The Monster Energy White Style, presented by Kona, will take place for the sixth time on January 27 2012 in Leogang, Austria.

Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour rider Sam Pilgrim has already circles the date in his diary to visit Leogang in search of a third successive victory after finishing first in 2010 and 2011.

Beside the two-time winner, another UK national will travel to the Salzburger Land in deepest winter: together with the course builders from HU Cooperation, freestyle veteran Grant ‘Chopper’ Fielder has been designing the massive jumps for years, building them only from snow and wood.

Thanks to the winterly conditions, Chopper’s daring course layouts go beyond the ordinary dimensions of a mountain bike freestyle event, and are a very welcome taste of what is to come; working to shorten the long and eventless winter, and to blow off some steam before the actual season begins.

Riders are known to show up in Leogang ready to show off the new tricks and moves they have been practicing over the winter months, with the event an indicator and teaser ahead of the new FMB World Tour season starting at the end of March.

Highlights from Sam Pilgrim’s 2011 victory