The FREERIDE WORLD TOUR kicked off with victories for the favorites in all four disciplines. In first-class conditions in Revelstoke (British Columbia), Canada, Drew Tabke (USA) and Christine Hargin (SWE) won the skiers' event, while Ralph Backstrom (USA) and Shannan Yates (USA) won the snowboarders' event.
The results
Snowboard women:1. Shannan Yates (USA)
2. Margot Rozies (FRA)
3. Elodie Mouthon (FRA)Snowboard men:1. Ralph Backstrom (USA)
2. Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA)
3. Aurelien Routens (FRA)Women's skiing:1. Christine Hargin (SWE)
2. Nadine Wallner (AUT)
3. Natalie Segal (AUS)Men's skiing:
1. Drew Tabke (USA)
2. Jeremie Heitz (SUI)
3. Julien Lopez (FRA) Men's snowboarding: Ralph Backstrom ahead of Ludovic Guillot-Diat and Aurélien Routens
The "Mac Daddy" slope on Mackenzie Peak near Revelstoke Mountain Resort offered deep powder snow after days of snowfall and rose majestically and sunlit out of a fog bank in the valley. The day began on the remote competition slope with the snowboard contest. Last year's winner Ralph Backstrom (USA) from Squaw Valley won ahead of Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA) and Aurélien Routens (FRA). Backstrom had the face under control like no other and was able to score points in the initially still very deep powder conditions, which the snowboarders who started first were able to enjoy. Flo Orley from Innsbruck (AUT) unfortunately had bad luck on his run: "On this super steep slope, it's difficult not to fall on jumps. But I really like the big features here." He ended up in 11th place in Revelstoke. Men's skiing: Drew Tabke ahead of Jérémie Heitz and Julien Lopez In the end, Drew Tabke (USA) from Crystal Mountain led the field by a clear margin with 91.00 points. The runner-up in the overall standings at the 2012 FWT had finished third and second at the contest in Revelstoke in previous years and now found himself at the top of the podium for the first time. Tabke's fluid riding style impressed the
judges and he was able to incorporate several cliffs into his run
: "The Mac Daddy is the most beautiful mountain on the tour, and the snow in British Columbia is simply unique", said Tabke happily. "Some of the snow conditions on the slope were difficult, but on my line the snow was great." Jérémie Heitz from Les Manecottes (SUI) took second place among the skiers with 79.67 points. He had actually only started as a substitute, but made the most of his opportunity and was one of the few skiers to master a steep double cliff on the left half of the Mac Daddy. Third place went to Julien Lopez (FRA), who put in a strong performance on the pillows and cliffs on the right side of the slope. The Austrians Matthias Haunholder from Walchsee/Tyrol and Stefan Häusl from Strengen am Arlberg both crashed and finished in 17th and 28th place respectively.
Many a spectator will have wondered about the rather low score that Johnny Collinson was able to achieve with his run: The 22-year-old from Alta, Utah placed his 360 over a large cliff on his legs, but was probably unable to convince the judges with the trick. In general, fewer freestyle maneuvers were shown than at previous tour stops. Only Frenchman Seb Michaud, the oldest participant on the tour at 42 years old, tried to pack two of his legendary backflips into his comeback run! Women's snowboard: Shannan Yates wins ahead of Margot Rozies and Elodie Mouthon In the afternoon, the clouds moved up from the valley and reduced visibility on the lower part of the slope - difficult conditions for the snowboarders and skiers. But they took up the challenge and delivered first-class performances in Revelstoke. Shannan Yates from Snowbird Ski Resort, Utah (USA), third in Revelstoke last year and in the overall FWT rankings, won with a confident performance. "This is the steepest slope the snowboarders have skied so far. The snow conditions were very changeable in the upper part, so it was difficult to accelerate. But I managed to ride my line and stand my two jumps." Last year's runner-up Margot Rozies (FRA) took second place ahead of her compatriot Elodie Mouthon (FRA). Aline Bock (GER), the overall FWT winner in 2010, finished sixth on her Tour comeback. Women's skiing: Christine Hargin ahead of Nadine Wallner and Natalie Segal
With increasingly difficult visibility conditions and a slope that was already quite rutted and bombed out, the skiers found the most difficult conditions. However, last year's overall FWT winner, Christine Hargin from Sweden, was not impressed by this and showed a safe and varied run with a cliff drop, which earned her victory on the Mac Daddy. Austrian Nadine Wallner from Klösterle am Arlberg, who qualified for the FWT via the Freeride World Qualifier and now stood on the podium at the premiere, surprisingly came second. She was the last starter in the competition and impressed with a solid line that brought her safely into the valley! Third place went to Australian Natalie Segal; Eva Walkner from Salzburg (AUT) unfortunately crashed and injured herself.
"It's hard to describe what this event means for the riders and the sport of freeriding," said Bryan Barlow, Freeride World Tour General Manager Americas. "This contest today marked the final unification of the Freeride World Tour. We have set the bar very high here in Revelstoke and are now looking forward to the remaining events even more."
More pictures in the gallery
The individual runs of all riders can be viewed here afterwards: Link The Freeride World Tour will already continue in the Alps on January 19, 2013: the men's skiing and snowboarding will start in Courmayeur Mont Blanc (ITA)
The rest of the Freeride World Tour 2013 competition calendar:
1. Stop: Freeride World Tour Revelstoke 2013
Date: January 07; Location: Revelstoke, British Columbia (CAN)
Disciplines: Ski & Snowboard, Women & Men2nd Stop: Freeride World Tour Courmayeur, Mont Blanc 2013
Date: January 19; Location: Courmayeur, Mont Blanc 2013
Date: January 19; Location: Courmayeur, Mont Blanc 2013
Date: Courmayeur, Mont Blanc 2013. January; Location: Courmayeur, Mont-Blanc (ITA)
Disciplines: Ski & Snowboard, Men 3rd stop: Freeride World Tour Chamonix, Mont Blanc 2013
Date: January 26; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (FRA)
Disciplines: Ski & Snowboard, Women & Men 4. Stop: Freeride World Tour Kirkwood 2013
Date: February 27; Venue: Kirkwood (USA)
Disciplines: Ski & Snowboard, Women & Men 5th Stop: Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal 2013
Date: March 9; Venue: Fieberbrunn PillerseeTal (AUT)
Disciplines: ski & snowboard, women & men 6th stop: Verbier Xtreme 2013
Date: March 23; Location: Verbier (SUI)
Disciplines: ski & snowboard, women & men
