The 5th edition of the legendary FIAT Nine Knights in Livigno, Italy has officially wrapped up. Nicky Keefer was declared “Ruler of the Week” and winner of the “Best Style” award, while David Wise won the “Best Trick” award. The unforgettable week-long event on the colossal “Il Castello” was perfect, just watch the final highlight video for confirmation!
Six years ago Nico Zacek of the Marker Völkl team had a ludicrous idea, “Lets build a massive castle made of snow, with a bunch of jumps and rails on it and get the best skiers in the world to session it for a week!” What was just an idea six years ago has turned into an eagerly anticipated event at the end of a busy international freeski calendar; a chance to session an awesome feature all week, create amazing photos, push the sport and generally have a fun time with fellow freeskiers. This year the FIAT Nine Knights castle was more than twice as big as ever, “I was blown away by the magnitude of this feature,” said O’Neill team rider David Wise, who was recently crowned AFP Halfpipe World Champion. “From the jumps, to the jibs, to the halfpipes: there are just so many options. I have never skied a feature like this!”
A blazing sun warmed gorgeous Livigno throughout the week and many rad sessions went down on the various features of “Il Castello” perched on the pistes of the Mottolino Fun Mountain. The riders banded together to hit every feature at the same time while the helicopter of the Flying Bulls recorded the action and the invited photographers clicked away. You don’t want to miss the final edit of the FIAT Nine Knights, it’s insane!
FIAT Nine Knights Photography Contest
A big mission of the FIAT Nine Knights is to create unique and awe-inspiring images, which is why every year four of the best international photographers get invited to compete in the photography contest. This year’s photos truly accomplished this mission and can be viewed exclusively at www.nineknightsski.com
„Best Action": Alessandro Belluscio „Most Creative Angle": Daniel Rönnbäck „Best Diptic" & „Best Lifestyle": Christoph Schöch
Rider Awards:
„Ruler of the Week" & „Best Style": Nicky Keefer „Best Trick": David Wise für seinen Double Misty 1080 Mute „Best Transition": Lolo Favre
The Jib Contest, which was held instead of the traditional Big Air due to bad weather, was won by Roy Kittler, with Henrik Harlaut and Fabio Studer in second and third respectively.
It truly was one hell of a crazy week in Livigno and the plans for next years castle are already in the works. The snow is being saved for next year, which can only mean one thing: next years "Il Castello" will be even bigger and better!
The best freeskiers from all around the globe have descended upon Livigno, the skiing and mountain biking capital of Italy, for a weeklong session on, in and around the most spectacular snow castle ever constructed.
A huge variety of freeskiers have arrived in Livigno, Italy for the legendary FIAT Nine Knights, which has established itself as one of the most unique freeski events of the year. With skiers like Nicky Keefer, Marker Völkl athletes Matt Margetts and Paddy Graham as well as legends like Tanner Hall, Lolo Favre and Kevin Rolland in attendance, the riders list, their various styles and strengths couldn’t be more eclectic. And that’s exactly what you want for a feature as unfathomably creative and massive as the fabled “Il Castello” perched atop the picturesque slopes of the Mottolino Fun Mountain.
Every year the castle feature of the FIAT Nine Knights increases in size, this year however, it increased exponentially – with over 150,000 cubic meters of snow used in its construction, 90,000 cubic meters more than last year!
After only two day of shooting the photographers and filmers have innumerable bangers in the bag and everyone is eagerly awaiting the Big Air Competition on Saturday. If the first few sessions of the FIAT Nine Knights are anything to go by, the contest is going to be one hell of a spectacle, so if you are in the area definitely come to Livigno and check it out. Heck, even if you live on the other side of the globe it would still be worth it!
The Schedule:
Monday the 15th to Friday the 19th of April: Photo and Video Sessions Closed to the Public
Saturday 20th of April: 10:00 – 15:00 Big Air Competition Open to the Public 15:00 Prize Giving 21:00 Afterparty at Cielo Music Club by Sweet Protection & downdays.eu
First Amazing Video Highlights of the FIAT Nine Knights in Livigno, Italy.
Take the chance: 4 days in Livigno, with 110 km of slopes to be discovered and live the emotions of the snow castle with the best freeskiers!
Included in the package:
4 nights in hotel (from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 April),
3 days Skipass Free,
lunch ticket at the Refuge Camanel (castle area) for Saturday 20,
entry for the Final Party @ Cielo Musiclub with 1 free drink and wardrobe,
visit post Contest to the castle.
Prices startingfrom 208,00 Euro. Price per person in double room, with bed and breakfast treatment. Possibility of half or full board treatment or in apartment for min. 7 nights.
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