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Hailing out of the Chillertal, representing die Ästhetiker, the first confirmed crew directly qualified to the Tängl Team Main Event are the 2011 Champions,  ”Team 99″. Formerly know as “Team 96″, a name derived from the collective age of  team members Rudi Kröll, Friedl Kolar and Captain Steve Gruber, they looking to defend their title for 2012 against the largest congregation of crews yet. Demonstrating cunning and guile, strategy and tactics, experience and coordination are a major factor in team events, Team 99 secured their place with a all but perfectly executed run in 2011.

Experience and home ground advantage played a big part in their success. For experience, you need to look no further than Wängl poster boy, Steve Gruber. His title success in 2011 brought Steve’s winner trophy haul to three, the most decorated rider in the Vans Wängl Tängl’s 10-year history. Taking top spot on the podium in 2003, 2007 and in 2011, when we asked Steve what he thought his chances were coming into this year he said, “It seems to be coming in 4-year cycles,” he laughed then continued,  ”So it looks like I’m due again in 2015!”  Considering Steve also designs the Red Bull end section with Wolle Nyvelt, and works with Q-Parks on the supersized Vans Penken Park, he is always going to be very hard to beat.

Fellow team member, Rudi Kröll, also rocks two hats during last years event, pulling down his first ever Wängl Tängl title in 2011 while doubling up as the Rider Manager. A couple of good contest results earlier in the season should have sounded fair warning, Rudi is on call at all times for assistance, questions and riders issues – except when he is on course kicking arse! When asked what the winning team strategy was, he replied, “Just ride really…” Prophetic words indeed… Due to the late withdrawal of Wolle Nyvelt to filming commitments with Absinthein Canada last year, Ästhetiker legend and sharp shooter, Friedl Kolar, jumped onboard to complete the team while taking time off from study commitments.

As always the dark horse, Friedl brought stealth, steez and stomp that proved to be the cherry atop a very rich, textured, layer cake to claim his first ever Wängl Tängl title. To sound fair warning for the challengers this year, Team 99 Captain, Steve Gruber, has completed the design for this years end section and was responsible for overseeing the design for the 2012 Trophies on his recent trip to Bali. When asked how the trophies were going, he said,  ”They look pretty sick!” then mused, “Actually, it would look pretty good alongside my other trophies…” then laughed. If last year Team 99 scored 96 out of a 100, be sure they are looking to up the ante in their title defense looking for a score of 99 or above!

„Wängl Snow 2011“ Movie:

Rebel Media Profile “Rudi Kröll”:

Steve Gruber’s Vids:

Good Times:

 

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