Ski & snow news

Freeriding’s roots stem from extreme skiing, a term coined in the 1970’s to describe "skiing steep slopes in wild terrain". The first freeriding competition was the "World Extreme Skiing Championships" in Alaska in 1991. This event led snowboarders to organise their own competition in Alaska the following year which in due course led to the creation of the legendary "King of the Hill". These events inspired a number of freeride competitions around the world, most notably, the Xtreme Verbier which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and is now considered within the freeriding community as the most prestigious of all. Until the creation of the Freeride World Tour in 2007, the joint participation of skiers and snowboarders already existed at some events but their co-habitation in a professional tour was new. The concept very quickly gained traction and after just two full seasons the Freeride World Tour (FWT) is already recognized by riders, the ski industry and the media as the pinnacle of the sport. The four-stop Freeride World Tour (Sochi, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Squaw Valley and Verbier) is supported by 18 Freeride World Qualifier events around the world.
Nicolas Hale-Woods, Founder and Organiser of the "Xtreme" in Verbier and the Freeride World Tour: "The sport has evolved way beyond what we imagined back in 1996 and we feel that performances will continue to progress. Even though the riders compete to win the underlying freeride spirit remains with riders sharing ideas and spending considerable time together. Our goal is to preserve that unique spirit and simultaneously grow the Freeride World Tour together with riders and the involved ski resorts. In this respect, we are working on the expansion of the tour in 2011 so that more young riders can enter the qualifier events in North America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. Our goal for 2011 is also to add two more events at the FWT level. With freeriding now a leading trend in the snow industry, in many respects we feel like we've just begun - the best is yet to come".
Jean-Pierre Diernaz, General Manager of Nissan’s Marketing Communications in Europe: "As co-founder of the Freeride World Tour, Nissan has been involved in this adventure from the beginning, and we are proud to have seen it grow into a world class sporting event. As part of Nissan’s goal to create ‘fantastic’ content to nourish the brand’s Nissan Sports Adventure platform, the tour and our partnership with Eurosport – to create the ‘Freeride Spirit’ show - has provided key consumer touch points. The 2010 season has been extremely intense, with spectacular performances by freeriding legends as well as new athletes who have been discovered at each of the contests. We are happy to celebrate with the new Tour champions crowned today at the 15th anniversary of the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch". Nissan’s Sports Adventure (NSA) programme was created three years ago with the aim to support and promote adventure sports and an active outdoor lifestyle. The 2010 programme includes the Freeride World Tour, the Freeride World Qualifiers, the Nissan Outdoor Games festival as well as the European team of Nissan athletes.
Peter Mager, Vice President Communication Swatch International: "Since its foundation in 1983, Swatch has always been involved in action sports. There have certainly been a lot of historical moments, but the show today, with an amazing end of the Freeride World Tour 2010, is one of the biggest highlights ever. On behalf of Swatch management, we are really happy to be a partner of the event and the Tour".

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News Ski and Snowboard News

Kaj Zackrisson took victory, third win at the "Xtreme", after a tight struggle with french rider Aurélien Ducroz. "It was so tight between the first two riders Kaj and Aurélien. They skied more or less the same line but Kaj jumped one more cliff where Aurélien skied around. For the rest they both skied fast, fluid and stomped all the jumps in the extremely committed terrain, and taking the huge 'Gilles Voirol' cliff in the middle clean. Just amazing", said Seb Michaud, Judge Ski and injured FWT Rider.
"The Xtreme is my biggest goal every year. It means a lot to me. When I train in the autumn I think of this face and this competition. I am always very nervous before the contest and have a hard time sleeping the night before. This year it was even more difficult as I had a great run on Saturday and had to redo my performance. I was so focused for my first run (Saturday) and it was hard to switch on once again. My favourite riders of the day were Xavier de Le Rue, always pushing the limits but always with such control, Sverre Liliequist because he opened a new really committed line, and Aurélien Ducroz because he just skied an exceptional run", said Kaj.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©FWT/M. Lang Willar, Kaj Zackrisson, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News Ski and Snowboard News

The breathtaking performance of Frenchman Xavier de Le Rue, took them to the first step of the 2010 Freeride World Tour podium. The win in Verbier gave enough points for Xavier de Le Rue to score top position in the men’s snowboard ranking 2010. For the third executive year, the unbeatable Frenchman was crowned World Champion.
"Xavier's run was the fastest of the day. He took an original line and jumped a huge cliff that has never been jumped before in the 15 years of the Xtreme! The jump was at least 10 metres in one of the steepest and most committed parts of the face. He negotiated it perfectly, and managed slough and speed impressively", said Head Judge Snowboard Berti Denervaud.
"I was here already 3-4 weeks ago and to inspect this line. When I came back last weekend I saw that it was in good condition. I knew it would be hairy but I felt confident. For me the most interesting aspect of the Freeride World Tour is that we inspect the faces really thoroughly. For days I concentrate on just one thing: my line, which never happens when filming or freeriding for myself. I manage to ride things I would never do otherwise. Everything in my run was meticulously planned – I knew there would be a lot of slough (surface snow sliding) as it was really steep so I needed a lot of speed and take the jump straight in the falline", said Xavier.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©FWT/D. Carlier, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier, Xavier De Le Rue Ski and Snowboard News

After the men’s final competition was postponed Saturday, due to bad visibility, the world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders once again took on the mythical 600 metre North face of the Bec des Rosses. In perfect conditions the 24 male riders put on the most spectacular show with the fastest and most committed edition of the 15 years of the "Xtreme". Several first descents were opened on the face. With this high level, the battle for first was extremely tight. The breathtaking performances of Swede Kaj Zackrisson, ski, and Frenchman Xavier de Le Rue, snowboard, took them to the first step of the podium.
The win in Verbier gave enough points for Xavier de Le Rue to score top position in the men’s snowboard ranking 2010. For the third executive year, the unbeatable Frenchman was crowned World Champion. Austrian Mitch Toelderer is vice Freeride World Champion 2010, and Matt Annetts (USA) took the third step of the podium.
French freestyle legend Candide Thovex can now claim to be part freeriding history. For his first season on the Freeride World Tour he has proved to be a consistent freeride competitor (3 podiums) with committed and influential skiing. Thovex’s impressive third place on his premiere run on the Bec des Rosses put him on top of the men’s ski ranking 2010. Swedes Kaj Zackrisson (2nd) and Henrik Windstedt (3rd) completed the podium.


The two male Freeride World Tour Champions were awarded with a Nissan Qashqai, and the winners today went home with $ 10 000 each from the total prize purse of $ 206 200 for the Freeride World Tour 2010.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©Freeride World Tour/D. Carlier, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

2010 marked the 15th year for the Xtreme competition in Verbier...
Since its inception in 1996 the "Xtreme" has been considered the most prestigious Freeride competition in the world. The "Xtreme" is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year -15 years of passionate freeriding and great sports performances on the mythical North Face of the Bec des Rosses, a dauntingly steep and frighteningly jagged 500m rock-face. In places, the Bec des Rosses presents 55 degrees of slope. In an upright position one can almost lean on the face with one’s elbow. With steep and narrow couloirs, high rock cliffs, changing snow and terrain, it demands technical skill, great physical conditioning and a connection with the mountain that only experience can bring.
The Nissan Xtreme by Swatch -Verbier is the final stage of the Freeride World Tour (FWT).

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©Freeride World Tour/C. Margot, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

Ane Enderud from Norway won the competition thus is Freeride World Tour Champion 2010.

admin Ane Enderud, Events, Freeride World Tour, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

Shannan Yates won for her first time on the mythical North Face of the Bec des Rosses, a dauntingly steep and frighteningly jagged 500m rock-face!

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Shannan Yates, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

More than six thousand spectators watched the world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders take on the impressive 600 vertical metre face of the Bec des Rosses in Verbier, Switzerland, for the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch. The women athletes were first down the mountain.
After the competition Norwegian Ane Enderud in Ski and German Aline Bock in Snowboard were crowned Freeride World Tour Champions 2010.
Norwegian skier Ane Enderud was the winner at Verbier to confirm her leadership, defending her title from last year, with Jess McMillan taking second. "I am obviously super happy with this result, after the disappointing start of the season when I had to cancel the Chamonix contest because of back problems. I just can’t believe I am on top! I got a bit lost and changed my line choice when I skied it and I was stoked to take the big cliff jump and land it clean without having inspected it before hand", said Ane Enderud.
Double Olympic silver medallist Julia Mancuso had an impressive first experience of freeride competitions, being the fastest women down the mountain and taking third. "It was tough on top – it is the first time I skied such technical and steep skiing this year and the first time I skied on these skis. I followed J.T. Holmes (FWT athlete ski) advice not to stall before taking the jump and I got so much speed I missed some features in the end. There are a lot of similarities with downhill – you need to have a very high confidence level, go fast and fluid. I was here to have fun and challenge myself and I am happy I made it down without falling! It is such a cool face".
Shannan Yates, American newcomer to the Freeride World Tour, won the women’s snowboard on the Bec des Rosses, with German Aline Bock taking second, giving her the World Champion title after four nice podiums this season. "We were so lucky with the weather in the morning. The Bec des Rosses welcomed us with sunshine and very good conditions, which we had not expected. Starting with the golden bib, leading the Freeride World Tour, gave me a lot of confidence. I chose to go for the windlip and I had fun jumping some other cliffs, while the run felt very fluent. To be second at such an event and then finally to be the World Champion is an unbelievable feeling", said Aline.
Due to poor visibility, the competition was stopped for the men before the last seven athletes were able to go down the face. For the men the competition is therefore postponed to a later date this coming week as soon as there is a weather window. The last possible day is Sunday 28 March.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©Freeride World Tour/D. Daher, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

The final stage of the Freeride World Tour (FWT), the mythical Nissan Xtreme by Swatch will take place tomorrow in Verbier. Since its inception in 1996 the "Xtreme" has been considered the most prestigious Freeride competition in the world. The "Xtreme" is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year -15 years of passionate freeriding and great sports performances on the mythical North Face of the Bec des Rosses, a dauntingly steep and frighteningly jagged 500m rock-face. In places, the Bec des Rosses presents 55 degrees of slope. In an upright position one can almost lean on the face with one’s elbow. With steep and narrow couloirs, high rock cliffs, changing snow and terrain, it demands technical skill, great physical conditioning and a connection with the mountain that only experience can bring. Around 5000 spectators will join the riders at one of the most beautiful natural arenas of the Alps, the Col des Gentianes in Verbier.
All the former winners of the event have been invited by the organisers to be present in Verbier to mark this special occasion.
After the first three Freeride World Tour stops in Russia, France and USA, only the top eight men ski, six men snowboard, three women ski and two women snowboard are invited to the finals in Verbier They will be joined by a few selected "wild cards", as well as the winners from the Freeride World Qualifier, Nendaz Freeride.
In partnerhsip with Swisscom and Nanoo TV, the FWT offers the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch - Verbier live as of 10am Saturday, March 20.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Image:©FWT/ M.Lang-Willar, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News, Verbier Ski and Snowboard News

An insider's look at how the Freeride World Tour runs are filmed from a helicopter using a Cineflex camera. Cineflex is the ultimate gyro-stabilized aerial platform for HD aerial filming.

admin Events, Freeride World Tour, Nissan Freeride of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Nissan Russian Adventure, Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley, Nissan Xtreme Verbier, Ski and Snowboard News Ski and Snowboard News