(openPR) - Kuehtai, Austria. Last weekend saw the rookies take over the Slopestyle Kuhtai’s K-park as TTR THREE(3)STAR event, the World Rookie Fest 07, as young Russian rider Sergey Lapushkin (RUS) & Nicole Gsponer (SUI) claimed the titles, 14th-18th March, 2007.

Nine nations of male and female rookie teams, defined by birthdate 31st August 1988 or over, were represented at the World Rookie Fest 07. Sergey Lapushkin (RUS) won the boy’s section with a stylish frontside 720 on the hip, winning a ticket to ride at TTR SIX(6)STAR event Nokia Air&Style 07 Rookie Session, in Munich, an invite to the World Rookie Fest 08 in Livigno, and 550 TTR Ranking Points.

‘The event was a lot of fun. I met a lot of nice people and I am so stoked to go to the Air & Style 07. This is going to be huge for me,’ stated a thrilled Lapushkin (RUS).

With just three girls competing in the female contest, Nicole Gsponer (SUI) won with a clean frontside air with tail-grab on the hip to win a ticket to ride to upcoming TTR TWO(2)STAR event The Pinky Jam in Chiesa Val Malenco, Italy 23-25 March, 2007 and 550 TTR Ranking Points.

World Rookie Fest Results – Top 3 Girls
1/ Nicole GSPONER (SUI)
2/ Nadine WALKER (SUI)
3/ Anna PODGORNA (POL)

World Rookie Fest Results – Top 3 Boys
1/ Sergey LAPUSHKIN (RUS)
2/ Fabian FASSNACHT (SUI)
3/ Jan SCHERRER (SUI)

Notes to the Editor:
Founded by Terje Haakonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour is a non-profit, rider-driven organisation that aims to represent the progression of snowboarding. To create a clear rookie-to-pro structure, the TTR World Snowboard Tour is based on global grass root and key independent freestyle snowboarding events. Events are rated via a 1-through-6 Star system, with points allocated accordingly, a 6 Star event holding the highest. Any rider participating in these events, from up-and-coming to professional, will earn TTR Ranking Points and a position on the TTR Ranking List presented by Swatch. The top male and female rider is crowned Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour Champion.

TTR World Snowboard Tour
Kapuzinergasse 47, AT-6020 Innsbruck
0043-650-7519305

For further information on TTR, Ranking List, Rider Profiles and Event please contact/click:
TTR: Wendy Woo - press@ttrworldtour.com / www.ttrworldtour.com
Event: Paul Popp - paulpopp@powdern.com / www.worldsnowboardfederation.org