Just four days after the 2nd stop in Courmayeur, the most experienced freeriders once again took to the competition slope on the Aiguille Pourrie in the La Flegere ski area in Chamonix. The competition was moved there at short notice to take advantage of the perfect conditions. The four winners are all considered favorites for this year's overall victory and so Christine Hargin (SWE), Laura Dewey (USA), Drew Tabke (USA) and Chamonix local Jonathan Charlet (FRA) were able to significantly improve their positions in the overall standings. Particularly pleasing from an Austrian perspective: two Austrians, Nadine Wallner and Fabio Studer, took second place among the skiers. And the German Aline Bock was delighted with third place in the snowboarder category.
Freeride World Tour - Third Stop in Chamonix from Ride on Scott on Vimeo. In contrast to the competition on the other side of Mont Blanc, this time the competition was able to take place on the first possible day. Perfect weather ensured the best visibility - for spectators and riders alike - and the slope was groomed by the organizers for the entire week before being used by motivated freeriders. The north side of the Aiguille Pourrie is considered a challenging downhill variant in the La Flégère ski area and a few locals were certainly unhappy with the FWT organizers' decision. No wonder, as the conditions were really excellent.
The results
Women's skiing1. Christine Hargin (SWE)
2. Nadine Wallner (AUT)
3. Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR)
4. Huber Lorraine (AUT)
5. Wright Chrystal (USA) Men's ski
1. Drew Tabke (USA)
2. Fabio Studer (AUT)
3. Wille Lindberg (SWE)
4. Barkeret Reine (SWE)
5. Lopez Julien (FRA)
6. White-Allen Oakley (USA)
7. Heiz Jerermie (SUI)
8. Lyons Charlie (NZL) Snowboard Women
1. Laura Dewey (USA)
2. Margot Rozies (FRA)
3. Aline Bock (GER) Snowboard men
1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA)
2. Ralph Backstrom (USA)
3. Sammy Luebke (USA)
4. Van Helfteren Irian (NED)
5. Orley Flo (AUT)
Snowboard women: Christine Hargin ahead of Nadine Wallner and Pia Nic Gundersen
A start-to-finish success seems to be in the offing for the women's skiers! Christine Hargin from Sweden once again impressed the judges with her confident skiing style. She completed her run in complete control, even though she was in no way inferior to the men in terms of height and distance in the introductory jump into the face! It was the current world champion's second success of the year and she is now even more of a favorite to be crowned freeride world champion 2013. "I'm very happy about my run and the victory," said a jubilant Hargin at the finish. "I skied exactly the line I had planned. The standard in the women's race is very high, I really had to fight. Now I'm looking forward to Kirkwood!"". After her surprising second place in Revelstoke, Nadine Wallner from Arlberg also took second place in Chamonix, confirming her great form. She qualified for the FWT series last year via the FWQ events and will certainly no longer be the underdog at the next stop in Kirkwood. "At the start I was very calm and very focused on my run. I was able to execute it the way I had it in my head," said Wallner after the race. "I did well on all three features, the skiing conditions were really great. Of course I'm totally happy to be back on the podium this year and I'm now looking forward to Kirkwood." Third place went to Scandinavian Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR), who had already put in a solid run at the first stop in Canada. Lorraine Huber (AUT) from Lech, ninth in the FWT overall standings last year and competing for the first time this season, finished in fourth place. Just like on the podium in Chamonix, Christine Hargin (SWE) now has a commanding lead in the overall standings ahead of Nadine Wallner (AUT) and Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR).
Men's skiing: Drew Tabke ahead of Fabio Studer and Helle Lindberg
Drew Tabke once again demonstrated his skills with a very confident and aggressive run, starting his fast line with a respectable drop. On the second feature in the North Face, he incorporated a spontaneous, unreal-looking change of direction into the jump so that he could even reach the targeted landing point. But the long 360 just before the finish arch also looked like a minor feat. The judges justifiably rewarded his run with an outstanding 91.67 points.
With his run, last year's runner-up surpassed the sensational performance of Fabio Studer from Koblach/Vorarlberg (AUT), who put a Hand Drag Cork 360 and a Leftside Cork 720 into the slope and showed a technically very demanding run. After his fifth place in Courmayeur, the FWT newcomer took second place. "It was great fun skiing here in Chamonix today, everything went really well for me," said the Vorarlberg native. "I'm really happy about my second place". He is also likely to be a force to be reckoned with at the other stops. Third-placed Swede Wille Lindberg showed with three high cliff drops that even without freestyle tricks you can still finish high up at an FWT event. He will also be a force to be reckoned with at the upcoming events. Stefan Häusl from Strengen am Arlberg came 13th; Tom Leitner from Traunstein (GER) was 23rd. Markus Eder (ITA) unfortunately crashed after a promising start, as did Matthias Haunholder (AUT). Drew Tabke (USA) leads the overall standings ahead of Jérémie Heitz (SUI) and defending champion Reine Barkered (SWE).
Basti Hannemann has a horror crash - but fortunately remains uninjured!
Basti Hannemann started the face with a controlled jump and wanted to follow it up with his special discipline - a backflip. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but Basti landed a little behind on the backflip and got too much speed. While trying to get the maneuver back under control, his ski opened up and Basti set a new tomahawk record. Quite a few spectators were left breathless by this fall and everyone was happy when he gave the sign that he was uninjured. We spoke to him after his run (the full interview will appear in the preview for the 4th stop in Kirkwood): "I've actually never been as relaxed as I was before the run today - was super focused and not nervous at all. I was just looking forward to my line. Everything was going really well until the mess started - after the backflip. I overshot it a bit and with the conditions behind it, which were much, much worse than expected, I couldn't get it under control.".
Women's snowboard: Laura Dewey ahead of Margot Rozies and Aline Bock
In the women's snowboard competition, for which Chamonix was also the second stop after Revelstoke, American Laura Dewey (USA) took her first victory on the FWT. Margot Rozies (FRA), already second in Revelstoke, also took silver in Chamonix. The 2010 FWT World Champion, Aline Bock (GER), who is competing in the FWT again this season after a break from competition, was delighted with third place: "It was great fun, I found some powder at the top, although it was already very rugged. After my crash in Revelstoke, I'm super happy to have stayed on my feet here and I'm confident again for the next races." Margot Rozies (FRA) now leads the rankings ahead of Laura Dewey (USA) andElodie Mouthon (FRA); Aline Bock (GER) is fifth.
Snowboard men: Jonathan Charlet ahead of Ralph Backstrom and Sammy Luebke
In the snowboard contest, the crowd was able to cheer on the victory of the local hero: FWT defending champion Jonathan Charlet (FRA) showed a gigantic air and a 360 and was delighted with his victory: "I'm very happy with my run. I put a lot of pressure on myself because all my family and friends are here in Chamonix. I skied this face two years ago and chose a similar line but added a few tricks. It was a great day for me, great snow and at home!"" Second place went to the winner of Revelstoke, Ralph Backstrom (USA), who found a creative line and impressed with confident landings. Sammy Luebke (USA) took third place on the podium with a high-speed run. Flo Orley from Innsbruck (AUT) came fifth and said after his run: "It was a special contest as we were up on the mountain before sunrise with Mont Blanc behind us. The snow conditions were very changeable. I'm happy with fifth place; I'm gradually getting into the swing of things and improving from contest to contest!"" Max Zipser from Innsbruck (AUT) finished 12th in Chamonix. Ralph Backstrom (USA) leads the overall standings ahead of Emilien Badoux (SUI) and Aurélien Routens (FRA). Flo Orley (AUT) is 10th.
More pictures and the results lists in the gallery
The rest of the Freeride World Tour 2013 competition calendar:
4th stop: Freeride World Tour Kirkwood 2013
Date: 27. February; Location: Kirkwood (USA)
Disciplines: Ski & Snowboard, Women & Men 5th stop: Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal 2013
Date: March 9; Location: Fieberbrunn PillerseeTal (AUT)
Disciplines: ski & snowboard, women & men 6th stop: Verbier Xtreme 2013
Date: March 23; Location: Verbier (SUI)
Disciplines: ski & snowboard
