Freeride World Tour: The Season Opened with Full-Throttle Lines & Huge Airs

Vallnord-Arcalís welcomed the 2016 Swatch Freeride World Tour with plenty of sunshine and pow. 61 male and female professional riders across two disciplines have made the trip to Andorra for the first out of five stops on this world championship tour and the event turned a great success. Riders and spectators alike were treated to blue skies and some high clouds with excellent riding conditions in the Andorran resort. After a relatively dry start, a recent storm dumped enough snow on the fantastically featured peaks of this ski resort that is quickly becoming the most important freeride destination in the Pyrenees mountains. Read on.

28. 1. 2016

Riders made their way to Basser Negre zone after a short climb from the Basera chairlift. The terraced and feature-dense Coste Negre face offered riders a combination of tight couloirs along with clean run-outs and a multitude of options for taking big air. From its summit at 2680m, the competition face measures nearly 400m vertical meters at 40° allowing competitors ample opportunity to get creative as they make their way towards the finish line.

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / J.Bernard

After the building anticipation of the summer months, riders were finally able throw down their best lines for the first time this season. While shady aspects harbored excellent riding conditions, the sun-kissed aspects offered a bit more of a challenge for riders as conditions were less consistent on these faces.

Snowboard Men

It was tough to keep an eye on Londoner Sascha Hamm (GBR) as he hammered a powerful line with big airs right off the summit to take the top spot. Christoffer Granbom (SWE) followed suite with a powerful run and airs that showed mastery of the difficult conditions bringing him into second place. Young Chamoniard Camille Armand (FRA) came in third with a strong run that featured a smoothly stomped backflip mid-venue.

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / A.Enguita

Snowboard Women

Reigning champ Estelle Balet (SUI) once again took the top spot as her creative line choice demonstrated this young rider’s experienced skillset. Marion Haetry (FRA) took an impressive line in the same zone as Sascha Hamm, but unfortunately had some loose riding near the finish that pushed her into the second place. Mikaela Hollsten (FIN) held a strong run together that nudged former Olympian Kjersti Buaas (NOR) off the podium.

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / A.Enguita

Ski Women

Jaclyn Paaso (USA) always sends it big and today was no exception. With some huge airs up high on the venue, Passo was able to once again emerge victorious in today’s event. Former champion Eva Walkner (AUT) put together a solid run skiing a creative line on the skier’s left of the venue for a second place finish. Third on the podium was rookie Evelina Nilsson (SWE) who demonstrated excellent control and solid riding.

Ski Men

The level of competition was incredibly high today as riders were able to combine creative freestyle tricks with full-throttle runs. Jérémie Heitz (SUI) had a screaming fast run but once again saw the first place spot slip away as Kirstoffer Turdell (SWE) hammered an incredibly impressive line down the face with a huge air, taking the top spot (check his GoPro run below). With a risky but technically difficult line with big airs, Ivan Malahkov came in very close behind Heitz. Unfortunately, local favorite Dani Fornell-Prat (AND) sustained a leg injury along with Kiwi crusher Sam Smoothy (NZL).

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / A.Enguita

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / T.Lloyd

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / J.Bernard

Photo: © freerideworldtour.com / A.Enguita

After the incredible performances by these top freeriders, their fate will be determined during the upcoming four stops as they make their way to the finals in Verbier, Switzerland. Don’t miss out on the next stop on February 6, 2016 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, where riders will prove themselves at the fabled freeride Mecca.

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