Steep gullies, spectacular cliff drops and unfortunately no livestream: the fourth stop of the Freeride World Tour in Haines (USA) was the hoped-for highlight, at least on site. In Alaska, Eva Walkner (AUT) and Logan Pehota (CAN) won among the skiers, while Anne-Flore Marxer (SUI/FRA) and Ryland Bell (USA) won among the snowboarders. Snowboard "gorilla" Flo Orley (AUT) took third place. Fabio Studer (AUT) and Stefan Häusl (AUT) took fourth and eighth place; Felix Wiemers (GER) was fifth.
The most important thing up front: You can watch the livestream and the runs here.
Due to technical problems with the satellite transmission from the remote Alaskan wilderness, the live webcast was unfortunately canceled this year, but the 31 participants started anyway. At "The Venue" face, the race was launched from two start gates at 1695 m and 1704 m. The east-northeast facing slope has an elevation gain of 650 meters and is located more than 30 miles away from Haines in the Chilkat Mountains. In contrast to the other FWT events, where the riders hike to the start, a helicopter brought them to the summit here in southeast Alaska. It snowed more than average in Haines this winter, so the riders had even more options than last year. In Haines, it was not only about the prestigious victory in the freeride dream destination of Alaska, but also about qualifying for the FWT final at the XTREME VERBIER (SUI) on April 2, 2016. Only the best twelve skiers, six snowboarders, six female skiers and four female snowboarders on the ranking list qualified for the last contest of the season on the rocky north slope de Bec des Rosses (3223 m). Only the best three results from the first four FWT tour stops in Vallnord-ArcalĂs (AND), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (FRA), Fieberbrunn KitzbĂĽheler Alpen (AUT) and Haines were taken into account.
Men's skiing: Studer now in third place in the overall standings
Logan Pehota (CAN) is riding his first season on the FWT, but the 21-year-old has already attracted attention several times with his mix of freestyle innovations and classic high-speed riding. He came fourth in Andorra and second in Chamonix - in Haines he took his first win with 90 points thanks to a stylish 360 and technically demanding passages. Second place with 88 points went to Loïc Collomb-Patton (FRA), the winner of Chamonix and runner-up in Fieberbrunn. The 2014 FWT World Champion started aggressively and put a huge 360 into the slope. The 2013 FWT World Champion, Drew Tabke (USA), also made it back onto the podium after a long dry spell - he had last finished third in Chamonix at the start of the 2015 season. With a creative line choice and a massive backflip, he secured 86.33 points, third place and thus qualification for Verbier. Fabio Studer, third in Chamonix, came fourth in Haines with 85.33 points. He performed two double cliffdrops at the top and a cork 360 and another jump at the bottom. "I'm still not a fan of fourth place, but at least I'm third in the overall ranking again," said the Vorarlberg native happily. Felix Wiemers, who recently came third in Fieberbrunn, confirmed his good form with fifth place. "It went cool, I did a backflip on a rock at the top where nobody else had done one," Wiemers explained his run. "However, I was then very fast and preferred to do just one jump instead of the planned double cliff drop. At the bottom, I then jumped a wide flat 360 on a windlip. I came fifth, so I'm happy with that. Now I want to keep my top ten place in Verbier!" Loïc Collomb-Patton (FRA) now leads the overall standings ahead of Logan Pehota (CAN) and Fabio Studer (AUT). Felix Wiemers (GER) is in seventh place ahead of Stefan Häusl (AUT). They have all qualified for the FWT final in Verbier. Benedikt Mayr (GER) was only fourteenth today after a crash and, as fourteenth in the overall standings, just missed out on the points that allow him to start in Verbier. Qualified for the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER final:
1- LoĂŻc Collomb-Patton (FRA) - 6900
2- Logan Pehota (CAN) - 6500
3- Fabio Studer (AUT) - 5280
4- Kristofer Turdell (SWE) - 4815
5- LĂ©o Slemett (FRA) - 4780
6- Reine Barkered (SWE) - 4560
7- Felix Wiemers (GER) - 4500
8- Stefan Häusl (AUT) - 4300
9- Jérémie Heitz (SUI) - 4295
10- Ivan Malakhov (RUS) - 4275
11- Dennis Risvoll (NOR) - 4090
12- Drew Tabke (USA) - 3955
Women's skiing: Walkner sovereign
The reigning FWT World Champion Eva Walkner from Salzburg (AUT) has come a big step closer to defending her title: With her proven mix of aggressive turns and high jumps, she scored 83.33 points today to take a commanding victory in Haines. Second place with 71.33 points went to Matilda Rapaport (SWE), who mastered technically difficult sections and an impressive air. Third place went to the winner from Fieberbrunn, Arianna Tricomi (ITA). She performed some of the highest cliff drops of the skiers, but landed backwards on one jump and was therefore deducted points. Walkner is now clearly in the lead in the overall standings ahead of Arianna Tricomi (ITA) and Matilda Rapaport (SWE). However, she must score points again in Verbier to secure the title. Nadine Wallner from Klösterle am Arlberg (AUT) did not make the trip to Alaska due to filming, but thanks to her previous results she has qualified for Verbier in fifth place in the overall standings. Qualified for the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER final:
1- Eva Walkner (AUT) - 7200
2- Arianna Tricomi (ITA) - 6280
3- Matilda Rapaport (SWE) - 5805
4- Jaclyn Paaso (USA) - 5755
5- Nadine Wallner (AUT) - 4955
6- Evelina Nilsson (SWE) - 4735
Snowboard men: title for Luebke, third place for Orley
Local hero Ryland Bell (USA), who was competing with a wild card, scored the highest score of the day among all participants with 95 points. Two huge 360s and a visionary transfer jump gave him first place. Sammy Luebke (USA) came in second with 90 points, celebrating the world championship title in Alaska after his victories in Chamonix and Fieberbrunn. He showed one of his typical 360s and super smooth turns. Flo Orley (AUT), as always in his farewell season in his gorilla costume, managed a spectacular line with a huge air. Due to an insecurity in the lower section, the Innsbruck native received deductions in the judging criterion control and therefore 73.33 points. Nevertheless, he was able to celebrate in the end, as third place meant he qualified for the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER. Orley has thus realized his dream of finishing his contest career by competing once again at the Bec des Rosses, where his international career began with a third place in 2000. Orley is in fifth place overall, second behind world champion Luebke is Jonathan Penfield (CAN) ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA). "I'm super happy to be on the podium for the first time this season after seventh, sixth and fifth place," Orley summed up. "This was exactly my terrain here in Alaska - fat mountains! I gave 100 percent and took full risks. Despite the problem at the end of the run, it worked out really well. I still have a chance of third place in the overall standings in Verbier, which is motivation enough!" Qualified for the final of the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER:
1- Sammy Luebke (USA) - 7200
2- Jonathan Penfield (CAN) - 5290
3- Ralph Backstrom (USA) - 5235
4- Camille Armand (FRA) - 5070
5- Florian Orley (AUT) - 5060
6- Christopher Galvin (USA) - 4735
Women's snowboard: Duel of the world champions
The duel is coming to a head: Anne-Flore Marxer (SUI); the winner of Chamonix and 2011 FWT World Champion scored points today against the reigning World Champion and winner of Andorra, Estelle Balet (SUI). The judges favored Marxer's creative line choice (88.33 p.) over Balet's straight line approach (80 p.). Third place went to Marion Haerty (FRA), who finished on the podium at all four events in her first FWT season and would have finished even higher today if she hadn't had problems exiting a couloir at the bottom of the slope (74 p.). Anne-Flore Marxer (SUI) is now also ahead of Estelle Balet (SUI) and Marion Haerty (FRA) in the overall standings - the decision on the world champion title will be made in Verbier! Qualified for the final at the SWATCH XTREME VERBIER:
1- Anne-Flore Marxer (FRA/SUI) - 7200
2- Estelle Balet (SUI) - 6900
3- Marion Haerty (FRA) - 6160
4- Elodie Mouthon (FRA) - 5580
