Sharks and powerful slough, cascading down the riders lines, added to the challenge of the 9th Xtreme, however, the general consensus echoed was the conditions the Bec was holding for the 9th edition, were classic.

The 2nd rider to make the go, Julie Larsen from the USA, threw down the gauntlet from the moment she exited the start gate. Dropping in on riders-left and charging through a narrow couloir. Fearless, she then traversed high before jumping a sizeable cliff, dealing with the slough and the peppered rocks on the way before blasting a series of sizeable jumps, and topping her run off with a series of powerful powder turns. Julie
eventually ripped through the finish gate screaming with sheer exhilaration.

“Oh sweet! I feel so alive! I’m so psyched! That was so much fun!” Exclaimed Larsen as she collapsed breathless on the floor in front of the assembled media. “That was completely insane. Why do I do stuff like that? There’s just so much snow up there and the slough is really gnarly! It was quite scary but I can’t believe how good that line was! Everything happened just the way I wanted it too. There is a lot of snow uncovering a lot of rocks and I hit a lot of them. I don’t have an edge left on my snowboard anymore. It was a lot harder that I thought it would be. ” She added.

It wasn’t until the late afternoon, at the results ceremony back on the Col des Gentianes that Larsen learned that the line she had navigated was enough to put her in first place; as well as earn her the prestigious Gilles Voirol Award. 2 times Xtreme winner Géraldine Fasnacht took 2nd, while 3rd place went too Anniina Karvinen from Finland.

“I feel fantastic. I just feel out of this world. My face hurts from smiling” Said Julie after accepting the 2004 title. “I was really happy about my run it went exactly as planned.
Today was the best that I have ever felt in the past five years. I felt amazingly calm as I dropped in. The Gilles Voirol award is extremely special and probably one of the highest complements I could ever receive!” she added.

Making his 9th appearance at the Xtreme, American freeride king, Steve Klassen, again underlined his extraordinary ability almost toying with the deadly face. Dropping in off the top and blasting a tally of rapid-fire airs followed by a back flip off the wind lip. Steve then stepped on the gas to boost a sequence of four airs in the mid section. Impressing the judges and the amassed spectators with another winning formula, Klassen dominated the men’s contest taking a deservedly snatched his fifth title.

“Yeah! That was a rush! A lot of air and a lot of fun!” Exclaimed Klassen after belting through the powder field throwing a combination of massive rooster tails to end his run. “I think I hit all my airs except for one. This contest is always just such a rush. Riding that face. There are so many lines, so many airs. The Bec rules! I had a similar line in the very first year but I put a lot more airs than I would usually do so that was good! I get nervous every time I run this face but I always try to use it constructively.”

Later on in the afternoon Klassen joined 3rd place Frenchman, Xavier De Le Rue and 2nd place local boy, Cyril Neri on the podium to accept his fifth Xtreme title along with the “Le Matin Public Award.”

“I’m totally overwhelmed right now with this whole situation!” began Klassen. “I knew when I came through the finish line that I had run a good line, but with the calibre of riders in this contest you never know if you have won. I’m totally blown away that it has happened again. The thrill of winning never gets any less. It hasn’t completely sunk in just yet… The event this year has been amazing. The skiers have opened up new lines and dimensions on the Bec for us all, and I think as snowboarders we will be interested in exploring them in the future.” He added.

2nd place in the female snowboard discipline and local hero Geraldine Fasnacht from Switzerland claimed the women’s “Le Matin Public Award”. While an emotional Florian Orley from Austria accepted the men’s Gilles Voirol for the best line.

“A year ago I broke both my legs and I thought for a while I might never snowboard again.” Said a choked Orley. “It was exactly one year and 25 days ago, and now I’m here and to win this award is an incredible honour. I’m probably the happiest man on this mountain today.” He added.

With the snowboard discipline completed it was time for the skiers to take to the Bec for the first time in the contests history. And what an entrance it was. Displaying a library of virgin lines, the skiers devoured the terrain, going hard to really stamp their mark on the 9th Xtreme. Huge cliff drops and dramatic, heart stopping crashes was the theme of the closing stages of the event and added voltage to the already highly charged atmosphere. After 10 fast, original and daring descents it was Verbier local Jean-Yves Michellod who eventually stole the top spot with Frenchman Sebastian Michaud and Canadian Ian McIntosh taking 3rd and 4th respectively.

“For me its so special to win! I live here in Verbier and I have a lot of supporters here so it couldn’t be more perfect!” Began Jean-Yves “I chose a special line because I have skied this face before. I started off going straight down. Through a small couloir and then jumped a few cliffs toward the bottom. I’m so happy the weather and snow is perfect and I was happy with my line. I think it is great that there are 10 skiers this year. I look forward to skiing again next year.” He added.

The final award to be decided was the “Rider’s Award”. Judged and voted for by the qualified riders over a few celebratory beverages at what has become Xtreme HQ: The Verbier Lodge. The decision was taken after the riders had the opportunity to scrutinise video footage of the day’s action. Eventually Julie Larsen took the women’s award with Steve Klassen nominated for the men’s and Sébastien Michaud for the
skiers.

After a week of patiently waiting for perfect conditions to grace Verbier and the Bec, finally Mother Nature delivered exceptional snow conditions and lifted the curtain of cloud that had stalled the 9th Xtreme’s progression. With all the elements in place all the worlds best skiers and snowboarders took full advantage, and delivered a momentous show from one of Europe’s most notorious terrains. Until the 10th Edition of the Xtreme, happy riding!