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93 Search Results for "swatch"

  • Best of Xtreme Verbier - Freer Best of Xtreme Verbier - Freeride World Tour Finals

  • Teaser Xtreme Verbier - Freeri Teaser Xtreme Verbier - Freeride World Tour Finals

  • Best of Fieberbrunn PillerseeT Best of Fieberbrunn PillerseeTal - Freeride World Tour 2013

    • From: freerideworldtour
    • Description:

      Highlights reel of the Swatch Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal 2013 by The North Face® that took place Saturday March 16 2013.

      Watch Freeride World Tour Videos

    • 2 months ago
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  • Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal Tease Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal Teaser - Freeride World Tour TV

    • From: freerideworldtour
    • Description:

      The SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® comes to Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal next Saturday, March 9 2013, for the fifth stop of the 2013 Tour. Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal is the last chance for riders to qualify to the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® finals, the Xtreme Verbier, next 23rd March.

      Watch More Freeride World Tour TV Videos

       

    • 2 months ago
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  • Kirkwood Competition Highlight Kirkwood Competition Highlights - Freeride World Tour TV

  • Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, Chickering-Ayers, Paaso, Bell, And Rozies Win FWT In Kirkwood

    • From: gregfitzsimmons
    • Description:


      Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face Kirkwood Venue
      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.

      Lars Chickering-Ayers in Kirkwood
      “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.

      Women's Ski Podium at Kirkwood
      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.

      Mens Snowboard Podium FWT Kirkwood
      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.”

      Women's Snowboard Podium Kirkwood
      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) 3435.00

      Staying at Kirkwood is the way to go, sure beats driving from South Lake Tahoe.  Book your next Kirkwood vacation pacakge at: http://mountainreservations.com

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  • Swatch Freeride World Tour by Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face Kirkwood Venue

    • From: gregfitzsimmons
    • Description:
      Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face Kirkwood Venue
    • 3 months ago
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  • Kirkwood Hosts Stop No. 4 Of F Kirkwood Hosts Stop No. 4 Of Freeride World Tour

    • From: gregfitzsimmons
    • Description:

      Kirkwood Venue With Text

      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 Fitzsimmons

      The 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.”

      Krikwood FWT 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.

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  • Video: Freeskier Sverre Lilieq Video: Freeskier Sverre Liliequist Does A Back Flip While Out-Skiing An Avalanche

    • From: TetonGravityResearch
    • 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

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    • 3 months ago
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  • News: Team Europe Takes Top Ho News: Team Europe Takes Top Honors At Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 In Zermatt

    • From: TetonGravityResearch
    • Description:

      Skiers Cup
      Zermatt, Switzerland - Team Europe took the SWATCH SKIERS CUP trophy back from defending champions Team Americas today, with a masterful team performance on the Backcountry Slopestyle course. Today’s 10 – 6 win follows their victory on Big Mountain Freeride day, making Team Europe the event champions with a final score of 21 – 11.
       
      A crisp, sunny day greeted spectators and competitors as they emerged from Zermatt’s spectacular Gornergrat Bahn ski train. Riders found the competition face in perfect condition, with 20cm of untouched powder blanketing the venue. The top section of the course featured steep, freeride-style terrain, while the middle and lower sections were filled with hand-sculpted jumps, with the riders taking full advantage of the variety of possible lines and airs.
       
      Team Europe’s Fabio Studer (AUT) had the standout run of the day, entering the course with a switch cork 540 (taking off backwards with one and a half off-axis rotations) off the ridge, drawing cheers from the large crowd as he flashed effortlessly through a hidden couloir, before finishing with a flawless cork 720.
       
      Sverre Liliequist (SWE) kept his momentum from Big Mountain day going with a creative double cliff drop to backflip and a huge double front flip attempt. “Even though Slopestyle isn’t my strength, it doesn’t make me nervous to give it my best try. I know I’m stretching my abilities super far, but the features are very safe and the vibe here is so encouraging that it creates the perfect environment to push your comfort level,” said Liliequist.
       
      Team Americas laid down standout performances as well. Rory Bushfield (CAN) skied an extra run to replace the injured Tim Dutton (USA), nailing all three of his super technical, stylish lines. The last competitor of the day, Charlie Ager (CAN), nearly pulled off a switch landing on his cork 900 in the deep powder of the final jump.

      Skiers Cup Booter
      The successful week in Zermatt points to a bright future for the SWATCH SKIERS CUP. “Bringing together 16 of the best riders in Big Mountain and Backcountry Slopestyle has proved to be a winning combination and I’m pleased to be able to announce today that the event will go on. Thanks to our key partner SWATCH, we’re looking forward for the next two editions which are confirmed,” said head event organizers Nicolas Hale-Woods.
       
      The two captains for the 2014 SWATCH SKIERS CUP have just been confirmed, with legendary riders Julien Regnier (FRA) to lead Team Europe, and JP Auclair (CAN) to head Team Americas. Look for the host resort of the next edition to be announced soon on www.swatchskierscup.com.
       
      Today's Quotes:

      “For my second run, I knew we were out of reach of getting the trophy, with no mathematical way to win. So at that point I told the boys to just go have fun, and for myself, I decided to give this crowd a show and go for my double cork 1080. The rotation was right on but I just went a little, ok, a lot too big. But it was just so much fun.
      After that epic Big Mountain day, and then to top it off with today? I mean, it was honestly one of the greatest contests I’ve ever seen.” Cody Townsend (USA) – Team Americas Captain
       
      “We deal with huge challenges to make this event happen. Putting in tons of work on the jumps, and the safety protocols, and judging, and then hoping mother nature cooperates. It’s a job, but I love it, and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
      Julien Regnier (FRA), jump shaper and judge.

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  • News: Team Europe Leads Swatch News: Team Europe Leads Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 After Big Mountain Competition

    • From: TetonGravityResearch
    • Description:

      Skiers Cup photo 2013

      Zermatt, Switzerland -​ After the first day of competition at the SWATCH SKIERS CUP, Team Europe emerged with a commanding 11 – 5 lead over Team Americas, with Sunday’s Big Mountain event held on a heli-accessed face high in the peaks above Zermatt, Switzerland.

      The 2012-2013 winter has been full of snow in this part of the Alps, and deep, fresh snow coated the impressive venue. Organizers have just confirmed that the second day of competition will be held on Thursday, February 14, at Breitboden (Zermatt ski area) at 9 a.m. for the Backcountry slopestyle. Contest is accessible for the public from the slopes.
       
      “The venue we have for Backcountry Slopestyle is ideal – really good terrain for a variety of jumps and the incredible backdrop of Zermatt,” said head jump shaper and event judge Julien Regnier.


       

      Big mountain contest recap:

      The competitors had two runs each, one on each half of the venue. The conditions resulted in descents not typically seen in big mountain freeride competitions. The snow was so deep some competitors struggled to find enough speed to hit features and jumps as planned.
       
      Standout runs came from riders who took a higher speed, less technical approach, like Chamonix local Sam Favret. His runs had few airs – instead he shredded the snow spines and walls at full bore.

      “I’m influenced by snowboarding and skating, and I was really inspired by today’s venue to bring that surf style to the big mountain,” said Favret.
       
      Other highlights included Team America’s Tim Dutton nearly landing a huge double backflip, coming up the slightest bit short for the landing. Sverre Liliequist triggered a small windslab avalanche near the end of his run yet went on to stomp a backflip off his final air, skiing away with the slide at the tails of his skis.

      “I haven’t done a backflip since the first SKIERS CUP in Chile in 2011,” laughed Liliequist, “that felt so good!”

      Shop for Swatch watches while supporting TGR at http://amazon.com

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  • Masters of Snowboarding 2013 T Masters of Snowboarding 2013 Teaser - The North Face

    • From: thenorthface
    • Description:

      The North Face Masters of Snowboarding presented by PrimaLoft will take place February 14-17, 2013 at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, California. The event will feature top big mountain snowboard competitors battling for The North Face Masters of Snowboarding champion title, $15,000 in prize money and a chance to advance to the 2014 SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

      Watch More Videos By The North Face

       

    • 3 months ago
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  • News: Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 K News: Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 Kicks Off February 10

    • From: TetonGravityResearch
    • Description:



      Zermatt, Switzerland — The wait is over — the SWATCH SKIERS CUP kicks off this Sunday in Zermatt, Switzerland!
       
      The eighth and final riders for each team have just been announced. Team Americas captain Cody Townsend picked Squaw Valley, USA local Greg Lindsey. Team Europe captain Kaj Zackrisson chose recent winner of the Red Bull Linecatcher event and Chamonix local Sam Favret.
       
      The event crew promises a top notch show. Julien Regnier is the master jump shaper for the Backcountry Slopestyle discipline, and will also judge the event along with Ben Murphy and Mike Rogge. Zermatt local, Freeride World Tour standout, and SWATCH Proteam rider Samuel Anthamatten is the event's head guide. He'll be responsible for selecting venues, managing safety, and getting the riders to the best snow and terrain that Zermatt has to offer.
       
      Watch the fun and rivalry unfold at swatchskierscup.com

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  • Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Tabke, Charlet, Hargin, Dewey Win FWT Stop No. 3 In Chamonix

    • From: gregfitzsimmons
    • Description:

      Chamonix Venue at Freeride World Tour 2013The 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 entry airDrew 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.

      M Ski Podium by Jeremy BernardMen'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.

      Mens snowboard podium by Jeremy BernardMen’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 CharletJonathan Charlet. Photo by Phillip Field.

      Ralph Backstrom in Chamonix by D. DaherRalph 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 Ski Podium FWT Chamonix 2013Women’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 Snowboard Podium FWT Chamonix 2013Women’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
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  • Chamonix Mont Blanc Highlights Chamonix Mont Blanc Highlights - Freeride World Tour 2013

  • Freeride World Tour Heads To C Freeride World Tour Heads To Chamonix For Stop No. 3

    • From: gregfitzsimmons
    • Description:

      Chamonix Venue at Freeride World Tour 2013The 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.

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  • Welcome To Chamonix Mont Blanc Welcome To Chamonix Mont Blanc - Freeride World Tour 2013

  • Welcome to Courmayeur - Freeri Welcome to Courmayeur - Freeride World Tour 2013 - The North Face

  • Best of Courmayeur Mont Blanc Best of Courmayeur Mont Blanc - Freeride World Tour 2013

  • News: Markus Eder And Aurélien News: Markus Eder And Aurélien Routens Win At Freeride World Tour Courmayeur Mont Blanc

    • From: TetonGravityResearch
    • Description:

      Courmayeur Mont Blanc, ItalyAt 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

      Courmayeur Mont Blanc
      Xavier De Le Rue scoping out a line at Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Photo by J Bernard.

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