Rock A Rail presented by Snowfest kicks off its 2026 autumn stops in Hintertux
The Rock A Rail Tour 2026 presented by Snowfest launched its autumn leg with a bang, delivering one of the standout highlights of the Hintertux Park Opening (October 2-4). Snowboarders put on a spectacular Street Style show, with familiar and new faces alike landing on the podium. Technical riding, standout tricks, and plenty of creativity put the new Rock A Rail setup to the test and set the tone for what’s to come.
More than 80 riders from around the world lined up for the contest. Friday’s stacked qualification at Betterpark Hintertux set the bar high, with the top riders advancing to the semifinals to join the invited field. On Saturday evening, the action moved to the Hintertux glacier valley station, where the riders stepped it up round by round and pushed each other to go one better. The crowd matched their energy, making Rock A Rail one of the defining moments of the Hintertux Park Opening.
Snowboarding saw a Dutch double, with Katja Dutu (NED) and Niek van der Velden (NED) taking the wins. Katja picked up right where she left off: After winning the 2025 Tour Final in The Hague, she opened the new season with another victory. Melissa Peperkamp (NED) finished second, while defending Hintertux champion Marie Kuhlmann (GER) completed the podium in third. Niek successfully defended his title to claim back-to-back wins in Hintertux: “The setup was even better than last year; the vibes were on point, and it was so much fun to ride.” John Hancheck (USA) took second, while Colin Frans (USA), who made several Rock A Rail podiums in 2025, finished third.
Colin Frans // p: Markus Fischer, @fischi666
Rock A Rail thrives where riders, industry and community come together, and the Hintertux Park Opening once again provided a perfect stage. The tour now heads to Amsterdam for its ISPO debut on November 4–5, where the Rock A Rail journey continues.
Rock A Rail Hintertux results presented by Snowfest
Snowboard Women:
1. Katja Dutu, NED
2. Melissa Peperkamp, NED
3. Marie Kuhlmann, GER
Snowboard Men:
1. Niek Van der Velden, NED
2. John Hancheck, USA
3. Colin Frans, USA
For full results visit: www.rockarail.tv
More information: www.snowfest.eu, www.rockarail.tv. @rockarail, @snowfest.official