On a perfect day, 43 of the worlds best freeriders delivered top class action on the north face of Pramecou for the Nissan Freeride de Tignes, the fourth contest of the Freeride World Tour. In fast compact, snow, the astounded spectators witnessed impressive speed and riders stomping some spectacular cliff drops. Now, only one contest remains to crown the first ever Freeride World Champions, at the Nissan ONeill Xtreme de Verbier in Switzerland next weekend.
The male snowboarders were first to take on the 400 meter long face. With two pretty intimidating starting options, the riders had first to rappel into the face before starting their run at around 45 degrees steep. For the snowboarders, two runs were particularly standing out, first and second placed riders Xavier de le Rue (France) and Alex Coudray (Switzerland). Former boarder cross World Champion Xavier de le Rue is well known forripping down the mountain at great speed, which he proved today again, at a technical run with committed cliff drops, including a double drop at the second part of the run. It was really cool today. A good face with very fast riding. I chose to execute a technical run and go for it and it worked out! said the stoked Frenchman, who is now leading the ranking of the Freeride World Tour with only one contest to go.
The male skiers took the riding to an impressive level today. The compact, fast snow was easier to handle for the skiers, charging down the mountain controlling great speed and taking big air. Famous skier cross and freerider Enak Gavaggio was judging the skiers, as he was injured at the X-Games earlier this winter: The standard is so high. It was really tight between the first 10 riders, making it difficult for us to judge!
The Argentinean Estanislao Vasiuk pulled off a perfect front flip flying almost 20 metres at the intimidating start of the run and finished ninth. That shows the level. Swede Henrik Windstedt and Frenchman Seb Michaud have been standing out for the entire season of the Freeride World Tour. Today again they proved to be the most impressive riders, Henrik Windstedt taking first place and Seb Michaud second. Both skied fast without an ounce of hesitation in difficult lines clearing every landing of big drops. I cannot believe I did it again! said the happy Swede, who had still not totally recovered from a week of the flu, and who missed the mountain inspection yesterday as he was travelling from Sweden.
Brangre Moroc secured a French female snowboard victory. The French snowboarder entered the Freeride World Tour in the Qualifying Series and is now climbing the ranking of the entire Tour.
Alaskan Elyse Saugstad took a well earned first place of the female skiers with a stable, fast run down the face.
The Grand Finale: Nissan ONeill Xtreme de Verbier, 15 March (reserve days 14-23 March)
The Freeride World Champions will be crowned after the final contest, the prestigious Nissan ONeill Xtreme Verbier on the mythical North Face of Bec des Rosses, in the heart of the resort of Verbier. 37 riders will compete in Verbier: 10 of the best ranked male skiers and snowboarders of the Freeride World Tour, five wild card skiers and two wild cards snowboard, and two of the best ranked female skiers and snowboarders, three wild cards skiers and two wild cards snowboard. Prize money is set at 100 000 USD.
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The Freeride World Tour (FWT) consists of five contests with the worlds best male and female skiers and snowboarders:
1. Nissan Mammoth Challenge (USA), 22 - 26 January first possible contest day 23 January. 56 riders in total: 19 male skiers and snowboarders, 8 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild cards men, one wild card women per discipline and three riders per discipline from the Nissan Mammoth Quest (first contest of the Freeride Qualifying Series). Prize money: 40 000 USD
2. Nissan Russian Adventurein Sochi (RUS), 31 January - 5 February. 44 riders in total. 16 male skiers and snowboarders, 6 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild per discipline. Prize money: 40 000 USD.
3. Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro, a mobile event in the Alps, 24 February - 2 March. 26 riders in total: 13 male skiers and snowboarders, including fivewild cards per discipline and the top 8 of the Freeride World Tour ranking after the two first contests. Prize money 80 000 USD.
4. Nissan Freeride de Tignes(FRA), 8 - 13 March. 44 riders in total: 16 male skiers and snowboarders, 6 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild cards per discipline. Prize money: 40 000 USD.
5. Nissan O'Neill Xtreme in Verbier (SUI), 14 - 23 March. 32 riders in total: 12 male skiers and snowboarders. 4 female skiers and snowboarders, including four wild cards men and two wild cards women per discipline. Prize money: 100 000 USD.
The Freeride World Qualifying Series (FWQS) consists of three contests:
1. Nissan Mammoth Quest (USA) 15-17 Jan 08. 76 riders in total. The top 3 placed riders per discipline progress to the World Tour and the Nissan Mammoth Challenge one week later.
2. Nissan Freeride Montafon (AUT) 9 14 Feb 08. 76 riders in total.
3. Roldal Freeride Challenge (NOR) 1-4 May 08. 22 riders from the FWQS.
The best athletes(top 4 men _ top 2 women)of the FWQS 08 qualify for the Freeride World Tour 09.
Results Nissan Freeride de Tignes 8 March - 43 Riders competed
19 Skiers Men:
Result - Name - First Name - Nationality - Ranking FWT
1 - Windstedt - Henrik - SWE - 1
2 - Michaud - Seb - FRA - 2
3 - Ducroz - Aurlien - FRA - 3
4 - PostGriffin - USA - 14
5 - Townsend - Cody - USA - 5
6 - Liliequist - Sverre - SWE - 10
7 - SosaOscar - ARG - 10
8 - TabkeDrew - USA - 4
9 - VasiukEstanislao - ARG - 6
10 - MeynetOlivier - FRA - 19
11 - GilliozRaphy - SUI - 7
12 - Greener - Nick - USA - 13
13 - CoirierAdrien - FRA - 9
14 - RichardMathiew - CAN - 12
15 - Pasquier - Nicolas - SUI - 8
16 - AuthierSylvain - FRA - 24
17 - Haunholder - Matthias - AUT - 17
18 - Zackrisson - Kaj - SWE - 15
18 - GarbielCraig - USA - 16
DNS - Chicherit - Guerlain - FRA - 18
15 Snowboard Men:
Result - Name - First Name - Nationality Ranking FWT
1 - De Le Rue - Xavier - FRA - 1
2 - Coudray - Alex - SUI - 3
3 - FalcoJulien - SUI - 5
4 - NeriCyril - SUI - 4
5 - Sommer - Andr - SUI - 8
6 - Khryachkov - Gennady - RUS - 10
7 - EmeryJonas - SUI - 5
8 - FurbergDaniel - SWE - 13
9 - CarronJose - SUI - 12
10 - Cornillat - Serge - FRA - 11
11 - Backstrom - Ralph - USA - 15
12 - Stentiford - James - UK - 14
13 - OrleyFlo - AUT - 2
14 - Magnusson - David - NOR - 9
5 Skiers Women:
Result - Name - First Name - Nationality - Ranking FWT
1 - Saugstad - ElyseUSA - 1
2 - Monego - GiuliaITA - 5
3 - Meynet - Caroline - FRA - 4
4 - Persson - Marja - SWE - 3
4 - Mc Millan - Jesse - USA - 2
4 Snowboard Women:
Result - NameFirst Name - Nationality - Ranking FWT
1 - MorocBrengre - FRA - 3
2 - Leisibach - Ruth - SUI - 3
3 - Zenklusen - Nathalie - SUI - 2
4 - PahlElisabeth - RUS - 1
DNS( injured) - PEKAREK - Bibi - AUT
