After the kick-off in La Clusaz and the unfortunately canceled Engadinsnow, the top riders of the FWQ gathered in Hochfügen (Zillertal) in Tyrol from February 4 to 5, 2012 to really heat up the spectators despite (or perhaps because of!?) temperatures of around -20°C. The cold powder and the first-class starting field ensured a freeride show at the highest level.
The ski men in particular put on a top-class show. Jochen Mesle (GER), winner of the Open Contest a few weeks ago, managed a stylish 360 on the last cliff to take fifth place. Juan Bergada (ARG) opens the bag of tricks a little earlier, a huge WOW goes through the crowd when he disappears on the approach to the first cliff band and reappears with a mighty 360. If his run in the lower section had been just a little smoother, nothing would have stood in the way of the podium. There we find Fabian "Junior" Lentsch (AUT) in 3rd place, who finds the most creative line in the technical final section, turns off the main chute and flies towards the finish with a mighty leap over stick and stone. Second place goes to World Tour rider Sebastian Hannemann (GER), whose solid run was not enough to knock Dani Fornell Prat (AND) off the top step of the podium. The Andorran skier jumped all the drops higher and further than his competitors and seemed even faster than everyone else given the already high speed. But even outside the top 5, the level was extremely good, and the highlights video will provide a few more oohs and aahs.
The women were very fast, especially the female skiers. First and foremost Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR), who even left World Tour skier Lorraine Huber (AUT) behind with her speedy run. Matilda Rappaport (SWE) completes the podium. The snowboarders were also able to show spectacular runs thanks to the good conditions. Irian van Helfteren (NED) managed a clean run with a few drops, meaning that the World Tour riders Ludo Guillot-Diat (FRA) and Flo Orley (AUT) were also left behind. The female snowboarders show similarly fast runs as their male colleagues. Anouck Mouthon (FRA) wins ahead of Nathalie Zenklusen (SUI) and Manuela Mandl (AUT).
A few favorites are already emerging in the FWQ ranking, but the season is still long and a lot can and will happen between now and the final event in Röldal/Norway. The level is extremely high, the events are very well organized and the spectators also seem to enjoy the show. Huge praise once again to the organizers and all the event staff, who did a very good job in really unpleasant temperatures. Even when some cars didn't want to leave Hochfügen on Sunday morning due to weak batteries, frozen diesel or other problems. It's only thanks to Ossi, the helpful low-loader driver from the mountain railroads, that the FWQ circus can move on again and we can report on it again.
Editor's note: Special congratulations to our flying event reporters and photo models Fabi Lentsch and Jochen Mesle.