FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2012 (FWT). Fieberbrunn, Austria, March 10, 2012 - The Tyrolean village of Fieberbrunn Austria hosted the last stage of the Swatch Freeride World Tour before the finals in Verbier, Switzerland. With the fantastic freeriding conditions, fresh powder, and beautiful blue skies, riders were fired-up to give the mountain their best shot and attempt to secure a place in the finals. With the small village filled to capacity with over 3400 spectators, riders delivered an awesome performance. Fresh powder snow on the aesthetic North face of the Wildseeloder (2117m) allowed the skier and American hero Drew Tabke to light up the venue with his creative lines and massive 360 into a smooth backflip. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) kept the snowboaders’ level high with a run that defines the word ‘fluid.’ The women are certainly not be left out; local ski favourite Eva Walkner (AUT) displayed some impressive riding and snowboarder Liz Kristoferisch cranked out some adrenaline-filled lines, bringing it home for Austria.

Men Ski: 1: Drew Tabke (USA) / 2: Kevin Guri (FRA) / 3: Reine Barkered (SWE)
Snowboard Men: 1: Jonathan Charlet (FRA) / 2: Flo Orley (AUT) / 3: Aurelién Routens (FRA)
Women Ski: 1: Eva Walkner (AUT) / 2: Christine Hargin (SWE) / 3: Janina Kuzma (NZL)
Snowboard Women: 1: Liz Kirstoferitsch (AUT) / 2: Shannan Yates (USA) / 3: Maria Kuzma (NZL)

Ski Men

Drew Tabke’s (USA) mixed high-level big mountain skiing with smooth freestyle tricks in his typical trademark style. Tabke’s line was a treat to watch and upped the ante for other riders. Kevin Guri (FRA) charged into second place with a huge double air and screaming-fast line. Tabke moved up one notch and is now in 2nd place on the World Tour while Sam Smoothy (NZL) maintains his leads. With a rough crash early in the event, previous favourites such as Oakley White-Allen (USA) were not able to hold it together for a podium finish. As always, the Swedish bullet Reine Barkered fired a high-speed line with stomped airs bringing him to a 3rd place finish.

Snowboard Men

Jonathan Charlet (FRA) rode a creative line with a technical couloir entrance and a couple of solid airs. Charlet’s creative approach was enough give him 1st place finish and raise the bar for other the snowboarders. Charlet now sits on top of the overall Freeride World Tour Ranking. Flo Orley (AUT) delivered his patented solid line style and technical riding. As impressive as Orley’s line was, it was not enough to place an Austrian on the top of the men’s snowboard podium. The Frenchman Aurelién Routens (FRA) rode a powerful line with a big double-set air that brought him into a respectable 3rd place.

Ski Women

There must be something in the girls’ water because they certainly took it to the next level. Eva Walkner (AUT) proved she wanted the podium with a powerful full-throttle line and big stomped airs. Walkner has moved up the ranks and now has to top American Angel Collinson to take the overall lead. The Swede Christine Hargin (SWE) kept her composure stayed on her feet for a smooth run, riding fast top to bottom and putting her in second place. Coming in third place, the Kiwi Janina Kuzma (NZL) showed her fellow athletes how to ski powerfully with several stomped airs on a creative and aesthetic line.

Snowboard Women

The girl snowboarders definitely put on an amazing show today with Liz Kirstoferitsch (AUT) standing on top of the podium with an innovative line that started with switch riding and came around with a half-cab (riding backwards and then jumping in the air a forward-riding stance) and some solid airs. Shannan Yates (USA) put the pedal to the metal on a powerful, technical line with clean airs. Yates bold line and confident riding landed her a second place finish. The Kiwi rider Maria Kuzma showed the girls a fun time with a creative line choice and a 3rd place finish. Overall leader Maria DeBari keeps her number one position despite her absence at Fieberbrunn.

Riders Quotes

Drew Tabke (USA): “Fieberbrunn is an awesome place to ski and the mountains here are amazing. I had a good line with a back flip and a 360. It’s going to be a close competition between Sam Smoothy (NZL) and I at Verbier.”

Jonathan Charlet (FRA): “My Run was very good, I’m very glad to be here in Austria. It is the first time I have ridden here. Many people took the line I initially intended to ride, so I chose a new one where nobody else went. I had jumps, I had a straight line. We had good powder! Now I have the chance to win the tour at Verbier!”

Eva Walkner (AUT): “It is so amazing to win in Fieberbrunn! The snow was perfect and everything came together exactly how I expected it to. It’s always difficult to manage risk and smooth, fluid skiing…but I did today in Fieberbrunn with a smooth, fun line.”

Liz Kirstoferitsch (AUT): “I was really nervous before the event but now that I skied my line and won, the the stress is gone.”

Freeride Juniors by Dakine

Men Ski: 1 Corentin Henchoz (SUI)/ 2: Maximilian Hofer (AUT)/ 3: Gian Ragetti (SUI)
Snowboard (Men and Women): 1: Lorenz Haunschmidt (AUT) / 2: Estelle Balet (SUI) / 3: Jean-David Schoop (SUI)
Women Ski: 1: Josefine Lützow Randau (DEN)/ 2: Stephanie Cooke (FRA)/ 3: Maya Bonsignore (FRA)

The junior skiers and snowboarders got a chance to go big today and show their skills on the 250m Seenieder face, high above the village of Fieberbrunn, Austria. The steep and aesthetic venue offered plenty of drops, bowls, and natural features to keep the young riders busy. One of two stops for the aspiring riders, the Dakine Fiberbrunn Juniors gives young riders a chance to hone their skills for the adult Swatch Freeride World and Qualifier Tours. Young Austrian Fabian Lentsch was catapulted to elite Swatch Freeride World after his modest debut at Fieberbrunn Juniors’ stop. With winners from all over Europe, the competitive spirit was alive today in Fieberbrunn.

Freeride World Tour
www.freerideworldtour.com
Sat, March 10, 2012 5:55 pm

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