Black Yeti is on the move, bringing the road to the World Rookie Finals
While Christmas lights up cities and mountains across the globe, Black Yeti is already on the move.
This year, instead of carrying gifts, the World Rookie Tour mascot is travelling worldwide with a clear mission: bringing qualification opportunities to snowboarders and freeskiers aiming for the World Rookie Finals.
The holiday season marks a short pause, but winter competition mode is just around the corner. As soon as the celebrations end, riders will be back on snow chasing points, experience and progression through the official World Rookie Tour winter stops.
The road to the World Rookie Finals
The ultimate goal of the season remains unchanged.
The World Rookie Snowboard Finals and World Rookie Freeski Finals will take place in March, closing the winter with the highest level of rookie competition.
• Freeski Finals will be held in Italy
• Snowboard Finals will take place in Austria
This is where rankings turn into titles and where season-long commitment is rewarded. Every qualification stop matters, every run counts.
January 2026: qualification season starts
January is the core month of the winter calendar, featuring three key events designed to guide riders step by step toward the Finals.
Groms Open Rookie Fest — January 5–6, 2026 | Mayrhofen, Austria
Hosted at the iconic PenkenPark, the Groms Open Rookie Fest is the perfect entry point for the youngest generation of riders. Two days of snowboarding focused on learning how to compete, building confidence and experiencing real contest conditions in a supportive environment.
Finland Rookie Fest — January 17–18, 2026 | Iso-Syöte, Finland
Set in the heart of Finnish Lapland, the Finland Rookie Fest merges the Suomi Cup with the World Rookie Tour. Riders compete in slopestyle and big air, enjoying clean setups, proper winter conditions and an international contest atmosphere that rewards consistency and progression.
Ursus Rookie Fest — January 25–29, 2026 | Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
For the first time, World Rookie Tour snowboarders will compete in Madonna di Campiglio. The event takes place at Ursus Snowpark, one of the most premium and progressive snowparks in the Alps. This snowboard-only slopestyle competition offers top-level features, precise shaping and full Finals pressure. All podium riders earn direct qualification for the World Rookie Snowboard Finals, while the Best Man and Best Woman receive an all-inclusive ticket to the Finals, including accommodation, skipass and entry fee.
Stay connected during the holidays
While waiting to get back on snow with Black Yeti, riders can stay inspired on the World Rookie Tour YouTube channel. Fresh content, behind-the-scenes footage and unforgettable moments from past seasons are available to relive the journey, from first runs to Finals podiums.
Winter is loading.
The qualification season is about to begin.
And the road to the World Rookie Finals starts now.
