Skip to content

Cookies 🍪

This site uses cookies that need consent.

Learn more

Zur Powderguide-Startseite Zur Powderguide-Startseite
events

Rider report | 1* FWQ Hochkar 2017

Big check under a blue sky

by Stephanie Jagl-Posch 01/29/2017
While it is now certain that the FWT will kick off its season between February 9 and 16, 2017 with two contests in Vallnord-Arcalís (Andorra) due to the lack of snow in Chamonix, the only 1* qualifier event took place in the very east of the Alps last weekend. Rider reporter Stephanie was there for us and took part in the event, which is designed to help newcomers to contest freeriding, among other things:

At 7:00 a.m. on January 27, 2017, the accreditation of the starters for the FWQ* contest on the Hochkar in Lower Austria began. It was already clear that the sky would be bright blue that day. After the riders meeting at the JoSchi Berghaus at 8:45 a.m., where all the important information about the procedure and rules of the freeride contest was handed out, all participants had a little time to inspect the steep slope below the Scheineck, which would be ridden that day.

From the black slope in the large cirque, you could inspect the slope to choose the route that best suited you. They talked shop about which jump would be realistic to land and in which area the snow might not be as good as in other places. After this face check, all the starters were comfortably whisked up the double chairlift past the contest slope and close to the summit. From the mountain station, the first stop was the safety check. There it was checked whether everyone was wearing a transmitting avalanche transceiver. A back protector is also part of the mandatory equipment and, as of this year, Recco reflectors are also used as an additional aid and therefore checked for their functionality.

After a very short walk to the start gate, all riders were then able to relax and wait in the sun for their run. This time, FM4 presenter Heinz Reich, who had already trained diligently the day before with his coach, freeride pro Matthias "Hauni" Haunholder, did the honors as the forerunner. A total of 60 starters then ventured out on skis or snowboards onto the eastern slope below the Scheineck, which was over 40 degrees in places.

The conditions were not perfect. Although there was enough snow on the slope, it was relatively hard and uneven. The top priority for all participants was therefore to maintain control. Nevertheless, there were some very spectacular runs to marvel at. The slope is crossed diagonally by two striking rock bands, which offer plenty of opportunities for drops and tricks. As an added bonus this year, there was the opportunity to take a kicker built especially for the contest shortly before the finish and the audience area, on which some wild tricks - such as a backflip - were presented.

Among the snowboarders, Tyrolean Gabriel Indrist impressed the most with his freestyle-heavy run. He secured first place, ahead of the Germans Christoph Hesselbach and Philip Volker, who took second and third place. There was an Austrian podium in the men's ski event. Sebastian Hiersche, last year's winner, successfully defended his title. Richard Prodinger secured second place and Florian Fiedler took third place. Ellen Håkman from Sweden, Vera Lentner from Germany and Hannah Haglund, also from Sweden, made it onto the women's podium. It was a special experience for the two friendly Swedish skiers to share the podium. First place in the women's snowboard category went to Bertrun Waldhans from Lower Austria, who scored the most points with a fluid run. Christel Van de Wal from the USA took third place and the author of this article, Stephanie Jagl-Posch, also from Lower Austria, was delighted with second place.

More photos from the event can be found on Facebook.

Photo gallery

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

Show original (German)

Related articles

Comments