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Freeride World Tour Stops Announced

J Dogg — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:58:48 -0400

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Four locations around the world have been selected for the second edition of the Freeride World Tour. On top of it, qualification events have joined as Freeride World Qualifier events making the Tour even more attractive, with more events and more riders. The planet's top freeride skiers and snowboarders will start in Sochi with the Nissan Russian Adventure 2009 and then travel to the USA, France and Switzerland to prove their skills on some of the world's most challenging faces. The Freeride World Tour has a prize purse of $250,000, the highest sum ever to be paid in ski or snowboard freeride contests. On March 15, 2008, the first ever edition of the Freeride World Tour (FWT) was completed after five successful events around the globe, finishing with the prestigious Nissan O'Neill Xtreme in Verbier, Switzerland. Elyse Saugstad (USA) and Henrik Windstedt (SWE) in skiing, Ruth Leisibach (SUI) and Xavier de le Rue (FRA) in snowboarding became the first Freeride World Champions in history.

The Freeride World Tour is on for the second edition. The world best professional freeriders are back on the Tour and have all confirmed their participation. A number of 40 male and female riders plus wild cards are invited to the first three contests: Nissan Russian Adventure in Sochi (Russia), Nissan Tram Face in Squaw Valley (USA), and Nissan Freeride in Tignes (France). The final contest will take place in Switzerland with the Nissan Xtreme - Verbier 09, on the gruelling north face of the Bec des Rosses, one of the most challenging descents in the world of freeriding.

"It is great to see that the Tour will continue to its second year with all the top riders of last year’s edition present,” said Swedish skier Henrik Windstedt, the sensational Freeride World Tour Champion 2008. “With the high level of the athletes, the standard of the riding will if possible be even greater than last year. The Tour will also develop and grow to an even higher quality event, which is just great for the future of this sport", Windstedt further commented.

Founder and organiser Nicolas Hale-Woods (SUI) is very pleased with the progression of the Freeride World Tour to its second edition. “The fact that 100% of the top ranked riders from last year have confirmed their participation for this year is really a measurement of success for the Freeride World Tour. We feel that the progression of the sport is strong. With the extensive support of our main partner Nissan, new partners joining in and top resorts like Sochi, Squaw Valley USA, Tignes and Verbier hosting our contests, we are attracting more and more attention of the public, the media and the industry. ”

Jean-Pierre Diernaz, General Manager of Nissan’s Marketing Communications in Europe said, “As we prepare for the second year of Nissan’s commitment to the Freeride World Tour across Europe and North America, we are very excited by the addition of new Freeride World Qualifier events in countries including Italy, Slovakia and Norway. This will allow more athletes than ever before the opportunity to qualify for the four Nissan sponsored Tour events. Through these, we hope that the Freeride World Tour will uncover the next generation of male and female international skiers and snowboarders.”

In order to allow freeriders who are not qualified for the Freeride World Tour to participate and score points, the Pro Freeriders Board elected existing international events to be part of the Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ). The FWQ is a series of independently organised events around the world. Riders participating in those events collect points in the Freeride World Ranking (FWR), a unique ranking list for both FWT and FWQ events. Riders from the Freeride World Tour and the Qualifier will therefore climb up and down the ranking list throughout the season. Finally the three best results will count to score the 2009 Freeride World Champions who will be crowned in Verbier after the Xtreme.

Visit www.freerideworldtour.com

FOUR FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2009 EVENTS:

1. NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENTURE - SOCHI, RUSSIA
Dates: 20-25 JAN 2009, Preliminary contest day: Wednesday 21 January
40 riders qualified + wild cards:
- 15 males: 10 best of FWT08 + 4 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards
- 5 females: 2 best of FWT08 + 2 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards

2. NISSAN TRAM FACE - SQUAW VALLEY USA
Dates: 27 FEB-05 MAR 2009, Preliminary contest day: Saturday 28 February
40 riders qualified + wild cards:
- 15 males: 10 best of FWT08 + 4 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards
- 5 females: 2 best of FWT08 + 2 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards

3. NISSAN FREERIDE DE TIGNES, FRANCE
Dates: 8-14 March 2009, Preliminary contest day: Monday 9 March
40 riders qualified + wild cards:
- 15 males: 10 best of FWT08 + 4 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards
- 5 females: 2 best of FWT08 + 2 best of FWQ08 + 1 FWQ09 sister event* winner + wild cards

4. NISSAN XTREME - VERBIER 09, SWITZERLAND
Dates: 20-29 March 2009, Preliminary contest day: Saturday 21 March
22 riders qualified + wild cards:
- 8 best males on the FWR09 + wild cards
- 3 best females on the FWR09 + wild cards
The final entry list for the Nissan Xtreme - Verbier 09 will be announced at 4pm CET the day of the Nissan Freeride de Tignes

* Four of the FWQ events are called “sister events” and are directly linked to a FWT contest. The winner of each category of a sister event is automatically qualified for the FWT contest to which it is linked.

CONFIRMED FREERIDE WORLD QUALIFIER (FWO) EVENTS:
(additionnal events to be confirmed by October 15)

THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING - SNOWBIRD (USA), 30 January-1 February - Freeride World Qualifier, sister events of the Nissan Tram Face – Squaw Valley (USA)

SPYDER BIG MOUNTAIN FIEBERBRUNN (AUT), 5-15 February 2009 - Freeride World Qualifier, sister event the Nissan Freeride de Tignes (FRA)

THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING - CRESTED BUTTE (USA), 13-15 February - Freeride World Qualifier, sister events of the Nissan Tram Face – Squaw Valley (USA)

WINTER MYSTICXPERIENCE (ITA), 19-22 February 2009 - Freeride World Qualifier

THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING - KIRKWOOD (USA), 6-8 March - Freeride World Qualifier

NENDAZ FREERIDE (SUI), 13-18 March 2009 - Freeride World Qualifier, sister event of the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier 09 (SUI)

JASNA ADRENALIN (SK), 31 March-5 April 2009 - Freeride World Qualifier

RÖLDAL FREERIDE CHALLENGE (NOR), 22-26 April 2009 - Freeride World Qualifier, sister event of the Nissan Russian Adventure - Sochi 2010

First European Big Mountain Tour

J Dogg — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:25:24 -0400

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Lookin' to spend the winter in Europe? Now there's a full Big Mountain Tour to check out. But you better 'bring it', because Europe breeds some burly skiers... here's the details.

THE NISSAN SPORTS ADVENTURE FREERIDE TOUR - The First-Ever European Big Mountain Tour (Freeride Ski and Snowboard)

The organisers of the O'Neill Xtreme by Powerade - Verbier 07 are proud to announce the first European Freeride Tour created in partnership with Nissan. The tour will offer Freeriders the chance to win one of 14 starting positions in the world renowned Verbier Xtreme !! For the second year running Cyril Neri, double winner of the Xtreme 1998 and 2006, will lead this quest in the Alps between Austria and France in order to discover these 14 talented riders. With two qualification events in Schruns and Flaine, 7 skiers and 7 snowboarders will qualify for their entry for the O'Neilll Xtreme by Powerade 2007!

A pre-selection on the basis of application forms (15 Sept - 10 Dec 2006)
From September 15th till December 10th, 2006, ALL the skiers and snowboarders of the planet are able to register by Internet for the Freeride Quests. They just need to fill in a form on www.xtremeverbier.com and upload a few pics and a video. A selection committee will carefully select 27 skiers and 27 snowboarders who will be invited to participate in the Freeride Quest in Austria.

O'Neill Freeride Quest Powered by Nissan - Schruns-Tschagguns, Austria (19-21 Jan 2007)
54 rookies will meet for this first qualification in the Austrian resort of Schruns-Tschagguns on the 20th and 21st of January. Some riders and former riders of the Xtreme will be on the spot as judges and will evaluate these young talents in terms of performances and mental strength while riding in groups during the morning. In the afternoon a proper competition will define the 28 best riders that are qualified for the second event of the Tour : the Freeride Quest in Flaine.

O'Neill Freeride Quest Powered by Nissan - Flaine, France (8-10 Feb 2007)
In addition to the 28 rookies selected in Schruns, the Freeride Quest in Flaine will welcome 22 pro riders that have already participated in the Verbier Xtreme. These pro-riders will have to defend their seat in front of newcomers determined to take part in the ultimate event of this Tour, the prestigious Verbier Xtreme. This exceptional competition will take place in the Grand Massif resort from Feb 8 to Feb 10, 2007.

O'Neill Xtreme by Powerade - Verbier, Switzerland (23-25 March 2007)
Finally the best 5 male skiers and snowboarders as well as the best 2 female riders of both disciplines will be invited to take part in the 12th O'Neill Xtreme by Powerade in Verbier from March 23rd to 25th, 2007. There they will meet the first 6 skiers and snowboarders of the Xtreme '06, as well as the best 2 females of each discipline that have directly been reinvited. Once more the elite of freeride will tackle the mythical North Face of the Bec des Rosses, 3222m. The public is already invited to join them on the most beautiful natural arena of the Alps, the Col des Gentianes in Verbier, for a unique weekend.

Entry terms for the Nissan Sports Adventure Freeride Tour
- To be 18 years old minimum on the 1st of January 2007
- To comply with the participation rules, such as described on the Xtreme website.

-All the details at http://www.xtremeverbier.com/en/

British Ski Film Fest

J Dogg — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 01:20:57 -0400

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This is a bit random for a Whistler based mag, but hey, you UK shredders need all the stoke you can get this time of year to convince you to quit whatever you're doing in the UK and head to the Alps or beyond. Here's some ski flicks to do just that...

ONE NIGHT OF BRITISH FREESKI FILM MAKING

Since 1999, when Snow Odyssey first hit the cinemas, British Freeski film making has grown massively each year. British freeski film making each year battles against low budget but each resultant film shows the undoubted talent of those both in front and behind the camera. In previous years with Snow's In The House and Coefficient Drag, the mid October cinema night has kick started the winter season and brought together a community of passionate freeskiers to celebrate the real start to the winter season.

This year the vibe is hitting even harder with the launch of not only Winter Requiem (the latest Warren Smith, Melody Sky and Guido Perrini film), but also Ski City (New production talent from Nic Watkins, Charlie Perkins and Nick Southwell) and Verbier Ride 06 - special edition (first ever British produced IFSA World Tour Freeskiing event). On the 16th October you will get to watch three 100% British produced movies that offer total contrast from art to action to record breaking Big Mountain line scores.

WINTER REQUIEM

Winter Requiem is the latest freeride movie from Warren Smith, Melody Sky and Guido Perrini. 'Packed with awe-inspiring imagery, Winter Requiem presents a creative montage of all that a winter season in the mountains holds in store. Through the eyes of the camera crew the film takes you on a visual and acoustic journey combining hard hitting hip hop beats and classical music symphonies. With extreme adrenaline action and the enduring beauty of ever changing weather patterns, the film comes together to form a Winter Requiem.

The film is sponsored by Ski Club of Great Britain, Snow + Rock, Televerbier, Dark Summer + Faction Skis.

Film partners are Natives.co.uk, Ifyouski.com, Chrome Productions, Salvador + Amanda + Prince Charles Cinema. www.winter-requiem.com 20 mins

SKI CITY

Ski City is the first release by British Freeski film maker Nic Watkins with the assistance of Charlie Perkins and Nick Southwell. Inspired by Frank Miller's graphic novels and hit Film Sin City, Ski City is a UK only Ski Film that shows just how far both British freeskiing and production have come on. The film is centred around a combination of jaw dropping feats from Britain's top Freeskiers and a unique and highly original editing style incorporating all the incredible effects of the hit film Sin City.

Ski City is sponsored by Ski Club of Great Britain.

For more info including the trailer visit www.runjumpfly.net 30 mins

VERBIER RIDE 06 (SPECIAL EDITION) - IFSA WORLD FREESKIING TOUR EVENT

Verbier Ride 06 turned out to be one of the best freeskiing competitions in history. It was the first year that the Verbier Ride achieved IFSA World Freeskiing Tour status and the event also saw Tom Dunbar throw down one of the highest ever line scores in freeskiing event history. The Verbier Ride has never been shown in the cinema so this will be a one off chance to see the best ever Verbier Ride on the big screen. www.verbierride.com 29 mins

IMPORTANT STUFF!

WHERE: Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London www.princecharlescinema.com

WHEN: Monday 16th October, 8.30pm - 10.30pm (arrive a 8pm to get tickets and grab a beer) HOW: Get to the cinema on a first come first serve basis between 7.30pm and 8pm. Don't worry if your late, we will squeeze you in. Tickets cost £5 and include seating at the Prince Charles Cinema + entry to the After-Party. There are limited numbers of tickets (500) and they will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Payments is cash on the door. To reserve and confirm your ticket requirements please email melodysky@snowsportsynergy.com with RIDE FREESPORT FILM NIGHT in the subject heading.

AFTER-PARTY: After party location is Salvador + Amanda just two minutes walk from the cinema. For information on this location go www.salvadorandamanda.com

Verbier Ride 2006

J Dogg — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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Story by Ian 'One Armed Piece of Cheddar Cheese' Watson
Photos by Cheddar, Peter Charaf, Yves Garneau

Last weekend saw the gathering of the worlds top competitive freeskiers along with a host of new talent and a handful of have-a-go hero's in the Swiss resort of Verbier. A long overdue dump had freshened the mountians a few days previous and the skies cleared for the finals. Unfortunately those in the qualifiying round weren't so lucky. High winds and poor visibility made life hard for competitors and judges. 40 men and 15 girls skied the Attalas face. Run of the day went Jonas Delonge. Canadians Ross Janzen and Brendan McLean both qualified comfortably for the first day of the World Tour event, as did Fernie based tele-skier Martha Burley.

Day 2...
The second of competition was delayed a day for weather, needlessly as it turned out, but a bonus night of partying ensued in lieu. When skiing resumed the big guns were on show and the show really began. The venue moved slightly left of the qualifier venue with variable snow from pow to slush and ice in the main bowls (the intended face of MtGele got destroyed by anti-freeride bomb-control... only a rumour). Plenty of grass/rock riding went on and to thier credit the skiers all kept themselves out of hospital and in contention. Coming off the top of the course with speed and perfect control then greasing the billy-goating central section before stomping a big cliff at the bottom gave 2nd spot to Adrien Corier. Olivier Mayet was the man of the day however. He flew through the upper section of the course linking turns between rocks before doing a double drop at on the last feature.

The girls put up a performance to challenge the guys. Jess McMillan from Jackson Hole skied quickly through a load of rock and grass before hucking a cliff. She then traversed to hit an air into straight line which took her straight to the top of the score sheet. The Norweigen Marte-Lise Karlsen came in 2nd with a technical line through the rocky exposed centre of the course.

In Verbeir they know how to put on a show. Before the 'Super-Finals' skiing on the 'muy infermo' Mt Gele even started, parapenters where in the sky and Ted Davenport was BASE jumping from the Mt Gele tram! Great for the spectators, but it did leave the competitors wondering why they had to hike up the mountian while the lift was 'closed'.

Women's Super Finals & Super Duper Finals...
Skiing began with Katrina Mihaljevic droppnig in from the lookers right ridge on an exposed line. "That chick is mental." said Matty Richard, adding "I was tweaking out with fear looking down and she dropped in to the untracked line and greased the hole top section before traversing out above a huge cliff." With fear of fractures reduced by Katrina's run the skiing only got more impressive. Marte-Lise skied the same line fast and smooth. Jess McMillan missed her intended line but still managed to join Marte-Lise and Laura Ogden in the Super-duper final. Laura led the way in super final with a display of powerful and controlled skiing held that place with a repeat proformance in the Super-duper final. To dispel the confusion: the second day of world tour competition was called the 'super-final' for the first run (19 men, 6 women). The top 5 men and 3 women were then taken up in the tram (after hiking twice already) for the 'Super-duper' final! Laura had sealed her victory but Jess gave her a close run. Finding her way into a funneling snow-field Jess skied a small exposed spine into the biggest air of any of the girls. If you missed it the huge cheer from the crowd told Jess stomped it clean.

Men's Super Finals...
The mens skiing was mind-blowing show of speed, power, cliffs and rock rides. On a face with a way higher gnar scale than anything seen in North American comps, the organisers showed full faith in the skiers by closing no area's. The crowd pleasing moves where plenty but we won't forget Justice Meyer who flew through a diagonal chute then a pepper field to an exposed traverse. What looked like a dead end snow patch led to his 50 foot rock-ride of the year followed by a windlip backflip... the noise on the balcony like it was a soccer cup final. (thats right, no sitting on your jacket at the bottom of spanky's. Here they provide a cafe/bar and huge patio in full veiw of the venue).

Kiwi Todd Dunbar created the next round of delirium on the terraces by flying switch into a higher variant of the most popular line. Amost falling to certain injury he saved it to destroy the rest of his line. Totaly stomping the 50+ footer in the midle of the course then finding another equally big cliff at the bottom that knowbody else considered, and stomping the piss out of that to. Whistler skier Mathieu Richard represented just as Whistler expects from its 'athletes'. He railed the top diagonal chute into the hanging-feild above the 50+ footer, and stomping it in a cloud of snow he shredded to the bottom, skiing into 7th position and 2nd in the world-tour at the half way point. Good luck Matty in Les Arc and Kirkwood.

Men's Super Duper Finals
The judges however are looking for different critieria than the crowd. They analyse the line, control, agresiveness, fluidity and style of the skiing to give a more rounded veiw of the comps best skiers. This left four frenchmen and Graig Gabriel (05 kirkwood champion) of the USA to get the tram for the super-duper final! Three time world tour champ Guerlian Chicherit was playing the jestor for the crowd as always, waving and bowing. But his skiing almost justifies the cockyness as he took 2nd place by fluidly billy goating his way down an exposed line no other skier tried. Cedric Pugin skied to third with a stylish run down the main chute line and airing a double out. Julien Gaidet has big boots to fill as his brother Manu has been World Champ for the past 3 years. He showed his own skills by not falling and skiing the exposed same exposed snow field as Jess McMillan and air out as well as hitting a bonus cliff feature low down on the venue. Olivier Maynet is the Ride 06 Champion by defending his lead from the privious run by destroying the same line for a second time, showing consistancy wins comps.

Whistler shredder 'le pitit C' Christain Boucher had another turn of bad luck. After leading in Snowbird untill a Super-final explosion, he missed this comp entirely by breaking his ankle the day before his first run. We wish him the best of luck with the recovery. If you need any more confirmation that the Quebecios are a hard-core crew here it is: 'le pitit C' plans to compete this coming week in Les Arc with one leg and some 'adaptive ski poles' with mini skis on the bottom of them! Look out for the footage cause this guy is keeping it really real!

When the skiing was over the party began. Apres at the pub Mont Fort flowed into the public drinking session in the main square where a huge screen showed the days action for an hour or so. After that free vodka in two different bars sorted out everybody's hangovers for the next day. Good times.

Overall Verbier Ride was a great week and Warren Smith (event organizer) and IFSA head judge Jim Jack's team need a big thanks for a successful competition and a real showcase for the sport.

RESULTS & MORE:
Visit the Verbier Ride homepage for: Qualifier Results, Final Results, & Super Final Results
Or, check out the story and photos from the BIG AIR.

Europe Stop #6 - Verbier, Switzerland

J Dogg — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400

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When pigs can fly, will all the crazy statements people have made over the years come true? More importantly, if billy goats could fly, would they all migrate to Verbier, Switzerland for the winter to join the lucky ones already there?

Fortunately, since the invention of airplanes skiers can fly, and anyone with a sense of adventure should be headed to Verbier as soon as possible, to hone their billygoating skills in one of the gnarliest mountain playgrounds on earth.

With Verbier scheduled as the third to last stop on our tour, nobody told us it would evolve into our last. Spending the first few days covering as much terrain as we could, it became obvious we wouldn't touch even a fraction of the terrain in the resort, not to mention the backcountry potential stretching as far as we could see. With the same tropical spring conditions that hit most of Europe, our choices were at least made easier by sticking to the highest and most northerly terrain we could find, of which there was no shortage.

Topping out the resort, the Mont-Fort tram spat us out at 3330m where a short traverse led to a maze of steep North and East facing ridges and chutes to session for the days to come. And in true big mountain Euro-style, the long laps finished with a descent to Lac de Cluesen, the impending traverse around it, sliding the side of a huge damn, and tucking through single track trees towards a chairlift in another village below. And every afternoon we pushed our luck further, trying to squeeze in yet another lap before the lifts closed. The fear was not of being stranded in another ski town, but of missing our daily 2 for 1 happy hour at the Pub Mont Fort.

When the beer started flowing so did the stories, and soon enough the drunken rumors of a huge spring storm had made it's way through the fervent crowd. If pigs could fly I might have believed that a 3-foot snowstorm was on it's way in mid April, aimed to burry sundecks, spring flowers, unsuspecting pedestrians in flip-flops, and anything else in its path. Luckily though, we were at least curious enough to stick around for the outcome... scoring more snowy bounty than any drunkard could have anticipated.

After 2 days of merciless snowfall, the balmy streets of Verbier in April had swung full circle back into the wintery playground we'd been looking for. With over 3 feet of freshies in the alpine and clearing skies in sight, we were in no hurry to leave. The new snow had opened up a whole new realm of tempting terrain, so we frantically skied as many easy-access laps as we could before returning to the real goods; the north face off the Mont-Fort, for unrelenting steep powder from top to bottom.

But it wouldn't be Verbier without a little billygoating, so to wrap the trip we climbed and skied the nearby Bec de Rosses to sample the steep venue of the annual O'Neil Extreme Freeride contest. A true billygoater's paradise, the Bec de Rosses' 45-55 face is scattered with cliffs and doglegging chutes to give any competitor or aspiring billygoater a run for their money.

As we milked every bit of the vacant, knee-deep bowl below, our fast-approaching flight to Canada was a dismal thought to contend with. After all, it's hard to look forward to sharing a plane seat with a pig.

DETAILS

Resort
Located in South-West Switzerland, Verbier is best accessed from Geneva. For more info about the resort, visit the resort site at www.verbier.ch.

Events
Verbier is home to a few high caliber big mountain events. Find out more about the Verbier Ride and the O'Neil Extreme Freeriding contest.

Accommodation
If you're looking for nice accommodation to impress the girlfriend/boyfriend, be sure to try the 'Aux Vieux Valais' chalet & restaurant right in the heart of town, with incredible views of the Grand Combin across the valley.

For cheap accommodation, the local bomb shelter doubles as an underground hostel, 'The Bunker'. Yes you read that correctly, and hey, at least you'll be safe. Find out more at www.thebunker.ch/