FREERIDE WORLD TOUR. Verbier, Switzerland – March 20, 2010 – More than six thousand spectators watched the world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders take on the impressive 600 vertical metre face of the Bec des Rosses in Verbier, Switzerland, for the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, celebrating its 15th edition. The women athletes were first down the mountain and the two women Freeride World Champions 2010 were crowned after the competition. Due to poor visibility, the competition was stopped for the men before the last seven athletes were able to go down the face. For the men the competition is therefore postponed to a later date this coming week as soon as there is a weather window. The last possible day is Sunday 28 March.

Norwegian skier Ane Enderud has had an impressive season going from strength to strength. After cancelling the first stage of the Freeride World Tour because of back problems, she won two of the following competitions, and was second once. With that consistent result she was crowned Freeride World Champion on Saturday, defending her title from last year.

Double Olympic silver medallist Julia Mancuso had an impressive first experience of freeride competitions, being the fastest women down the mountain and taking third.

Shannan Yates, American newcomer to the Freeride World Tour, won the women’s snowboard on the Bec des Rosses, with German Aline Bock taking second, giving her the World Champion title after four nice podiums this season. 

Women’s Results Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, Verbier

SKI WOMEN
1. Ane Enderud (NOR)
2. Jess McMillan (USA)
3. Julia Mancuso (USA)

SNOWBOARD WOMEN
1. ShannanYates (USA)
2. Aline Bock (GER)
3. Geraldine Fasnacht (SUI)
 
Women’s Freeride World Tour Ranking 2010

SKI WOMEN
1. Ane Enderud (NOR)
2. Jess McMillan (USA)
3. Jaclyn Paaso (USA)

SNOWBOARD WOMEN
1. Aline Bock (GER)
2. Susan Mol (USA)
3. Shannan Yates (USA)

Quotes Riders

Julia Mancuso (USA) – 3rd Nissan Xtreme by Swatch (ski)
“It was tough on top – it is the first time I skied such technical and steep skiing this year and the first time I skied on these skis. I followed J.T. Holmes (FWT athlete ski) advice not to stall before taking the jump and I got so much speed I missed some features in the end. There are a lot of similarities with downhill – you need to have a very high confidence level, go fast and fluid. I was here to have fun and challenge myself and I am happy I made it down without falling! It is such a cool face.”

Ane Enderud (NOR) – Freeride World Champion 2010 and winner Nissan Xtreme by Swatch (ski)
“I am obviously super happy with this result, after the disappointing start of the season when I had to cancel the Chamonix contest because of back problems. I just can’t believe I am on top! I got a bit lost and changed my line choice when I skied it and I was stoked to take the big cliff jump and land it clean without having inspected it before hand.”

Aline Bock (GER) - Freeride World Champion 2010 and 2nd Nissan Xtreme by Swatch (snowboard)
“We were so lucky with the weather in the morning. The Bec des Rosses welcomed us with sunshine and very good conditions, which we had not expected. Starting with the golden bib, leading the Freeride World Tour, gave me a lot of confidence. I chose to go for the windlip and I had fun jumping some other cliffs, while the run felt very fluent. To be second at such an event and then finally to be the World Champion is an unbelievable feeling.”

Freeride World Tour press release
20 March 2010, 19:30 CET

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