PlayStreets in Bad Gastein 2011
On 19 February, the centre of the Austrian town of Bad Gastein provided the setting for one of the season’s most spectacular urban freestyle skiing events: Red Bull PlayStreets 2011 came to the ski resort in the heart of the Salzburg region.
Red Bull PlayStreets 2011 in Bad Gastein
In the heart of Bad Gastein’s historic centre, 10,000 visitors watched the freestyle competition on a “playground” that this time ran not over “hill and dale” but across the pedestrian zone and over rooftops. Where Emperor Franz Joseph and his Empress Sissy once strolled in winter, spectacular winter sports took place, with freestyle jumps over the rooftops of Bad Gastein.
PlayStreets in Bad Gastein 2011
Date: 30/09/2026
The unusual freestyle skiing festival has been held in the wintry centre of Bad Gastein since 2006. In 2011, 18 international freestyle skiing stars came to Bad Gastein. For Red Bull PlayStreets 2011, the town centre was prepared with around 500 truckloads, or 20,000 tonnes, of snow. A step-down, corner, kicker, gap jump, road gap and slide over the Jägerhäusl were set up. Despite the mild temperatures, it made for a top-class skiing event. Around 10,000 visitors cheered the ski stars as they made breathtaking runs through the town. The Red Bull PlayStreets judges scored the riders on style, creativity and execution. And the competitors certainly delivered. In the end, Swiss freeskier Elias Ambühl took the win ahead of Antti Ollila (Finland) and Jossi Wells (New Zealand). Austrian stars Fabio Studer and Tobi Tritscher, along with Bad Gastein local Patrick Hollaus, didn’t quite make the podium. Even he had rarely seen his hometown “decorated” quite like this before.
After the awards ceremony, Bad Gastein was just as lively as ever: the after-contest party carried on late into the night at the Silverbullet and surrounding bars. Visitors and competitors can agree: Red Bull PlayStreets in Bad Gastein 2011 was a great success.
Markus Lenk
