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Interview: Ralph Backstrom Interview: Ralph Backstrom
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Ralph Backtsrom is no stranger to the podium on the Freeride World Tour circuit. The overall title has eluded him till this year when he dropped into the infamous Bac de Rosses face with aggression and not only won the day, but the overall title as well. We caught up with him to get his take on his first ever world championship.
TGR: Ralph, after a few years of near misses, you’re the FWT World Champ. Has that set in yet? How does it feel?
Ralph Backstrom: It's been a long road of near misses, and yes, it has set in. I'm super stoked.
TGR: You dropped first and wound up staying on top. Tell me about your line choice. Also tell us how nerve-wracking it was to be in the hot seat for the entire competition.
RB: I knew I was going to be dropping first 2-3 days before the comp; just had a really strong feeling. The only thing was that I thought the skiers were going to be going first. When we heard that the snowboarders were going to go first, I knew I still had the 1st bib. It can be a bit nerve wracking going first, but most riders in AK prefer to go first, right? I had been in Verbier for 5 days or so before the comp and had picked a line out. After 2 bad line choices/falls in the prior comps, I picked the first line that spoke to me when I saw the face. Then, the night before the comp, I kept having these micro dreams/thoughts that parts of my line were too tight for the amount of slough that would be moving, and kept having trouble visualizing individual turns. So I woke up super tired, and the fog didn't help me feel any more awake. I definitely wasn't in a state to ride a technical line. I changed my line minutes before I left the judges tent to start hiking to something less technical and less exposed. It wasn't until I saw my score that I knew how good my run was. I had flown passed some features I'd planned to hit, so thought I'd be easy to beat. I definitely dodged some bullets sitting there at the bottom watching the others come down!
TGR: You were in third coming into the finals at Verbier. How did that affect your decision-making when you were picking your line?
RB: I try not to let stuff like overall points get into my head for decision making, so I just tried to pick something I knew I could stomp most of, with some bigger airs that were maybe questionable.
TGR: What was going through your head when you dropped into the Bec?
RB: I was so rushed before we dropped I didn't have time to think at all. A couple riders and myself were talking to Nicolas Hale-Woods on speaker phone about contingency plans if the fog didn't clear. It cleared right then, and he said, “forerunner in 2 minutes!” After he dropped, the starter said, “Ralph Backstrom 2 minutes! No, 1 minute!” I even forgot to put on my backpack up there.
TGR: The tour lasts all winter. What do you do to stay on your game when you aren’t competing?
RB: I try to stay in shape, have a good time riding, and stay healthy.
TGR: You’ve had some pretty awesome film segments. What drives you to compete in the Tour?
RB: Competition lines and film lines are pretty similar, and doing either of them is good practice for the other. I do think comp lines generally tend to be a little more difficult due to conditions, tracks, etc, and are therefore good preparation for filming. It's a good way to travel the world with cool people too.
TGR: What venue is your favorite one to compete at?
RB: Revelstoke, Mack Daddy Face.
TGR: After finally getting the overall title, are you planning on competing next year?
RB: That's hard to say at this point. The tour is great, but I think there are still a few things that could use some polishing, and you never know what other opportunities will come up...
TGR: What are you going to do with the rest of your winter?
RB: I'm in Laax right now for the GoPro Snow Camp, heading back to Tahoe in a few days for the Pain McShlonkey, then up to Alaska. - Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 207
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Trip. S01E00: Trailer Trip. S01E00: Trailer
- From: huckampchuck
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Description:
Nicolas and Loris Falquet are two swiss professional freeskiers and film makers.
For the last 15 years they have been travelling the world to capture on screen great performances on skis and promote the freeski scene through their innovative film and webisode projects.
Their new project, called trip. is a concentrate of solid skiing mixed with unexpected and original ideas.
Trip. can be summed up in this words: Not another web series!
- 2 months ago
- Views: 4
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Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, And Rozies Win FWT In Kirkwood
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
3 Americans and 1 Frenchie take the top spots at the fourth stop of the FWT, TGR's Ryland Bell posts the highest score of the day.
By Greg Fitzsimmons
“Variable” was the word of the day at the fourth stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face at Kirkwood. Variable snow conditions underfoot made the challenging Cirque venue — the permanently closed terrain at Kirkwood — heavier than normal. There were a lot of high-speed crashes and tooth-rattling backslaps during the only stateside comp of the season. In the end, the winners of the male and female ski and snowboard fields displayed solid fundamentals en route to earning their titles.
Mad River Glen’s Lars Chickering-Ayers took home the win in the men’s ski field, showing total control in the difficult conditions. Chickering-Ayers has found a home on big-mountain contest podiums in recent years, but he excelled on the variable snow in Kirkwood, linking a technical line in his typical full-throttle assault that fans of big-mountain competitive skiing have come to expect. Without any hesitation, Lars billy-goated through volcanic rock, pioneered a mandatory air into a chute, and laced clean GS-turns through the venue, making exposed and difficult terrain look fun.
“I wasn't really planning to win here,” said Chickering-Ayers. “I just came out to spend time with family and have fun. I have skied these types conditions in competition in the past and knew how to deal with them. The skiing was my favorite part of the day.”
Chickering-Ayers was awarded a score of 75.33 to take the top spot at Kirkwood. The “Flying Frenchman” Julien Lopez and Kiwi FWT rookie Charlie Lyons rounded out the podium in second and third place, respectively.
Tahoe local Jaclyn Paaso won on the women’s ski side with a score of 71.67. Paaso had a difficult first half of the season on the FWT, but skied a fluid line en route to winning the comp. The Squaw Valley female skier known for sending huge cliffs skied a smart comp line. Paaso stomped a cool air off the ridge over exposed rock, cleanly navigated a tight s-turn chute, and skied out of a bottom air on the venue to take the top spot in Kirkwood.
“I have had a number of crashes this season and really needed a win. It feels great to come out on top,” said Paaso. “I took my run down a notch this time because I needed to stay on my feet. Making it to the finish line was the best part for me.”
Paaso’s win made her the first female skier to dethrone Sweden’s Christine Hargin this year. Hargin was perfect so far on the FWT with wins in Revy and Cham (the women didn’t compete in Italy this year), but Hargin took a hard fall during her run in Kirkwood. Pia Nic Gunderson of Norway took second and the third place spot went to American Ashley Maxfield.
Squaw Valley’s Ryland Bell parlayed a wildcard entry into a win in men’s snowboarding. Bell, one of the stars of the Further movies, spun a backside 360 off the ridge and a frontside 360 into a chute during his line. His score of 87.67 was the highest score awarded by the judges to any competitor throughout the day. American Sammy Luebke took second and Swiss rider Emilien Badoux rounded out the men’s snowboard podium.
“This was my first win ever,” said Bell. “My stoke level is really high. I wanted to do tricks, try to flow, and have fun.”
After consecutive second-place finishes on the FWT, French rider Margot Rozies finally won in Kirkwood. Her consistent riding throughout the season meant that Rozies was the overall tour leader going into Kirkwood. After her fast and fluid winning line, Rozies has a firm grasp on the tour title with two stops left. Elodie Mouthon and Shannon Yates finished in second and third, respectively.
Now, the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face heads back to Europe for the last two comps of the year. Fieberbrunn, Austria is on-deck before all attention will focus on Verbier’s famed Bec de Rosses venue for the FWT finale.
Overall Ski Men Standings
1 Tabke, Drew (USA) 6500.00
2 Heitz, Jérémie (SUI) 6200.00
3 Lopez, Julien (FRA) 5820.00
4 Lyons, Charlie (NZL) 4900.00
5 Barkered, Reine (SWE) 4595.00
6 Studer, Fabio (AUT) 4340.00
7 Gauthier, Laurent (CAN) 4180.00
8 Eder, Markus (ITA) 4048.00
9 Lindberg, Wille (SWE) 3900.00
10 White-Allen, Oakley (USA) 3885.00
11 Ducroz, Aurelien (FRA) 3685.00
12 Guri, Kevin (FRA) 3470.00
13 Post, Griffin (USA) 3445.00
14 Chickering-Ayers, Lars (USA) 3395.00
15 Collin, Sean (USA) 3070.00
Overall Ski Women Standings
1 Wallner, Nadine (AUT) 6025.00
2 Gundersen, Pia Nic (NOR) 5980.00
3 Hargin, Christine (SWE) 5975.00
4 Maxfield, Ashley (USA) 4895.00
5 Paaso, Jacklyn (USA) 4630.00
6 Wright, Crystal (USA) 4265.00
7 Slinning, Anne May (NOR) 4200.00
8 Huber, Lorraine (AUT) 3255.00
9 Segal, Natalie (AUS) 2955.00
10 McMillan, Jess (USA) 2260.00
Overall Snowboard Men Standings
1 Backstrom, Ralph (USA) 6325.00
2 Luebke, Sammy (USA) 5980.00
3 Badoux, Emilien (SUI) 5585.00
4 Guillot-Diat, Ludovic (FRA) 5290.00
5 Routens, Aurelien (FRA) 5200.00
6 Charlet, Jonathan (FRA) 4095.00
7 Carlson, Tim (USA) 4060.00
8 Rodosky, John (USA) 3870.00
9 Orley, Flo (AUT) 3730.00
10 Van Helfteren, Irian (NED) 3615.00
11 Rizzuto, Jamie (CAN) 3220.00
12 Rouge, Joel (SUI) 3215.00
13 Annetts, Matt (USA) 2715.00
14 Bell, Ryland (USA) 2500.00
15 De Le Rue, Xavier (FRA) 2130.00
Overall Snowboard Women Standings
1 Rozies, Margot (FRA) 6900.00
2 Mouthon, Elodie (FRA) 5805.00
3 Dewey, Laura (USA) 5415.00
4 Lucas, Casey (USA) 5400.00
5 Yates, Shannan (USA) 4480.00
6 Lazzareschi, Iris (USA) 4205.00
7 Mouthon, Anouck (FRA) 4040.00
8 Bock, Aline (GER) 3435.00Staying at Kirkwood is the way to go, sure beats driving from South Lake Tahoe. Book your next Kirkwood vacation pacakge at: http://mountainreservations.com
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 149
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Mens Snowboard Podium FWT Kirk Mens Snowboard Podium FWT Kirkwood
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:Mens Snowboard Podium FWT Kirkwood
- 3 months ago
- Views: 110
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Kirkwood Hosts Stop No. 4 Of F Kirkwood Hosts Stop No. 4 Of Freeride World Tour
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
CLICK HERE to watch today’s event live. The action gets underway at 9 a.m. PST as the ski women drop in.
The FWT comes stateside to kickoff the second half of the season
By Greg FitzsimmonsThe fourth stop of the newly unified Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face goes down stateside today at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. We’re halfway through the FWT, with stops in Revelstoke, Courmayeur, and Chamonix in the rearview mirror, and Fieberbrunn and Verbier coming up after the sole comp of the season in the United States.
Today’s action will take place on Kirkwood’s famed Cirque, a permanently closed rock-littered zone that introduces a new type of terrain into the FWT mix this season. The Cirque is almost 1,500 vertical feet of exposed terrain, with tight chutes, big cliffs, scattered trees, and open bowls for arching turns. Unlike Mac Face in Revy and the venues on the Italian and French sides of the Mont Blanc, Kirkwood’s Cirque is a wide, venue with a mix of steep aspects and bench-like sections that will require some navigation from the competitors if they’re going to ski the Cirque fluidly from top to bottom.
Per usual, the athletes are working off of a visual inspection only, and the consensus is divided amongst athletes. Fall-line chargers will be tasked with finding terrain that suits their style, while freestyle jibbers might have an advantage with the abundance of natural features that are primed for a playful approach.
“The Cirque at Kirkwood is a powerful place in the history of freeride, and I take riding it very seriously. It’s a pretty big face, so solid runs definitely have to be high speed and powerful so you don't spend multiple minutes up there,” said current tour leader Drew Tabke. “But there are lots of airs with good takeoffs and steep landings, so there is definitely a place for freestyle as well.”
Tabke’s blend of full-tilt and playful charging has earned him the overall tear leader spot going into the fourth stop of the FWT. With wins in Revelstoke and Chamonix, Tabke’s approach has been rewarded so far on the tour, and rightly so.
Other athletes, like last year’s overall FWT Champion Reine Barkered, aren’t super psyched on the Cirque’s prospects. “I don’t believe [the venue] suits me that well,” said Sweden’s Barkered. “On the top part you can go pretty fast, but in the middle and bottom sections you will have to slow down since there are a lot of airs to flat landings. I like to send my cliffs with speed so it might be better for the more freestyle influenced riding as there are a few transfers and kickers.”
It’s ladies first on the venue today, with the ski women kicking things off. There was a storm last week that dropped a few inches of fresh snow on the venue, but temps have gotten warm the last few days and there’s a spring break vibe in the Sierra Nevadas.
“The venue is in rough shape, but still has a ton of fun potential,” said Jackson Hole’s Crystal Wright, who has had solid showings in Kirkwood in the past. “I am looking at the same line as last year but hoping to ski it better if I can. It is fast and fluid and it makes me happy! [That line] is the only thing that is jumping out at me when I look at the venue.”
With Kirkwood’s Cirque possibly favoring a more playful approach to skiing and riding, there are a few names in the start list to take note of. Last year’s North American-based Freeskiing World Tour Champion Josh Diaek is a longtime Kirkwood local, and Diaek has won the last two comps on his home turf. Look for Diaek to blast a fast, creative line through the Cirque that mixes trickery with fall-line skiing. If big-mountain jibbing is the predicted approach for Kirkwood, Euros Fabio Studer and Markus Eder and Americans Johnny Collinson and Colter Hinchliffe are names to watch, too. But, don’t sleep on Tabke, Barkered, Oakley White-Allen, and Jérémie Heitz—who is sitting in second place overall behind Tabke—to put on full-throttle show.
On the women’s ski side, Sweden’s Christine Hargin is riding a lot of momentum into today’s comp after sweeping the first two stops of the FWT in Revy and Cham. Jess McMillan and Crystal Wright, both from Jackson Hole, have a lot of experience on the Cirque and are due for strong showings.Save Big on Kirkwood Mountain Resort discount lift tickets through Liftopia.com
The men’s snowboard field should be interesting to watch as Squaw Valley’s Ralph Backstrom will don the yellow bib, which denotes the overall tour leader. Another Squaw rider, Ryland Bell, who has been sending it on Jeremy Jones’s Further project, will slide into the FWT start gate for the first time this season. Frenchmen Jonathan Charlet got his 2013 season going in the right direction with a win in Chamonix, and Sammy Luebke always brings a fresh approach to riding; both will be throwing down in Kirkwood.
Tahoe locals Casey Lucas (from Kirkwood) and Iris Lazzareschi (from Squaw) will be looking to represent in front of their hometown fans as they take on overall tour leader Margot Rozies, Snowbird’s Laura Dewey, and the rest of the snowboard women field.
Some competitors are in good shape going into the Kirkwood stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face. Tabke and Hargin sit atop the men’s and women’s ski fields thanks to two wins by each athlete so far this year. Ralph Backstrom has ridden consistently en route to being the tour leader of the snowboard men at the halfway point of the FTW, and French rider Margot Rozies is on top of snowboard women after her win in front of her home crowd in Chamonix.
Other competitors are feeling the pressure, however. There are no guaranteed spots for the final in Verbier, and everyone is vying for a bib to compete on the renowned Bec de Roses venue in Switzerland. So, look for a high level of skiing and riding today in Kirkwood, and at the subsequent stop in Fieberbrunn, Austria in early March, as competitors are working to solidify invites to Verbier.
CLICK HERE to watch today’s event live. The action gets underway at 9 a.m. PST as the ski women drop in. - Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 113
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Krikwood FWT venue Krikwood FWT venue
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:Krikwood FWT venue
- 3 months ago
- Views: 98
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Clif Bar Daily Feed - Feb 25 w Clif Bar Daily Feed - Feb 25 with Sean Collin
- From: freerideworldtour
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Description:
Sean Collin walks us through his preparation for FWT 13 at Kirkwood Mountain Resort.
Watch More Freeride World Tour TV Videos - 3 months ago
- Views: 4
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Colin Stemper, Moonlight Basin Colin Stemper, Moonlight Basin FWT qualifier. Photo: Colton Stiffler
- From: patclayton
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Description:Colin Stemper, Moonlight Basin FWT qualifier. Photo: Colton Stiffler
- 3 months ago
- Views: 124
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From Start To Finish: Sequence From Start To Finish: Sequences
- From: patclayton
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Description:
Sequences capture the flow and imagination of the riders, a hybrid between filming and stills. These shots capture it from start to finish.
Shane Cottom, Bridger Bowl Photo: Patrick Clayton
Blair Elliot, Big Sky Photo: Colton Stiffler
Forrest Cole charging the fouth class like a boss Photo: Colton Stiffler
Shane Cottom, 4th virtue, Bridger Bowl, Photo: Patrick Clayton
Austin Trimback, over a ravine, Teton Pass, Photo: Colton Stiffler
Jed Donnelly cooling off, Gallatin River, Photo: Colton Stiffler
Ryan Kemp, Moonlight Basin backcountry, Photo: Colton Stiffler
Chris Bangs, Human Powered Mountaineers, Cleo’s Hyalite Canyon, Photo: Patrick Clayton
Pete Costanti not letting being in his 30s slow him down. A check off the bucket list, Baker road gap, Photo: Colton Stiffler
Shane Cottom, Cream Jeans, The Ridge, Bridger Bowl, Montana Photo: Patrick Clayton
Shane Cottom, Slushman’s airtime Photo: Patrick Clayton
Kelsey Boleski, Bridger Bowl, Montana, Photo: Patrick Clayton
On the deck; p30 Neptune painting houses red in Paradise Valley, Montana. Calm mind and nerves of steel into 45 mph gusts, one bad mofo pilot sticking his line. Photo: Patrick Clayton
Eagle: Colton Stiffler Osprey: Patrick Clayton
Kyle Taylor hot and fast off the top, winning the Moonlight Basin comp Photo: Patrick Clayton
Colin Stemper, Moonlight Basin FWT qualifier. Photo: Colton Stiffler
Orion Helms in the crazies. Photo: Patrick Clayton
Thomas Brown, front flip 180 Photo: Colton Stiffler
Long and convoluted, consequential and intense. These are the lines sequences best do them justice. Places where the focus must remain as intense 6 or 8 seconds in as it was on the lip. Things comin’ at mach speed, maybe the place you wanted to be was a few feet over there or the snow wasn’t quite what you expected. The mind must calm as you slip deeper into the zone or else the last half goes bad at speed. Anjen Herndon sticks it on Big T falls. Photo: Patrick Clayton
Shane Cottom above the inversion, Bridger Bowl, Montana Photo: Patrick Clayton
Jed Donnelly finds the takeoff and landing Photo: Colton Stiffler
Photography is fun, shop for your next DSLR camera at Amazon.com
Thanks to : Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, Jed Donnelly, Colin Stemper, Blair Elliot, Thomas Brown, Austin Trimbach, Pete Costanti, Forrest Cole, Kelsey Boleski, Shane Cottom, Anjen Herndon, Orion Helms, Kyle Taylor, Human Powered mountaineers, Chris Bangs, the pilot, and the birds….
Photos by:
Colton Stiffler: www.coltonstifflerphotography.com
And
Patrick Clayton:www.fisheyeguyphotography.com - Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 180
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Video: Freeskier Sverre Lilieq Video: Freeskier Sverre Liliequist Does A Back Flip While Out-Skiing An Avalanche
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
This is insane. Freeskier Sverre Liliequist does a back flip while out-skiing an avalanche during the Swatch Skiers Cup in Zermatt, Switzerland.The FWT requires all athletes to ride with their own avalanche rescue gear and safety devises. Avalanche Safety gear is currently on sale from http://www.backcountry.com/avalanche-safety
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 338
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Markus Eder - The FWT Journal Markus Eder - The FWT Journal
- From: freerideworldtour
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Description:
Markus Eder discusses the influence of freestyle in the freeride competition now. Call it freeski?
Watch More Freeride World Tour Videos - 4 months ago
- Views: 7
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Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Win FWT Stop No. 3 In Chamonix
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
The venue for the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face in Chamonix, France.
The third stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face took place in Chamonix, France last weekend. The field of men made the short trip to the French side of the Mont Blanc after the second stop in Courmayeur, Italy, and the female competitors met for the second time this season after competing on “Mac Daddy” in Revelstoke, Canada.
Drew Tabke airs into his line. Photo by D. Daher.
The North Face of the Aiguille Pourrie served as the venue for the comp. From the start gate at 2,400-meters, athletes had a handful of options to lace together a line that fit their style of skiing. A lot of the ski men opted for the ridge run skier’s right out of the start gate. With a big natural air on the ridge and playful hips or techy chutes lower down, the skier’s right side of the venue saw a lot of traffic. Directly falline of the start gate was an exposed and high-consequence zone of pepper, tight skiing, and the biggest air on the venue—that Canadian Laurent Gauthier dropped, found a perfect tranny, put the 50-plus footer to the bolts, and earned a top-ten spot for his efforts. And, if competitor’s ventured a little skier’s left and then fallline from the start gate they got to boost a large entry-air cornice and then have their choice of hips, chutes, and side-airs to play with.
Men's ski podium: 1. Drew Tabke (USA) 91.67 2. Fabio Studer (AUT) 87.00 3. Willie Lindberg (SWE) 84.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
In the end, the winning line was hidden in left side over the venue, and it took Drew Tabke to find it and stomp it. Tabke, now the overall tour leader halfway through the season, linked a creative line from the top entry air via the cornice, finding a lofty natural hip that sent him about 60 feet into a chute, and then capping the run off with a sleepy three on the bottom portion of the venue. Tabke’s creativity and blend of big-mountain charging and trickery was rewarded by the judges with a score of 91.67, the highest score dolled out to any competitor on the day.
In second place, Austrian Fabio Studer opted for the ridge on the skier’s right ridge. Studer put on a clinic stomping a hand-drag 360 off of the large natural air on the ridge then unleashing a cork 720 into an exposed section, and drawing aggressive fallline turns through the gnar. And, in third place, Sweden’s Willie Lindberg took the right-hand approach. Lindberg’s high-speed, full-throttle line included a large air into the lower chute, and then finding a keyhole exit into the Cham chunder fields.
Men’s Snowboard podium: (Top 10) 1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 90.33 2. Ralph Backstrom (USA) 88.00 3. Sammy Luebke (USA) 76.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard. 
Jonathan Charlet. Photo by Phillip Field. 
Ralph Backstrom in Chamonix. Photo by D. Daher.
On the men’s snowboard side, French rider and 2012 FWT Overall Snowboard Champ Jonathan Charlet took the win in front of his home country’s fans. Charlet blasted two features up top, found pow on a ramp rider’s right, and exited off the ramp with a big air on the bottom. TGR’s own Ralph Backstrom came in second place, landing on the podium again after winning the Revy comp, and earning the overall leader position going into the fourth stop of the season. And, Sammy Luebke snagged the third spot on the podium for men’s snowboard.
Women’s Ski podium: 1. Christine Hargin (SWE) 80.00 2. Nadine Wallner (AUT) 72.33 3. Pia Nic Gunderson (NOR) 70.67. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
Overall 2012 Champion Christine Hargin, of Ramundberget, Sweden, is putting together a serious bid for a repeat as World Champ after winning in the ski women’s comp in Cham. Hargin’s score of an even 80 was almost eight points higher than runner-up Nadine Wallner, of Austria, who scored a 72.33 to take second. Hargin’s back-to-back wins in Revy and Chamonix were done in similar fashion: strong, fast, athletic, and aggressive. Norway’s Pia Nic Gunderson came in third.
Women’s Snowboard podium: 1. Laura Dewey (USA) 70.00 2. Margot Rozies (FRA) 69.00 3. Aline Bock (GER) 57.33. Photo by Jeremy Bernard.
And, Snowbird’s Laura Dewey battled through a string of bad luck traveling—Dewey arrived in Chamonix less than 24 hours before dropping in to compete on borrowed gear because of lost luggage—to earn the victory in women’s snowboard. French rider Margot Rozies took second, the same result she had in Revy. Rozies’s consistent presence on the podium so far means she’s the current tour leader after two stops. And, in third place was German rider Aline Bock.
After two big-mountain comps on the Italian and French sides of the Month Blanc that were as good as it gets, the FWT says “au revoir” to the Alps. The next stop will be stateside at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and is scheduled to go down February 27 in Kirkwood’s famed Cirque. Drew Tabke and Christine Hargin, Ralph Backstrom and Margot Rozies will be bedecked in the yellow bibs that denote the current overall tour leaders when the action gets going again in Kirkwood.
Stay tuned for more FWT coverage.
Men’s Ski Results (Top 10)
1. Drew Tabke (USA) 91.67
2. Fabio Studer (AUT) 87.00
3. Willie Lindberg (SWE) 84.33
4. Reine Barkered (SWE) 83.33
5. Julien Lopez (FRA) 82.67
6. Oakley White-Allen (USA) 81.00
7. Jérémie Heitz (SUI) 73.00
8. Charlie Lyons (NZL) 72.67
9. Laurent Gauthier (CAN) 71.33
10. Samuel Anthamatten (SUI) 69.67
Men’s Snowboard Results (Top 10)
1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 90.33
2. Ralph Backstrom (USA) 88.00
3. Sammy Luebke (USA) 76.33
4. Irian Van Helfteren (NED) 71.67
5. Flo Orley (AUT) 69.67
6. Emilien Badoux (SUI) 67.33
7. Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA) 66.33)
8. Tim Carlson (USA) 61.33
9. Jamie Rizzuto (CAN) 60.33
10. Xavier de Le Rue (FRA) 42.67
Women’s Ski Results (Top 10)
1. Christine Hargin (SWE) 80.00
2. Nadine Wallner (AUT) 72.33
3. Pia Nic Gunderson (NOR) 70.67
4. Lorraine Huber (AUT) 69.33
5. Crystal Wright (USA) 64.00
6. Anne May Slinning (NOR) 61.33
7. Ashley Maxfield (USA) 55.00
8. Jess McMillan (USA) 40.00
9. Natalie Segal (AUS) 23.67
10. Jacklyn Paason (USA) 16.67
Women’s Snowboard Results (Top 7)
1. Laura Dewey (USA) 70.00
2. Margot Rozies (FRA) 69.00
3. Aline Bock (GER) 57.33
4. Casey Lucas (USA) 55.67
5. Elodie Mouthon (FRA) 53.67
6. Anouck Mouthon (FRA) 52.00
7. Iris Lazzareschi (SAU) 38.00 - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 117
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Women Snowboard Podium FWT Cha Women Snowboard Podium FWT Chamonix 2013
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:Women Snowboard Podium FWT Chamonix 2013
- 4 months ago
- Views: 78
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Women Ski Podium FWT Chamonix Women Ski Podium FWT Chamonix 2013
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:Women Ski Podium FWT Chamonix 2013
- 4 months ago
- Views: 86
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Jackie Paaso - The FWT Journal Jackie Paaso - The FWT Journal
- From: freerideworldtour
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Description:
Meeting with Jackie Paaso, talking about her past season and the current one.
Watch More Freeride World Tour TV Videos - 4 months ago
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Freeride World Tour Heads To C Freeride World Tour Heads To Chamonix For Stop No. 3
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:The Swatch Freeride World Tour By The North Face venue in Chamonix, France.
The third stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face will go down on Saturday, January 26, in Chamonix, France. And, as has been the fortunate circumstance of the newly unified FWT so far this season, Chamonix’s conditions and terrain are primed for a great show.
The Alps will have hosted the second and third stops of the Freeride World Tour, with stops on the Italian and French sides of the Mont Blanc in Courmayeur and Chamonix. Prior to settling down in the French hub of freeriding, the second stop of the FWT went down last week on the rocky and steep venue in Courmayeur. The male field of ski and snowboard competitors battled it out during the event in Italy.
A recap video of FWT stop No. 2 in Courmayeur, Italy.
Courmayeur recap:
With deep pow underfoot, blue skies over head, the south side of the Mont Blanc as the backdrop, and Courmayeur’s gnarly 1,200-foot Tête d’Arp as the venue, the male competitors—33 skiers and 15 riders—laid it down. The Tête d’Arp terrain offered something for every approach to competitive big-mountain skiing and riding. With a technical, rocky top section out of the start gate, a playful mini-golf zone down the ridge, and steep chutes to air into and link up, the venue allowed for full-tilt chargers and park-inspired jibbers to do their thing.
In the end, Italian big-mountain-jibber Markus Eder posted the highest score of the day in front of his home crowd. Eder opted for the playful mini-golf zone off the ridge and laced high-speed turns before lofting a huge, sleepy, left-side three in an exposed section. Eder managed to throw a backie and make some switch pow turns, too. His blend of big-mountain blasting up high and playful tricks on the lower portion earned him a score of 89.67 and the top spot with the men.
“I’m stoked with my line,” said Eder. “I hoped to be on the podium but to win is really fantastic.”
Swiss skier Jérémie Heitz has gotten comfortable on the podium this season, with consecutive second place finishes at the first two stops of the FWT. The consistent skiing from Heitz means he’ll be donning the yellow jersey in Chamonix, which denotes the overall tour leader. Heitz is quickly making a name for himself for his charging, fall-line approach and patented high-speed doubles. So far, Heitz’s insanely fast runs have left spectators spinning and has forced judges to go back to a replay because both of his technical runs have taken place in a flash.
Sweden’s Reine Barkered, last year’s overall FWT Champion, rounded out the skiing podium in Italy. Other highlights included Julien Lopez’s all-or-nothing approach. Lopez was the last skier to drop into Tête d’Arp, and rather than playing it safe and keeping his line to his feet, the “Flying Frenchman” pointed ’em. Unfortunately, Lopez lost control and took about 10 high-speed tomahawks down about 300-vertical-feet of the venue; fortunately, Lopez didn’t bang himself up and walked away to collect his “yard-saled” gear. (Check out the footage of Lopez’s crash; it’s full-on!)
On the snowboard side, Frenchman Aurélien Routens snagged his first FWT win ever. Routens nuked through the venue with a fast, clean run that included a few exposed airs at the top steep section. Routens capped off the winning run with a sick straight line at the bottom, earning a score of 83.67.
“It’s very emotional for me to win here,” said Routens. “It’s the first time I take the first step of the podium at a FWT stop. I was just riding as I am used to ride in my hometown La Grave. It’s a nice surprise and I am super happy.”
Jackson Hole’s John Rodosky’s creative line garnered him a second place finish with a score of 78.67. Rodosky found a handful of cool natural terrain features to throw his freestyle tricks. Swiss Emilien rounded out the Snowboard podium.
The Swatch Freeride World Tour By The North Face Stop No. 3 preview video.
Chamonix preview:
Now, after the short commute through the Mont Blanc Tunnel—or the ski to Chamonix via the world-renowned Vallée Blanche that a few athletes opted for to get from Courmayeur, Italy to downtown Chamonix, France—the field of male skiers and riders have met up with the female competitors for this weekend’s comp in Cham.
The third event will go down on Saturday, January 26 and there will be a live feed of the contest on TetonGravity.com. Due to snow conditions, the FWT had to change the venue to La Flégère at the top of the Index lift. And, the venue looks sweet.
On the men’s skiing side, you always have to tune in to watch Tabke, Chamonix local and past champ Aurélien Ducroz, Sweden’s Reine Barkered, and New Zealand’s Sam Smoothy. But, a few other names to take note of are current obviously overall FWT leader Jérémie Heitz, American skier Lars Chickering-Ayers, Zermat-based mountain guide/pro skier Sam Anthamatten, and Utah’s Oakley White Allen; all four bring a similar fall-line strategy to the Chamonix venue that could easily be rewarded by the judges—if they stay upright.
Jackson Hole’s longtime competitive skier Jess McMillan has made the trip to Cham to compete against reigning FWT overall champion Christine Hargin, and the rest of the women’s field. (I’d bet the house on McMillan, she’s talented, strong, and a seasoned competitive skier.)
You’d be a fool to overlook Chamonix local Xavier de Le Rue and Squaw’s Ralph Backstrom during the Men’s Snowboard contest. Both have had a lot of success in Chamonix and could be interchangeable atop the podium if they stand their lines up. Lastly, Margot Rozies and Elodie Mouthon—the two women from France that finished second and third, respectively, in Revy—are ready to represent their country in Cham when Saturday’s event gets going.
CLICK HERE to watch the event live on Saturday Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. CET (that's 1 a.m. MST).
And, check out the #FWT13 hashtag on Twitter for updates. - Blog post
- 4 months ago
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Chamonix Locals - The FWT Jour Chamonix Locals - The FWT Journal
- From: freerideworldtour
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Description:
Have a drink with the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc locals: Jonathan Douds Charlet, Aurélien Ducroz and Léo Slemett have a drink together and discuss about the contest.
Watch More Freeride World Tour Videos - 4 months ago
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Drew Tabke - The FWT Journal Drew Tabke - The FWT Journal
- From: freerideworldtour
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Description:
Drew Tabke, actual leader of the ski competition talks about his really good beginning of the season before entering Courmayeur Mont Blanc contest.
Watch More Freeride World Tour TV Videos - 4 months ago
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News: Markus Eder And Aurélien News: Markus Eder And Aurélien Routens Win At Freeride World Tour Courmayeur Mont Blanc
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
At the second stop of the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® (FWT), the international field of elite athletes threw down a spectacular show combining big mountain charging with impressive tricks on the “Tête d’Arp”, never ridden in competition before.
With the south side of Mont Blanc as the perfect backdrop, a bluebird day with fresh powder greeted the strong line up of 33 skiers and 15 snowboarders at the men’s only competition. The athletes enjoyed the great conditions and showed their top skills on the north face of Tête d’Arp. Excitement filled the air as no one had ridden the face in competition before. Riders described the top section as steep, 45 degrees big mountain style, and the lower part giving various options for more playful riding and multiple airs. Any style of riding could take victory at this interesting venue.
Italy’s Markus Eder clinched the skiers’ win with a score of 89.67 points, executing the most playful run of the day. As a late start number Eder chose a unique line entry, skiing down the ridge before hitting the steep face in controlled high-speed big mountain style. He then impressed the judges with an arsenal of tricks on the second half of the venue, pulling off a backflip, a huge left side 360 and even riding switch. On his first year on the tour, young Eder was definitely the biggest crowd pleaser of the day on home turf. “I’m stoked with my line,” said Markus Eder. “I didn’t expect to win as I did a little mistake on my backflip. I hoped to be on the podium but to win is really fantastic.”
Swiss Jérémie Heitz managed to repeat his performance in Revelstoke, Canada and claim the second podium spot with a hard charging big mountain line, giving him the score of 86.0 points. Heitz probably had the fastest run of the day. Third place finisher and reigning world champion Reine Barkered of Sweden, also skied full throttle, typical Reine style, mixing big air and fast riding, scoring 81.0 points.
Aurélien Routens of France was rewarded his first ever FWT win in the snowboard competition. Routens scored 83.67 points on a high speed run, with clean riding and solid airs at the exposed top steep section and finishing off with an impressive straight line.
John Rodosky, USA, took a well deserved second, scoring 78.67 points, riding creatively and bringing numerous solid freestyle tricks into the backcountry. Swiss Emilien Badoux chose a good line all the way through and hitting a nice backside 360 in the midsection, earning the third podium spot with a score of 76.0 points.
“For a third consecutive year we have had perfect conditions and an amazing playground here in Courmayeur on the south side of Mont Blanc,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, FWT General Manager Europe. “The upcoming weekend the athletes will cross the tunnel and take on the north side of Mont Blanc in Chamonix.”
After two out of six events, Jérémie Heitz is leading Men’s Ski overall with two second podium spots. Today’s winner Aurélien Routens is leading Men’s Snowboard with the win and a third place in Revelstoke, Canada.
The women will join the men for the third event in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc on January 26th.
Click Here For Men's Ski And Snowboard Official Results
Xavier De Le Rue scoping out a line at Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Photo by J Bernard. - Blog post
- 4 months ago
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Freeride World Tour Goes Off I Freeride World Tour Goes Off In Revelstoke
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
Ski and snowboard athletes put on a show on Mackenzine Face at Revelstoke Mountain Resort during stop No. 1 of the Freeride World Tour. Photo by B. Long.Words by Greg Fitzsimmons
The first stop of the newly structured Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face went down last Friday in a serious way. After waiting four days on a weather hold because of slow-moving storm that dropped 3 feet of snow on Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s 1,600-foot “Mac Daddy” face, 60-plus athletes from all over the world competed in men’s and women’s skiing and snowboarding.
With it all said and done, TGR’s Ralph Backstrom made a statement in men’s snowboarding, perennial podium-finisher Drew Tabke posted the day’s highest score en route to winning the men’s skiing title, Sweden’s Christine Hargin built on the momentum from last year’s overall FWT title with a win in women’s skiing, and Snowbird-based ripper Shannon Yates took home the hardware in women’s snowboarding.
It was clear from the first few men’s snowboarders to drop in on “Mac Daddy” that the conditions were no joke. Rider-triggered sluff exposed pepper on the skier’s right and skier’s left sides of the venue. But, creative competitors were able to find blower snow in zones unaffected by the slide activity.
Ralph Backstrom rages down "Mac Daddy" face on his way to win the first stop of the Freeride World Tour. Photo by B. Long.
Backstrom’s line perfectly exemplifies the creative approach to riding that had fans of “The Dream Factory” lauding his TGR segment and talking about his aggressive, full-on style. Being the penultimate snowboarder to drop in, Backstrom was able to observe a bit of the action before sliding into the start gate. Backstrom opted for a line on the skier’s left portion of the venue, and laced a high-speed triple drop before arching fast pow-turns through the trees on the bottom half of “Mac Daddy.” From the airs to the carefully dissected tree-line, Backstrom’s line was fluid, fast, and looked fun.
“I was a little nervous we wouldn’t have good light conditions after the past few days but was so excited to have bluebird skies,” explained Ralph Backstrom. “The super steep pitch of ‘Mac Daddy’ makes it difficult not to go over the handle bars when landing jumps. I really like the big features that exist on this terrain.”
Backstrom’s line earned him a score of 89.33, 10 points higher than runner-up Ludovic Guillot-Diat. La Grave’s Aurelien Routens rounded out the podium.
The field of men’s skiers dropped in next and the level of skiing on display in British Columbia was full-on. A lot of the chatter leading up to the comp centered around the “two dramatically different options” for line choices with the skier’s left lines described as “playful and flowy” and the skier’s right being “more gnarly and exposed, it’s traditional big-mountain skiing,” said longtime competitor Griffin Post prior to the event. No one took into account the direct fall-line approach that eventually earned Drew Tabke a mind-blowing score of 91 and a spot atop the podium.
The entire field of men’s skiers headed either right—runner-up Jeremie Heitz blasted through huge double at mock-speed in the exposed skier’s right zone—or left—third place finisher Julien Lopez skied a clean and controlled version of the triple that Backstrom rode on the skier’s left side of “Mac Daddy.” However, Tabke prospected an untouched line close to the gut of the venue, en route to posting the day’s highest score.
“When you look at the full image of ‘Mac Daddy’ face you see that if you go left your options for features ends pretty early and if you go right you have to traverse out,” says Tabke. “So, skiing the middle caught my eye. The line where I went was the most pure fall-line approach to the venue that still holds pow [and doesn’t slide].”
Along with the pow that Tabke was able to track up, his winning line included four distinct airs. “That exit air was the missing piece to my line,” says Tabke. “Once I found that air I moved uphill to connect the rest of the line. You can’t hit the first feature I hit and still get far left or far right. I think that top air is the best feature on the venue, but no one can hit it if you’re heading to the left or right. So, by choosing to do the last section I was able to get the top feature, too.”
Johnny Collinson spins a 360 at Revelstoke. Photo by J.ANTONIUK.
Aside from the top three men (Tabke, Heitz, and Lopex, respectively), Johnny Collinson’s line had everyone buzzing—in Revy and online. Collinson found a massive air on the skier’s right side of “Mac Daddy” and spun a sleepy three off of the downward takeoff. Despite augering in the landing, Collinson’s blend of big-mountain and freestyle skiing warrants mention.
On the women’s side, the female skiers and riders inherited a beat-up, sluffed-out, and debris-riddled venue after the men hammered “Mac Daddy.” The scores on the women’s side reflected the difficult conditions, with four of the 10 female skiers earning 40+ points. Defending FWT Champion, Christine Hargin, of Sweden, earned the win with a 65, followed by Norwegian Nadine Wallner and Aussie Nat Segal, respectively.
Shannon Yates stomped two airs and stayed on her feet to win the women’s snowboarding title, with French riders Margot Rozies in second and Elodie Mouthon in third.
Now, athletes are headed to the Alps for the second and third stops of the Freeride World Tour, with stops on the Italian and French sides of the Mont Blanc in Courmayeur and Chamonix. Italy’s Courmayeur hosts the second comp of the year on January 19th. CLICK HERE for the complete FWT schedule, and check back with TGR throughout the season for full coverage of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face.
Men's ski podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Men's Ski Results
1. Drew Tabke, 91.00
2. Jeremie Heitz, 79.67
3. Julien Lopez, 73.00
4. Laurent Gauthier, 72.00
5. Charlie Lyons, 70.33
6. Griffin Post, 68.33
7. Sam Smoothy, 66.33
8. Nicolas Salencon, 62.33
9. Markus Eder, 59.00
10. Wille Lindberg, 56.33
Men's snowboard podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Men's Snowboard Results
1. Ralph Backstrom, 89.33
2. Ludovic Guillot-Diat, 79.33
3. Aurelien Routens, 74.33
4. Tim Carlson, 70.33
5. Emilien Badoux, 63.67
6. Matt Annetts, 59.00
7. Joel Rouge, 54.67
8. John Rodosky, 53.67
9. Irian Van Helfteren, 44.67
10. Sammy Luebke, 41.67
Women's ski podium. Photo by B. Long.
Women's Ski Results
1. Christine Hargin, 65.00
2. Nadine Wallner, 58.00
3. Natalie Segal, 53.33
4. Pia Nic Gundersen, 40.33
5. Ashley Maxfield, 12.00
Women's snowboard podium. Photo by R. SIHLIS.
Women's Snowboard Results
1. Shannan Yates, 63.33
2. Margot Rozies, 58.00
3. Elodie Mouthon, 54.67
4. Casey Lucas, 50.33
5. Iris Lazzereschi, 43.00
6. Aline Bock, 40.67
7. Laura Dewey, 35.67
8. Anouck Mouthon, 33.33 - Blog post
- 4 months ago
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