After the races of the iXS Downhill Cup and the iXS European Downhill Cup were published in the last few days, we now have the next news. The biggest highlight of the season for young riders will once again be held in Schladming, Austria.

The iXS International Rookies Championships are the most important event for young riders. This competition was first introduced over a decade ago as an unofficial world championship for all age groups that do not have a world championship title awarded by the world governing body, the UCI. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event. To mark the occasion, the championship will no longer be held as part of the Rookies Cup, but will become a stand-alone competition that will focus all attention on the prestigious titles.

The venue for the iXS Rookies Champs will once again be none other than Schladming Dachstein, which should be familiar to anyone who has anything to do with mountain biking. In addition to its excellent reputation as a venue for World Cups, European Cups and Rookies races, the Planai is probably one of the most popular destinations for bike park visits. Countless trails in all levels of difficulty offer just the right playground for everyone and the accommodation has also adapted to the clientele. This means that many families will certainly find it convenient to have another trip like this on the agenda at the end of the season.

A look at the history of the competition shows what big shoes to fill. Famous names have already secured these titles in the past, including Jackson Goldstone (CAN), Vali Höll (AUT), Henri Kiefer (GER), Anna Newkirk (USA) and Gabriel Wibmer (AUT). So we can look forward to the anniversary edition. It was already announced last year that some big teams would be setting their sights on Schladming, not least due to the changes in the World Cup.