Once again a perfectly organized Freeride World Qualifier event with top snow conditions on the faces of La Maretze and Mont Gond! Nicolai Göz was in Valais for PowderGuide and gives us an insight into the top-class qualifier event!
Conditions Base
The ski resort of Nendaz in the 4 Vallées has increasingly developed into one of the freeride hotspots in Europe in recent years. The charming village in the heart of the Lower Valais is known for its extremely playful, varied terrain and beautiful surrounding mountains. On the other hand, the region also receives a lot of snowfall in winter and the mountains with their north-easterly orientation preserve fine powder perfectly. This was also the case this year and great conditions for the 10th edition of the Nendaz Freeride were pre-programmed - certainly one of the highlights of the FWQ series for many riders!
Game is really on in Switzerland
After the previous events of the Swiss Freeride Series - the Verbier Freeride Week in January and the Morgins Freesessions in February - the Nendaz Freeride was the penultimate FWQ contest this year before the First Track Chandolin. However, the Nendaz Freeride is the only 4* event in the Swiss mountains. That's why freeriders from almost every continent come together every year when the motto is: Nendaz is on! The top-class field of riders raises the riding level to Freeride World Tour level!
Drop in!
Quick basics: The Nendaz Freeride consists of a qualifying competition on Dent de Nendaz and a final on Mont Gond - both mountains are loaded with cliff drops and features. Only a few riders qualify for the final! So the qualifier on La Maretz Face is a highlight in itself.
Day 1
On Friday morning (11.3.). all riders had to get to the mountain restaurant at Tracouet so as not to miss the obligatory riders meeting for the qualification. As with most Freeride World Qualifier events, there are presentations and videos on the snow conditions at the contest face and the necessary safety equipment, as well as the judging. Once again, this was done by the main organizer Cyril Lanfranchi and the head judge Florian Bühler, so that the motivation of all riders was awakened! I was very lucky to have got a place from the waiting list and was allocated start number 2, which meant I was able to open the contest as the first starter in the best powder. There was no time left for a face check, but since I know the mountain pretty well as a local, I already knew a nice line with several cliffs, which would ultimately be enough to make it to the final! After my run, there was of course still enough time for socializing, watching lots of other runs (128 riders were at the start in total!) and then checking the final face with new and old shred contacts and going freeriding myself. The results were only announced in the evening at the "Bib-Draws" for the final. But until then you could watch the best film shots of the day: Once again a truly world-class kick-off! See for yourself: Contest Video Quali:
Day 2
On Saturday morning (March 12), all riders who had qualified for the final had to get to the mountain restaurant at Plan du Fou, which can be reached via Siviez. Once again, there were presentations for the riders regarding safety regulations, event procedures and the snow conditions on Mont Gond, which received about 6 meters of snow this winter! Afterwards, there were several opening runs to watch, proving to the riders that the snow conditions on the mountain were pretty damn good! Also thanks to Pascal Giordiani (Pascalou!), a local who kept the mountain closed to unwanted visitors for a week and set up a little "Hobbit Home" for this time, including a snow bear on watch. A total of 24 skiers (out of 60), 11 snowboarders (out of 29), 9 ski girls (out of 22) and 6 (out of 17) snowboarders qualified for the final. Once again, the snowboarders were first on the start list, which is why I and a few friends, such as local Tibor Sesti and Angelo Werlen from Upper Valais, went straight to the ascent to Mont Gond without another extensive face check. However, there was still enough time during this 45-minute hike to take a last look at the lines.
Then, however, the time had come quickly. Arriving at the top, the first riders were already at the start and so you had to make the final preparations for your descent quickly before it was time to drop in! The riders, who all tried to ride very nice lines, once again put on a top-class show on this day! Insane cliff drops and jumps combined with backflips and 360s, as well as crazy speeds during the descent added to the show effect! Most contestants are drawn to the opposite slopes of Mont Gond to watch the finals, from where a perfect view of the mountain is guaranteed. What's more, from the very close slopes you get the impression - as some riders put it - of sitting on Mont Gond yourself, which is why you can really feel the excitement! Video of the final:
After a top event, it was time for the award ceremony in the evening at a nice riders party in the Cactus Saloon! As the results were already known after the individual categories, there were no surprises! Congratulations to all the winners! You can find the links to the individual runs here:
Feedback
In addition to the riding at the Nendaz Freeride, which is certainly at the highest FWQ level, the organization at this final was once again at such a high level that there is absolutely nothing to complain about! Live streaming of the event on the internet, live judging, all runs available on YouTube, a large spectator area on the slopes of the Plan du Fou and at the summit restaurant (including live broadcast of the individual runs on a big screen) - it's absolutely impressive how the Nendaz Freeride has developed into one of the best and most popular events in the FWQ series! Many thanks also to the photographers Matthieu Blache, Allain Blanc, JP Guillermin and Antoine Fournier for the great photos!
Outlook
Simply tip-top Nendaz Freeride, as they say here in Valais! As a rider, I can only say to the organizers: Just keep it up - it's the kind of contest you want! Top-class down to the last detail! All the best - for more top events and that everything stays the way it is! Santé Nendaz Freeride - a la prochaine fois!
