Freeride World Tour 2011: on 22nd January Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc

on Wednesday 19 January 2011
by Freeride World Tour
photo by Freeride World Tour

VIDEO: Nissan Freeride Chamonix 2011 by Swatch

Experienced veterans, unpredictable wildcards and hungry young FWQ qualifiers join the defending 2010 Freeride World Champions to form the best field of competitive freeriders ever. The 22 January start of the Chamonix Mont-Blanc leg of the FWT11 is just around the corner and excitement is building as the world begins to ask which of these outstanding freeriders will climb the podium at the first FWT event of the season.

Ski Men

There are plenty of strong riders who have the skills to succeed. Take for example, the Chamonix Mont-Blanc locals who claim home court advantage on the illustrious Hotel Face where the event will be held. First and foremost is Aurélien Ducroz who was Freeride World Champion in 2009 and is driven to reclaim the podium in front of his home crowd.

Also from Chamonix Mont-Blanc is Sam Favret, a talented 21 year old who enters his first FWT event as a local wildcard. Other local wildcards include Kye Peterson (CAN) whose unique relationship with the Mont Blanc range was documented in the full-length film Edge of Never , and Richard Permin, a white-hot French freestyler who, like Candide, is noted for bringing freestyle flash to the big mountains.

Others who could easily wind up with gold include Sweden’s Henrik Windstedt (3rd place Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2010 by Swatch, 3rd place overall FWT2010), Julien Lopez (5th place Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2010, 5th place overall FWT2010) and American Tim Dutton who surprised many Europeans (but few Americans who have watched this easygoing, big-mountain destroyer rocket to the top of the American freeride scene) with a fourth place finish in the Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2010 to open his rookie year on the tour.

It should also be noted that Sweden’s Sverre Lilieqvist, a part-time Chamonix Mont-Blanc resident and always a strong contender on home turf, is recovering from a knee injury and will decide whether or not to start within 48 hours of the event.

Snowboard Men

With three first place finishes in the FWT2010 and three Freeride World Champion titles (2008, 2009 and 2010) Xavier de Le Rue is arguably the most dominant force in big mountain snowboarding today. However, despite what many believe to be otherwise, the Pyrenéen native is not some snowboarding cyborg created by an alien super race that has been sent here to humiliate us mere humans. No, my friends, despite the superhuman skills Xavier is nothing but flesh and blood and this year’s FWT contenders are stronger than ever and on a good day there are several who have a good chance of dethroning the king.

The one FWT 2010 event that Xavier lost was won by Austrian powerhouse Mitch Toelderer (2nd overall Freeride World Tour 2010) who’s rocking up to the event in 2011 with the determination needed to defend his title. Check out this video of how Mitch selected his winning line in FWT10

Chamonix Mont-Blanc homegrown in the snowboarding division includes Douds Charlet (2nd Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2010) who was born and bred in Chamonix Mont-Blanc and fine-tuned his chops by keeping up with his all-star older brother. There’s also British wildcard James Stentiford (3rd place Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2010) who has spent more than 15 seasons in Chamonix Mont-Blanc and knows the Hotel Face better than most locals.

Rounding out the field of wildcards are Flo Orley (AUT), Martin Cernik (CZE) and Olympian Andy Finch (USA). The wildcards in the FWT11 are an amazingly strong crew who bring with them decades of experience and who all represent major threats to both the defending Freeride World Champion and defending Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2010 by Swatch title holder.

Ski Women

There have been rumors floating around the Interwebs that 2010 Freeride World Champion Ane Enderud (NOR) broke herself off and is out for the season. NOT TRUE. We speak frequently with the 2010 Freeride World Champion and while she did injure her leg and will sit out the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch she confirms that has not blown any ligaments and plans to be back to defend her title in the following events.

In addition, last year’s Chamonix Mont-Blanc winner and FWT10 second overall, Jess McMillan (USA), is also out temporarily with a back injury. However, like Ane, Jess expects to be back on the tour without missing too many events.

This leaves the contest wide open for riders like Eva Walkner (AUT) who scored second in the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2010 by Swatch, Janina Kuzma (NZL) who Jess believed to be her biggest threat, and FWT10 fourth overall Jaclyn Paaso (USA).

Others to watch include wildcard Marja Persson who finished second overall in the FWT09 but missed last season due to injury. Marja is fully recovered and firmly committed to reclaiming her place on the podium. The other wildcard is 2008 Freeride World Champion Elyse Saugstad (USA). After missing several FWT10 events in order to film, the Alaska native returns to the tour bringing big airs and an even bigger bunch of sassy.

Snowboard Women

Like the women’s ski event, the women’s snowboard event is too close to call. It’s true that World Freeride Champion Aline Bock (GER) is returning but in 2010 she placed third at the Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2010 behind that event’s winner Susan Mol (USA) and second place finisher Nathalie Zenklusen (SUI). While Susan will be sitting out the season with a broken femur, Nathalie will be back along with Vivian Aasen (NOR) and the top three finishers from an incredibly strong field at the La Clusaz Radikal Mountain 4* FWQ event, 15-20 January.

And the talent doesn’t end there. The wildcard in the 2011 women’s snowboarding event is a lady with not just strong freeride skills but mad freestyle chops as well, Anne-Flore Marxer (FRA). Although this is Anne-Flore’s first year on the tour, she’s got heaps of big mountain experience and is a fierce competitor who will definitely be one of the ladies to watch this year.

The Hotel Face

With what locals report as “the best pre-season snow in 10 years” the legendary 600-meter, 35˚- 40˚ Hotel Face on Chamonix Mont-Blanc’s Le Brévent ski station is boasting a pretty good base for January. As of this posting, the new year started with 20cm dumps on Friday 7 January, Sunday 9 January and Tuesday 11 January. If this cycle continues, the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2010 by Swatch will go off with good snow conditions. However, depending on the weather is a pretty big 'if' so best keep doing that snow dance just to make sure.

Stampa