FREERIDE WORLD TOUR. Verbier, Switzerland – March 11, 2010 – The suspense is growing... Who will be crowned Freeride World Champion at the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch in Verbier, March 20, at the last stage of the 2010 Freeride World Tour? Considered to be the most prestigious Freeride competition in the world, the ”Xtreme” is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year -15 years of passionate freeriding and great sports performances on the mythical Bec de Rosses.

All the former winners of the event have been invited by the organisers to be present in Verbier to mark this special occasion.

After the first three Freeride World Tour stops in Russia, France and USA, only the top eight men ski, six men snowboard, three women ski and two women snowboard are invited to the finals in Verbier They will be joined by a few selected “wild cards”, as well as the winners from the Freeride World Qualifier, Nendaz Freeride.

Julia Mancuso (USA) – Double Silver Medallist Vancouver to Compete in Verbier

Fresh from her success at the Olympics in Vancouver, Julia Mancuso will travel from the USA to participate in the event. She is without doubt one of the exciting wild cards for this year’s competition.
“Competing in the Verbier Xtreme is something that I've been wanting to do since I came to Verbier to participate in another event a couple of years ago. The Bec des Rosses is challenging. Last year when I was visiting in Verbier I knew it was something I wanted to conquer. Just standing at the top and looking down is exhilarating. I've never done a freeride competition but when I saw that the Xtreme was scheduled after our World Cup tour ended, I thought why not! It’s another way I can challenge my own skiing and free skiing has always been a passion of mine.
Growing up in Squaw, I have had so many inspirational skiers to look up to. Of course JT Holmes and Cody Townsend have helped me push my limits, and I am really in awe of everyone out there living their passion and skiing for the love of the sport.”

Nissan Xtreme by Swatch Live from Verbier

For those who want to follow the competition but cannot make it to Verbier, it is possible to view it live on the internet or on a mobile phone with internet connection. Go to www.freerideworldtour.com on contest day for the live link.

The Former Winners of the 15 Years of the Xtreme are:

Snowboard women:
Ruth LEISIBACH (SUI)
Géraldine FASNACHT (SUI)
Lori GIBBS (USA)
Julie ZELL (USA)
Eva SANDELGARD (SWE)
Julie LARSEN (USA)
 
Ski women:
Marja PERSSON (SWE)
Elyse SAUGSTAD (USA)
Giulia MONEGO (ITA)
Ane ENDERUD (NOR)
 
Snowboard men:
Cyril NERI (SUI)
Mitch TOLDERER (AUT)
Steve KLASSEN (USA)
Axel PAUPORTE (BEL)
Jeremy JONES (USA)
Xavier DE LE RUE (FRA)
Alex COUDRAY (SUI)
Ashley CALL (USA)
 
Ski men:
Aurélien DUCROZ (FRA)
Kaj ZACKRISSON (SWE)
Olivier MEYNET (FRA)
Sébastien MICHAUD (FRA)
Jean-Yves MICHELLOD (FRA)

The 2010 Freeride World Tour's four stages:

1. NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENTURE BY SWATCH - SOCHI, RUSSIA
Date: Competition postponed to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - 4 February 2010

2. NISSAN FREERIDE OF CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC - FRANCE
Date: 31 January 2010

3. NISSAN TRAM FACE - SQUAW VALLEY USA – UNITED STATES
Date: 1 March 2010

4. NISSAN XTREME BY SWATCH - VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
Date: 20 March 2010

  Tweet