2nd FWT stop Fieberbrunn made up for in Andorra | Report

Women's snowboard

The start at Baser Negre belonged to the snowboarders. As at the regular Andorra stop a few days earlier, Estelle Balet (SUI) took first place. The Swiss rider scored 74.33 points for her fast run with five beautiful airs. The German halfpipe Olympic champion from 1998, Nicola Thost from Munich, showed several successful jumps and took second place with 62.33 points in her FWT debut. Third place went to Anouck Mouthon (FRA) with 60.00 points. "I can't believe it, second place! The slope suited me, as I'm more of a freestyler and it allowed for a lot of jumps. I did almost exactly the run I had planned. Unfortunately, I couldn't do any tricks because it was too rocky in places and then partly icy on the take-off," said Nicola Thost.

Estelle Balet (SUI) has taken the lead in the overall standings. Second is Elodie Mouthon (FRA), third is defending champion Shannan Yates (USA). Nicola Thost (GER), who did not take part in the first tour stop in Chamonix, came seventh and is therefore not qualified for Alaska despite her good placings at the two stops in Andorra.

Snowboard men

There was also a double winner in the men's event in Andorra: Jonathan Charlet (FRA) landed a 360, a double cliff and a high drop and impressed with a fast straight line through a chute. The 2012 world champion scored 86.67 points and finished at the top of the podium. Colin Boyd (USA) was very close behind in second place with 86.33 points. The American from Sugarloaf showed an original line, jumping a 360 right at the start and then scoring points with a double cliff and a technically demanding drop. Third place went to Ralph Backstrom (USA), who collected 85.00 points with several jumps and a high drop at the end. Flo Orley (AUT) showed a creative line, but was unable to land one of his jumps cleanly. The Innsbruck native, who had already finished on the podium twice this season, ended up in sixth place with 69.67 points. Alexander Hoffmann from Innsbruck finished 13th after a disappointing run, meaning the FWT season is over for him.

Jonathan Charlet (FRA) leads the overall standings after two victories in Andorra and tenth place at the season opener in Chamonix. Flo Orley (AUT) is second, ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA).

Men's skiing

George Rodney (USA), who joined the FWT as a newcomer to the 2015 season via the qualifier series, had already attracted attention on Friday with a fourth place. Rodney secured first place at Baser Negre. The 21-year-old showed a unique line in which he first completed a triple combination on a rock band and then stood a high cliffdrop. 88.67 points meant the first FWT victory for the newcomer. Second place went to Swedish veteran Wille Lindberg. The Swede first jumped over a rock into a couloir, then traversed to a double cliff and finished his run with a triple cliffdrop. 78.67 points for the 30-year-old, who had already come second at the FWT in Fieberbrunn in 2013. The judges gave Leo Slemett, the first starter, a somewhat low score as a guideline, which meant that the scores of the riders following him all had to be very close together.

As very few riders were able to pull off flawless runs, those with perfectly executed airs and conservative line choices were often scored higher than creative approaches with minor flaws. So third place went to Felix Wiemers from Biedenkopf (GER). The Hessian, whose best FWT finish to date was ninth place in Courmayeur 2014, started at the top with a drop and a line off the main groove. It led the 26-year-old to an additional jump that no other competitor had skied before, which he nailed just as perfectly as a very wide drop at the end of his run. As a result, the points from this confident run added up to 77.33 points and third place, moving him up to eleventh place in the overall ranking.

"I had to wait quite a long time after the rider in front of me got injured," reported Felix Wiemers. "I then took an easier line than originally planned. But it worked out really well and I was a bit surprised that I finished so far ahead. I'm incredibly happy that I've now come third and can go to Alaska."

Stefan Häusl from Strengen (AUT) shone with two high cliff drops and a fluid, fast line not dissimilar to Wiemers': 74.33 points, just three points less, meant seventh place in the final standings. He is now 14th in the overall standings and will therefore also be competing in Alaska: "I was under a lot of pressure today. I was sick at the first contest, I didn't ski well at the second stop and that's why I had to deliver today. I showed a very solid and strong run. The calculation worked out, experience won out. I'm obviously happy that I'm going to Alaska."

George Rodney (USA) leads the rankings ahead of Samuel Anthamatten (SUI), who finished ninth today. In third place is 2012 World Champion Reine Barkered (SWE), who only managed 27th place in the second Andorra competition.

Women's skiing

The freeskiers were not at the start today after they already had to (or were able to) complete their contest in Fieberbrunn in January and completed their third tour stop in Vallnord-Arcalis last Friday. Among others, Eva Walkner from Salzburg (AUT) as the overall leader and Lorraine Huber from Lech am Arlberg (AUT) as seventh in the overall standings are qualified for Alaska and also for the FWT 2016.

The fourth stop of the FWT will take place on March 14 in Haines, Alaska (USA). This is where the decision will be made as to who qualifies for the final at the 20th Xtreme Verbier (SUI) on March 28, 2015.