Saturday, April 11, 2026. Stuben am Arlberg. Once again, Paul Gruber managed to convince over 600 people to set an early alarm, squeeze into neon outfits and hurl themselves down a steep slope on vintage snowboards. That takes talent. After 27 editions, the magic of the Longboard Classic shows absolutely no signs of fading – and neither does the crowd.

Longboard Classic Stuben #27 – 2026

For the uninitiated: the LBC is not a normal race. No prize money, no start numbers, no corporate noise. Instead: mass start, corn snow, reggae, hugs and the collective feeling that life could actually be pretty simple if you approached it the way Paul Gruber approaches this event. We’ve been coming for years and it never gets old.

Avalanche Danger? Meet Plan B.

This year the organising team had one slightly uninvited guest to deal with: avalanche conditions. The classic start directly from Albonagrat was not possible due to elevated danger. What might have triggered chaos or cancellation at other events was handled with calm pragmatism here – an alternative starting point was found, the race went ahead, nobody panicked. Safety first is not a tagline at the LBC, it’s how the mountain is actually treated. Good call.

LBC27 – Mass start 2026

Did it change anything? Not really. The slope was still steep enough to earn everyone’s respect, the boards were still wildly varied, and the energy was exactly what you’d expect from six hundred people who’ve been waiting for this day all year.

The Run

Racing happened in the three traditional categories: LBC Masters (boards from 172cm), Old School (pre-1990 boards) and No School – all split by gender. Last on the course, and certainly not least: the Kid Group Ride. What these kids pull off on a board consistently puts some adults to shame. We’re not naming names.

LBC27 – Descent 2026

Conditions on April 11th were proper spring: sunshine, corn snow doing exactly what corn snow should do, and the usual mix of genuine respect for the terrain and barely-contained joy on the way down.

LBC27 – Carving in spring snow

The Winners

LBC Masters Women: 1. Christina Kolb (AUT) | 2. Liz Kristoferitsch | 3. Viktoria Egg

LBC Masters Men: 1. Ralph Castelberg (SUI) | 2. Mambo Janckheere (BEL) | 3. Grischa Keetman

No School Women: 1. Christine Innerhofer | 2. Sarah Stieger | 3. Dani Geiger

No School Men: 1. Simon Holzknecht (AUT) | 2. Sander Dierickx | 3. Pieter Devos

Old School Women: 1. Annik Frei (SUI) | 2. Ruthie Goepel (CAN) | 3. Jorien Hassink

Old School Men: 1. Matt Waibel (SUI) | 2. Joe Waibel | 3. Tom Waibel

Ralph Castelberg wins the Masters Men again. At some point you stop being surprised and just start being impressed. Meanwhile the Waibel family turned the Old School Men’s podium into a private matter – 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Presumably they also drove to Stuben in the same car.

LBC27 – Award ceremony

The Boerteun Old School Special Award went to Gerald “Gerry” Grunow. Lena Steininger picked up the Äsmo prize in the “No Binding” category – yes, down the slope without bindings. Respect. The charity auction raised 750 euros for the Skate Aid Foundation. So the LBC does good while having fun. Classic LBC.

LBC27 – Celebration time

Finish, Sun and Soundsystem

Down in Stuben: riders rolling across the line, stories being told immediately and at high volume, lunch in the sun, kids on the miniramp, adults in deckchairs – or the other way around, nobody’s judging. After the award ceremony the Mortal Kombat Soundsystem takes over: reggae, dancehall, heavy bass and a tent full of people who’ve earned every bit of it. Those who stayed until the early hours know what happened. Those who didn’t, missed out.

LBC27 – Mortal Kombat Soundsystem

The Splitboarding Highlight: New Boots from splitpin.ch

Now for the part that got us most excited as splitboarding.eu people – because yes, even at the LBC we can’t stop thinking about splitboarding. This year’s standout moment on the splitboard front: splitpin.ch showed up with their new splitboard boots, and they caused quite a few raised eyebrows in the best possible way. If you’re in the market for a boot that takes both the uphill and the downhill seriously, put these on your radar. We’ll report back once we’ve had proper time on the mountain with them.

LBC27 – Splitboarding at Arlberg

Sunday Belongs to the Splitboard

Hangovers are for the body, Sunday is for the splitboard. At least that’s how we see it. While others slowly extract themselves from their accommodation and a few diehards are still debating things in the party tent, we’re clicking into skins and heading out to see what the Arlberg has left to offer after a weekend like this. Turns out: quite a lot. Quiet, barely anyone out there, snow still decent – exactly how you want it.

LBC27 – Splitboard Sunday

See you at LBC #28! Date at longboardclassic.com

Four men in colourful retro outfits on stage, throwing peace signs
LBC27 – On Stage
Four men in colourful retro outfits on stage, Skate Aid banner visible
LBC27 – Stage with Skate Aid
Crowd at the finish area in Stuben, Red Bull banner, festival tent, sunshine
LBC27 – Finish Area Stuben
Crowd from behind, LBC t-shirts, Red Bull banner, mountain panorama
LBC27 – Crowd at the Finish
Man lying in the spring snow with his snowboard, Stuben chapel and village in the background
LBC27 – Post-Race Relaxation
Man in neon jacket looking at vintage snowboards on a fence – snowboard museum with Burton and Sims boards
LBC27 – Snowboard Museum
Close-up of a Craig Kelly AIR Burton snowboard hanging on a fence
LBC27 – Craig Kelly AIR
Vintage Snowboard Lovers banner
LBC27 – Vintage Snowboard Lovers
Crowd relaxing on the grass in front of the Stuben chapel in the sunshine
LBC27 – Relaxing by the Chapel
Two men with beers in camping chairs after the race, one in an orange outfit with a Hawaiian lei
LBC27 – Well-Earned Break
Man at a snowboard tuning stand under a Level Riding banner, smiling at the camera
LBC27 – Level Riding Tuning Stand
Riders hiking up the slope to the alternative start, woman in red suit in the foreground
LBC27 – Hike to the Start
Kids holding their snowboards up in the air against a bright blue sky – Kid Group start
LBC27 – Kids Group
Man with a Goodboards board giving a thumbs up at the brand stand
LBC27 – Goodboards Stand
Person in a unicorn costume next to someone in an American flag suit, MT banner in background
LBC27 – Costume Highlight
Award ceremony – three women on stage with boards and certificates
LBC27 – Women's Podium
Award ceremony – three men on stage with dark boards and certificates, Skate Aid banner
LBC27 – Men's Podium
Award ceremony – three women on stage with certificates and Goodboards bags
LBC27 – Women's Podium
Special award winner on stage holding a colourful rainbow-striped vintage snowboard and certificate
LBC27 – Vintage Board Special Award
No School award ceremony – three men on stage with boards and certificates
LBC27 – No School Men's Podium
Old School Women's podium – three women on stage with vintage Burton Air boards
LBC27 – Old School Women's Podium
Man in shorts holding a yellow Longboard Classic Stuben Snurfing Gear board above his head
LBC27 – Snurfing Gear Prize
Woman on stage with a dark splitboard and certificate, blue rubber boots – Äsmo No Binding prize
LBC27 – Äsmo No Binding Prize
Kids group on stage at the award ceremony, many children wearing splitboarding.eu shirts
LBC27 – Kids on Stage
Woman with dreadlocks holding an LBC Woodstock of Snowboarding board and Certificate of Authenticity
LBC27 – Charity Board Winner
Man playing electric guitar in the snow at the start area – live music on the mountain
LBC27 – Live Music at the Start
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