Hintertux Park Opening 2026: Community makes the difference

The Hintertux Park Opening once again brought the international snowboard and freeski community together in Zillertal for the traditional start of the season - for the 22nd time (October 2–4). Three days of riding together, sessions and plenty of side events centered around Betterpark Hintertux at Hintertux Glacier. Plenty of sunshine, a great atmosphere and lots of familiar and new faces once again made the Opening what it has been for so many years: a big reunion for the scene at the start of a new season.

The conditions for making it all happen were anything but a given this year. Following a hot summer, conditions on the glacier were challenging. That a high-quality park was ready for the Opening was largely thanks to the huge effort of the Betterpark Shape Crew, who managed to build a park that left nothing to be desired.

Community, sunshine and riding together: And the community showed up! Riders from numerous countries, brands and fans made the most of the sunny days with runs, park sessions and time together on the mountain. US snowboard superstar Zeb Powell also made a quick appearance, stopping by Betterpark Hintertux during the Opening. At the On-Snow Test in the Snowfest Village at the Fernerhaus, visitors tested the latest gear, caught up with old friends and made new connections.

At the Kids Shred with Gigi Rüf and Steve Gruber, the next generation got out on the snow together - from taking their first steps to learning new tricks, with plenty of fun and tips from two of Austria’s best-known snowboarders. This exchange between generations has always been part of the Hintertux Park Opening and once again showed just how vibrant the snowboard community is.

Werni’s Transfer Games by Quiksilver & Nitro Snowboards were also all about riding together. Host Werni Stock brought international heavyweights including Ståle Sandbech (NOR), Sven Thorgren (SWE), Alek Østreng (NOR), Fridtjof “Fridge” Tischendorf (NOR), Annika Morgan (GER), Niek van der Velden (NED) and Sebbe De Buck (NED) together in teams. Creative transfers, multiple riders in the air at the same time and plenty of airtime defined the session on the jumps at Betterpark Hintertux, with creativity, style, technical riding and teamwork taking center stage.

On Saturday evening, the action moved from the mountain to the valley station. At Rock A Rail presented by Snowfest, international snowboarders and freeskiers joined the best riders from the previous day’s qualification on the Street Style Setup. Round by round, the riders stepped it up, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd. The wins went to Katja Dutu (NED) and Niek van der Velden (NED) in snowboarding, and Hannah Langes (AUT) and Eliasz Kiszka (CZE) in freeski.

Straight after the Rock A Rail final, the Opening Party kept things going at the Hohenhaus Tenne. The Bögenradio DJs provided the soundtrack to a packed house, bringing riders, crews and party people together until late into the night.

Beyond the main sessions, there was plenty of room for the shared experience that has always been part of the Opening. The Movie Premiere Night at the Tux Center brought everyone together on Friday evening, before the Canary Cartel Playground Session invited everyone back on Sunday to wrap up the weekend on snow.

Under the particularly challenging circumstances this year, it became even clearer what has defined the Hintertux Park Opening for so many years: the riders, brands, crews, kids and everyone who returns to Hintertux year after year to ride together and celebrate the start of a new season. Three sunny days and a weekend that once again proved: Community makes the difference.

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