in second and third.

The Snowfest Village, which is an integral part of all Snowfest events, attracted a steady stream of visitors together with the industry’s Test Area at the Tuxer Fernerhaus. Highlights included an art workshop hosted by the World Rookie Tour in collaboration with Lebenshilfe Tirol, a dedicated companion for people with disabilities on their journey toward a barrier-free, self-determined, and fulfilling life.

An epic start to the Rock A Rail Ski & Snowboard Tour. The tour now moves on, with the second stop already coming up this weekend at the Freestyle Roots Festival in Thun (SUI), from October 10–12, 2025.

Results Rock A Rail Hintertux:

Snowboard Ladies:

1. Marie Kuhlmann, GER

2. Paula Benito, ESP

3. Stella Accati, ITA

Snowboard Men:

1. Niek Van Der Velden, NED

2. Leon Gütl, GER

3. Colin Frans, USA

Ski Ladies:

1. Alais Develay, FRA

2. Hannah Langes, AUT

3. Sarah Schönach, AUT

Ski Men:

1. Stefano Gallina, ITA

2. William Bostadlokken, NOR

3. Jakob Koula, CZE