Chamonix

She has been skiing for as long as she can remember. She skied her first races at the age of six. She later turned her back on alpine ski racing. But she remained true to her passion for skiing. As one of the best freeriders in the world, Sonja Lercher competes in the Freeride World Tour (FWT). The 33-year-old appears for an interview at the International Sports Fair in Munich on crutches after a fall. At the tour stop in Chamonix, the Munich native broke her tibia during a competition. A conversation about forced breaks, backflips, avalanches, tattoos and why trees bring independence into her life.

The Chevalier Couloir is relatively little used, at least if you consider its easy accessibility from the Grands Montet mountain station. However, it is an interesting, consistently steep couloir, even if the start admittedly often presents some difficulties.

After the unfortunately somewhat warm start, a whole series of small to medium dumps now follows. And that means PowderAlert again.

Christine Hargin and Drew Tabke underline their role as favorites among the skiers on this year's Freeride World Tour. Jonathan Charlet wins on his home mountain, as does Laura Dewey among the snowboarders.

At the moment, the Freeride World Tour is going full steam ahead: the third tour stop in Chamonix is expected to take place on Saturday (26.1.2013). The second stop of the Freeride World Tour 2013 in Courmayeur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc was also a complete success. Now it's off to the shady side of the highest mountain in the Alps - to Chamonix. However, the competition will most likely be held again in the Brevent/Flegere ski resort at the Pentes de l'Hotel.

Somewhat belatedly, the oracle looks into his crystal ball and sees fresh snow for the northern slopes of the Alps. Ullr has finally finished his Christmas vacation and pushes this annoying warm high into the orcus. It has already started to snow from the northwest and won't stop until Saturday morning.

At last Ullr is listening to the envious deep snow divers east of the Arlberg, because they haven't exactly been spoiled with dumps so far, so now the cornucopia is also being poured out in the east of Felix Austria.

From March 23 to 25, 2012, the BigLePowSki– event series took place in Chamonix (France) for the first time. No other ski resort in the Alps can keep up with the off-piste possibilities of the five resorts in the Chamonix Valley, so it seemed only a matter of time before the Dude made an appearance here too. With sunshine and good snow conditions, the participants were able to explore the off-piste terrain of Les Grands Montets on Saturday and Brévent / Flégère on Sunday with the local guides. The BigLePowSki is organized by Black Diamond, Arc?teryx, Diamir, Freeride Maps, Pieps and Polartec.

From March 23 to 25, 2012, the third BigLePowSki Freeski Happening of the 2012 season will take place - and for the first time, the Dude will be making a guest appearance in the Mecca of steep face skiing, Chamonix! A series of workshops, testing opportunities and of course the legendary Dude Party await all participants. The BigLePowSki event series is presented by Black Diamond, Arc?teryx, Diamir Fritschi, FreerideMap, Polartec and Pieps.

Sam Smoothy (NZL) wins a stop of the FWT for the first time and then immediately in the freeride mecca of Chamonix (FRA). With his fluid riding style, he clearly set himself apart from Reiner Barkered (SWE) and Oakley White-Allen. The latter now leads the overall standings. In the women's event (skiing), Jaclyn Paaso (USA) could not be beaten by Angel Collinson (USA) and Janina Kuzma (NZL). The snowboard competition was won by French local Douds Charlet (FRA), who finished on the podium ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA) and his compatriot Aurelien Routens (FRA). The women's podium (snowboard) was also dominated by North Americans: Maria Debari (USA) won ahead of Margot Rozies (FRA) and Shannan Yates (USA).

Sam Smoothy (NZL) wins a stop of the FWT for the first time and then immediately in the freeride mecca of Chamonix (FRA). With his fluid riding style, he clearly set himself apart from Reiner Barkered (SWE) and Oakley White-Allen. The latter now leads the overall standings. In the women's event (skiing), Jaclyn Paaso (USA) could not be beaten by Angel Collinson (USA) and Janina Kuzma (NZL). The snowboard competition was won by French local Douds Charlet (FRA), who finished on the podium ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA) and his compatriot Aurelien Routens (FRA). The women's podium (snowboard) was also dominated by North Americans: Maria Debari (USA) won ahead of Margot Rozies (FRA) and Shannan Yates (USA).

No sooner have I hung my snorkel from the Dumpicane© on the wall than the next alarm goes off! After the Dumpicane© has put even my rather optimistic estimates in their place and delivered over 150 cm of snow (together with the snow from the two days before, the SLF says up to 2 m!), Santa Dump is now at the door and wants to open his northern bag. Praise Ullr! (Sorry to the southern side of the Alps, you'll have to go on suffering).