For the second year in a row, 32 of the world's most talented snowboarders descended on The Twin Cities to showcase the ever-evolving level of street snowboarding in Red Bull Heavy Metal—a boundary-pushing competition that transforms iconic city spaces into snowboarding havens.
The steps of the Minnesota State Capitol Building served as the stage for three distinct zones, each designed to replicate the architectural elements professional snowboarders seek when filming video parts—a core pursuit within the sport. Alongside the overall men’s and women’s champions, winners and runners-up were crowned in each zone. Hallen and Visintainer secured their victories with stellar individual zone performances and consistent riding throughout the day.
The competition kicked off with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter welcoming an enthusiastic crowd to the Capitol grounds. Snowflakes filled the air in a fitting nod from Mother Nature as, for only the second time, snowboarders were granted permission to ride at the historic site—a testament to Minnesota's deep ties to the history of street snowboarding.
“I think it’s so special to have Red Bull Heavy Metal back in Saint Paul for the second year in a row,” said contest director and legendary Minnesotan pro rider, Joe Sexton. “The rich history of infamous spots and riders that have emerged from this area makes this a really cool full circle moment. Having the city of Saint Paul embrace street snowboarding is amazing, and it’s so awesome to see so many people show up to support the riders. I always love having local riders in the mix, as well!”
Event Layout Sets the Stage for Incredible Tricks
Zone One featured a 30-foot gap over a ledge and light pole, requiring an electric winch to propel riders over the obstacle on the south side of the Capitol. Zone Two cranked up the challenge with dual handrails leading into marble ledges, offering the perfect canvas for technical creativity. Zone Three served as the dramatic finale, featuring a massive 60-foot kinked handrail running down the Capitol's iconic steps—a larger-than-life version of one of snowboarding’s most recognized street features.
Hallen, a frontrunner from the start and the 2024 Zone Two winner, impressed the crowd with her precision. She dominated Zone One’s creeper ledge with multiple 50-50 180-out variations before landing a clean underflip that had the crowd roaring. Her dominance extended into Zone Two, where a noseslide pretzel on the left marble ledge secured her second win of the night. While she faced tougher competition on Zone Three’s kink rail, her commanding performances in the first two zones earned her the 2025 Heavy Metal crown.
“This is such a special event,” Hallen said, clutching her trophies. “Getting to ride at the State Capitol is truly surreal. I don’t know how Red Bull makes it happen, but they pull it off, and bringing all these talented people here to showcase their riding is incredible. The crew of ladies is just the best—we push each other so much. I love riding with my friends!”
On the men’s side, Austin Visintainer of Spokane, Washington brought unmatched intensity to the contest. A standout in Zone One in 2024, he delivered again this year with a combination of technical and stylish tricks, including a half cab 50-50 on the creeper ledge and a lofty rodeo. Expanding his repertoire in Zone Two, Visintainer’s consistency on the dual rails earned him second place for the round. His crowning moment came in Zone Three, where he nailed a clutch backside 180 onto a switch 50-50 with a switch back 180 out, cementing his 2025 Heavy Metal victory.
Reflecting on his performance, Visintainer said, “Landing that switch 50-50 felt absolutely surreal. Riding away was like a dream come true.”
Pushing the Limits of Street Snowboarding
Visintainer, who has competed in every Heavy Metal since its inception in 2022, underscored the importance of showcasing street snowboarding to a broader audience. “I think Heavy Metal really shows people how we ride in the streets, which is huge for the sport. It’s about having fun and showing the best side of snowboarding.”
The judging panel, comprised of street snowboarding pioneer Darrell Mathes, 2024 Heavy Metal winner Luke Winkelmann, and snowboarding commentator Mary Walsh, marveled at the exceptional level of competition. Mathes noted, “There are no warm-up tricks in this event; riders go straight to their hardest moves. It’s incredible to see the progression every year.”
Additional shoutouts went to standout performances by Zone One winner Beck Lobben, whose fearless style captivated the crowd; Zone Two champion Sam Anderson, known for his precision rail riding; and Zone Three victor Iris Pham, who executed a seamless boardslide through the length of the kink rail.
“These events are crucial for showcasing the sport and inspiring the next generation,” said Mathes. “Seeing top riders tackle huge features encourages young snowboarders to join the community and explore their potential.”
Legendary snowboarder and Olympic commentator Todd Richards teamed up with Chris Grenier, host of The Bomb Hole podcast, to emcee the event, providing expert analysis and high-energy banter. On-the-ground updates came from The Bomb Hole’s Julia Spadaro, rounding out an unforgettable day for riders and fans alike.
For those who couldn’t be in attendance, the event will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday, February 16 at 9:30PM Central. Red Bull will also release video content to recap and support the event on the Red Bull Snow YouTube channel.
FULL RESULTS
Overall Winners
Veda Hallen and Austin Visintainer
Zone 1
Winners – Veda Hallen and Beck Loben
Runners-Up – Iris Pham and Joey Fava
Zone 2
Winners – Veda Hallen and Sam Anderson
Runners-Up – Jess Perlmutter and Austin Visintainer
Zone 3
Winners – Iris Pham and Austin Visintainer
Runners-Up – Jess Perlmutter and Quin Elul