Kona Rookie Games big ups the little rippers

There are a lot of very – and we mean VERY – highly skilled young riders coming up through the ranks at the moment (we blame the combination of bike-mad mums/dads and scoot bikes). Domestic competition is strong but if your kids want to take their riding to the top then Kona has stepped in with the International Rookie Games.

That race plate will still be on his bedroom wall when he's 35. — That race plate will still be on his bedroom wall when he’s 35.

The long weekend of events takes place 6-9 August 2015, in the Tirol’s biggest bike park, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. There’s a full program of gravity events on offer – downhill, slopestlye, pump track and dual slalom – all designed to showcase mountain biking’s future podium toppers.

We can do that too. We choose not too. Because we're grown up. Mmm-hmm. — We can do that too. We choose not too. Because we’re grown up. Mmm-hmm.

As well as competition, riders will have the opportunity to learn from the pros on the ‘Rookie Training Days’, where they’ll have “not only the opportunity to refine their riding technique under professional guidance in an exclusive training camp, but will also learn the ins and outs of racing and prepare themselves for the closing racing weekend”.

Possibly the cutest rider in a full face you will ever see.

There’s also a “Ladies Camp”, where women and mothers will get the chance to gain some coaching advice from Steffi Teltscher, and a Father & Son/Mother & Daughter (and presumably also Father & Daughter/Mother & Son, too) competition to tie the whole event up.

For more info, go to the Serfas-Fiss-Ladiss website and hook up with the event on Facebook.

Smile if your kids are all so knackered they're going to sleep for a week! — Smile if your kids are all so knackered they’re going to sleep for a week!

Programme for the MTB Festival Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, July 31 – August 9, 2015 (Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis/AUT)
31 July – 2 August “Ladies Camp” with Steffi Teltscher
3 – 9 August 2015 Rookie Training Days

6 – 9 August Kona International Rookie Games
6 August Welcome to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
7August Pumptrack Challenge
7^/8 August iXS Rookies Cup
7/8 August O’Neal Neal Rookie of the Year Slopestyle and FMB Bronze Contest
8 August Dual Slalom Race
9 August iXS International Rookies Championships and Father & Son/Mother & Daughter Challenge

Is there anything quite as determined as a youth on a BMX?

Jenn Hill

Jenn Hill was the deputy editor here at Singletrack up until her untimely death from Lung Cancer in October 2015. She was and remains an inspiration to us all here at Singletrack. Jenn Hill - 1977-2015