Over the weekend i was in Italy for the World Rookie Fest Halfpipe comp and Italian Masters Halfpipe comp in Monte Bondone. I travelled over with Henry Shackleton, plus there were a few other GB snowboarders there Max Thidling, Ayla Thindling, Maise Potter and Nathalie Silkstone. The Hotel the Rookie fest people put us up in was sick, 4* with pool, sauna, spa, salt room! food was also good and plentiful we had about 6 courses a night! although there was strange stuff on the menu one night was donkey! i think i was the only one to go for this!!
Me and Henry were looking forward to riding a good pipe, as we were told it was a superpipe and one of the best in europe (which should mean it would be 20-22') however it was about a 12ft haha! it was still fun though.
It was such a good few days, and lots of stuff put on by the Rookie Fest team. We went night riding, which was all good sessioning the park, jam went down on the down flat down box. We also went for day out to Trento, tour of old town and castles, then we went to to a cafe where they laid on hot chocolate and loads of cakes, which was real good.
For the competition The GB team did amazing, with every one of use making the finals!! On the finals day in the girls Maise finishing 3rd and Nathalie 2nd so sick and then in the rookies mens Henry finished 4th just missing out on the podium and I finished 1st I could not believe it so stocked!!
Straight after prize giving we headed to the top of the mountain refuge for food and drinks again laid on by the Rookie fest people, then we got to ride down in the dark!!
We all decided to stay around for the Sunday as there was another competition in the same halfpipe, Italian Masters open. Again Maise finished 3rd and Nathalie 2nd in the womens. In the mens me, Max and Henry were in the rookie age group and all qualified for the finals, it was quite funny because it was the Italian open and in or finals it was just GB and the Netherlands haha! Henry finished 4th and I finished 3rd, and not only in the Rookie age group we also finished 3rd and 4th overall.
It was a really good weekend !! so much fun and some good results wooo :)
Here is a link to more coverage and a little video http://www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/article940-cj-lewis-and-diana-augustinova-won-the-halfpipe-rookie-fest.html
