Open Faces

Two Pinzgau freeriders, Sabine Schipflinger and Siobhan Challis, dominated the sunny first edition of the OPEN FACES Freeride Contest in Uttendorf-Weißsee, Salzburg. In the men's ski category, there is currently no way around Tyrolean Stefan Jöchl, while Sabine Schipflinger (AUT) won the women's ski category. First place in the snowboarder category went to Gergo Szkalák from Hungary, while Siobhan Challis (AUT) won the women's competition.

We have a short review of the Open Faces FWQ stops in Axamer Lizum and Kappl for you by rider reporters Jochen Mesle and Julian Zenzmaier. The Freeride World Qualifier in Axams was held as a 3* event for the first time this year and put on a correspondingly big show. Exactly one week later, the third stop in Kappl (2*) also took place. The contest face on the Quellspitze, already known as a Freeride World Tour alternative location, had great snow conditions right to the end thanks to the good slope location (south-east), so nothing stood in the way of the contest taking place.

For the first time, the Open Faces Axamer Lizum was held as a 3-star Freeride World Qualifier, and the performance density and starting field in the Lizum were accordingly high-caliber, as the face unfortunately only offered a few opportunities. For the first time in the history of the Open Faces series, the winners came from four different nations.

76 freeriders from 11 nations conquered the face on the "Stoana Mandl" at the season opener of the Open Faces series on the Hochkönig. After heavy gusts of wind had initially delayed the start, the Hochkönig finally gave the hoped-for GO for the start of the Open Faces and at the same time the start of the Austrian Freeride Series. Birgit Ertl from Radstadt won the women's ski category, Siobhan Challis won the women's snowboard category and skier Maximilian Dettenhofer and snowboarder Andreas Bichler won the men's category. For PowderGuide, participant Stephanie Posch reports on her day at the contest:

The Austrian Freeride Series kicks off its second season with the 1* Qualifier Open Faces Hochkönig on February 1st. At ten stops in four federal states, freeriders will be battling for no less than 9340 FW Qualifier points and the title of Austrian Freeride Champion over the coming months.

No big surprise: the second Open Faces tour stop in Kappl has unfortunately also had to be postponed due to a lack of snow.

New date: 14-16.02.2014. As part of yesterday's Open Faces Kick Off Party in Innsbruck, the Open Faces organizers also announced the new date for the postponed three-star competition in the Axamer Lizum. This is now to be held on the second weekend in February, i.e. from February 14th to 16th. However, the date for the Open remains open due to the unchanged snow conditions; the Open Faces crew will also provide an update on this next Saturday, January 11.

On March 23, 2013, I took part in the X Over 1* Freeride World Qualifier Contest on the Kitzsteinhorn in Salzburgerland. This contest in late winter was also the last part of the Open Faces series.

Good conditions at the second attempt: The contest originally scheduled for February had to be postponed due to poor visibility and could now be held on 16.03.2013. This time, the mountains in the Paznaun valley had good snow conditions and the sun was at its best. In the afternoon, the beaming winners of almost 60 participants were announced: Angelika Kaufmann (ski), Martin Rofner (ski), Sanne Koeman (snowboard), Christoph Fuschlberger (snowboard). Contest participant and PowderGuide reporter Katharina Schröer recorded her impressions on site:

The Austrian freeride contest scene has grown considerably this winter. No fewer than five new Freeride World Qualifiers in the OPEN FACES Freeride Series have invited youngsters and established riders to put their skills to the test in contests. After four successful events, the OPEN FACES Freeride Series is now heading towards the finale on the Kitzsteinhorn. Before that, however, the postponed 2-star competition in Kappl will be rescheduled.

The countdown for the OPEN FACES 3* FWQ on the Stubai Glacier has begun. On February 23rd at the first 3-star qualifier on the Stubai Glacier, well-known names from the Austrian freeride scene have announced their participation: from Flo Orley and Max Zipser to Simon Wohlgenannt and Martin Rofner to Lorraine Huber and Angelika Kaufmann. After a break of several weeks, the Open Faces series is back and the higher-class 3* events are now all about overall victory.

Due to fresh snow and expected poor visibility as well as high avalanche danger, the OPEN FACES 2* Freeride World Qualifier in Kappl has been postponed to March 15-17, 2013.