If you didn’t already know this week sees the Fiat Nine Knights slopestyle comp kick off in Livigno at the Mottolino Fun Mountain Bike Park, and lets just say the jumps aren’t exactly small!

Here’s a video documenting the build of the unique course…

In simple terms the week long event is split up in two with the beginning of the week being more of a competition for photographers and film makers, to see who can best capture the action, and then at the weekend it’s time for the riders to battle for the glory.

Here’s a ‘course check’ video and a gallery from the first day of action…

Things are only going to get more rad as the week goes on, so stay tuned for more updates.

Here’s the official press release from the event along with the schedule…

Some of the world’s best freeriders have arrived at the mountainbike freeride paradise in Livigno, Italy while the building crew did the last fine-tuning on the course. Upon first sight the athletes were highly impressed by truly unique setup at Mottolino Fun Mountain and eagerly explored every angle of it right away.

The scale of the setup, designed and built by Andi Wittmann and his team, increased substantially this year and even left some of the pro-riders open-mouthed. The course kicks- off with a five meter drop from the castle which passes over onto a 15 meter super-kicker followed by seven different obstacles in the trail section.

This year’s elite riders list covers the whole range of the sport and features both freeride pro’s like Andreu Lacondeguy (SPA) and Mads Makken Haugen (NOR) as well as dirt heroes like Thomas Genon (BEL), Anton Thelander (SWE) and Yannick Granieri (FRA). Andi Wittmann who tested the course himself has given his sign of approval and raises high expectations. Everyone is very anxious to see what the newcomers, the winners of the Online Video Qualification Tobi Wrobel (GER) and Adrian Tell (NOR), can make of the crazy course.

On the first day of the event the athletes were already freeriding in top form on the gigantic obstacles, sending floaty airs in front of the sun setting behind the picturesque mountains of Livigno. Many riders already boosted over 5 meters above the lip of the last hip before the wind became too strong for really large airs. Yet this did not hold anyone back and promptly the freeride session turned into a trick jam on the spine where the French man Yannick Granieri and Szymon Godziek unexpectedly pushed the level early. After Szymon stomped a number of tricks he has never landed before, he also sent a perfect double backflip with ease.

We are expecting the first major highlight tomorrow with the arrival of the Flying Bulls helicopter, which will give filmers and photographers the extraordinary opportunity to shoot from above. On Thursday night anyone and everyone is invited to come up to the castle to witness the sensational Public Night Shooting. All freeride-enthusiasts should take the once in a lifetime chance to see the best mountainbikers in the world riding the castle on Mottolino in Livigno from 20:00 onwards. The one-week session culminates on Saturday ́s Public Contest which will feature all FIAT Nine Knights athletes and some more selected riders who will guarantee an unprecedented visual experience. Don’t miss out on this.