With "only" 3 stars, the X-Over Ride in Kaprun doesn't shine as brightly on paper as some other FWQ events, but the riding level here was also more than respectable. After all, the X-Over Freeride contest on the Kitzsteinhorn is the last FWQ tour stop in the Alps in 2012 before the final in Norway.
In the last contests of the FWQ series, a considerable increase in freestyle elements could be seen in the contest lines. The competition slope in Kaprun with its flat intermediate sections once again offered plenty of opportunity to dig deep into the bag of tricks.
Once again, French rider Mathieu Bijasson managed this most impressively, combining a flatspin 3 and two 360s with impressive cliffs in the steep final slope. His compatriot Leo Slemmet only managed a backflip mixed with a 360 and a challenging double-cliff to take second place. The podium was completed by Austrian Martin Rofner, who was finally able to show off his great skiing skills after many unfortunate crashes.
In the women's race, Nadine Wallner from Austria was out of contention: she impressively distanced her competitors with cliff drops, which some of her male colleagues did not dare to attempt. Lotten Rapp and Berber Semmelink finished in second and third place.
Among the snowboarders, Niklas Hollsten from Finland managed a creative run with two switch 180ies, which was rewarded with the highest score by the judges. Alexander Hoffmann from Innsbruck, who still has a good chance of qualifying for the World Tour this season, finished in second place, with Raffael Bullet from Switzerland in third.
None of the Austrians made it onto the podium in the women's snowboard event. Victory went to Amber Schuecker from Australia, closely followed by Mikkaela Hollsten from Finland and Anouck Mouthon from France.