FREERIDE WORLD TOUR. Henrik Windstedt (SWE) and Matt Annetts (USA) took advantage of a feature-filled Corvatsch north face for the Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch, to post amazing runs that put them at the top of ski and snowboard categories. Today’s results open up the overall race in both men’s ski and snowboard events with any number of riders still in contention for the title of Freeride World Champion.

Rider: ADRIEN COIRIER (FRA), Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch, Photo © J.BERNARD / FWT

SKI MEN

Going into today’s event all eyes were on Frenchmen Aurélien Ducroz (FRA) following his win in the first event of the Freeride World Tour 2011. However, Henrik Windstedt (SWE) threw down a jaw-dropping line that included several cleanly stomped airs that boosted him to the top of the podium.

Winners - Ski Men, Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch, Photo © J.BERNARD / FWT

Local riders told Freeride World Tour athletes they had rarely seen the north face of the Corvatsch in such great condition for the contest. The steep, 550-metere face included two starts and what head judge Martin Winkler (AUT) described as “myriad opportunities for winning lines including broad open faces, plenty of goat lines and loads of features of all sizes.” Once on the face riders found a variety of conditions from knee-deep powder to thinly-covered landings and grippy snow that made it difficult to maintain control through the high speed finish.

When speaking to the riders following the face check, many of them told us they would probably avoid throwing tricks and instead focus on riding fast, smooth lines. However, that message didn't seem to get communicated to Basti Hannemann who set the tone for the day with a big backflip straight out of the gate. Although the young German came up short and crashed, he continued his line and finished it off with a fat 15- to 20-meter drop bringing the crowd at the mid-station to its feet. Basti told us, "At least I didn't take a sissy line like I did in Chamonix [last weekend]."

The next skier to drop was American JT Holmes who was also on a mission to make up for his result the weekend before. "After we kind of got our butts kicked in Chamonix, Timy [Dutton, USA] and I decided it was time to come out of the gate with some strong skiing." Holmes charged from the #2 gate, looker's right and immediately stomped a big double followed by a second big double, fast, smooth skiing and a third double for what was one of the fastest runs of the day.

However, Holmes's lead was short lived as Norwegian wildcard Torgrim Vole entered the face from Start #1, looker's left, and immediately boosted a huge double. Although he sketched the landing he followed up with several more big jimps including one last double that were enough to push him past Holmes to take the lead. Vole described the face like this, "It was more difficult than my first impression. There were a lot of angles and flat landings, which was pretty tricky."

The two held the top positions for most of the day until the third from last competitor skied from Gate #2. Due to a nagging rib injury reported earlier on FreerideWorldTour.com, not much was expected from Henrik Windstedt (SWE) but the 2008 Freeride World Champion started out hot with a nice drop to a second jump, a little slip through the 'flowbox', a couple more drops and a fast line through the middle to take the lead. #2 Torgrim Vole, #3 JT Holmes.

As Windstedt slid across the finish line to the cheers of the crowd gathered at the mid-station, perennial favourite Seb Michaud (FRA) skied out of Start #2 and charged one of the most aggressive and creative lines of the day starting with a massive, cleanly stuck double. Although Michaud slid out of a landing below the Flowbox, a couple more small airs and a cleanly stomped backflip at the end were enough to put him into third place. Describing his run afterwards, Michaud told us, "I decided at the last minute to go a bit left of the others that took the same jump [big cliff drop at the start of the run] so I went a bit higher and a bit longer and managed to stick it perfectly. Throughout the run I tried to be creative and find a lot of different features to play with (a back flip, steep tight shute, several jumps..). You need to be creative when the mountain offers this kind of terrain! But I am disappointed that I had a small error in the tight section – it was really difficult snow.”

For those wondering why Windstedt is not in the podium photo, we're here to report that following his run he went straight to hospital where he was diagnosed with three broken ribs.The fact that he won the event in this condition is further testament to the strength and focus of the Swedish skier.

2nd Ski - Torgrim Vole (NOR)
”It is a long face with a lot of features. Really fun! But it was more difficult than my first impression. There are a lot of angles and flat landings, which was pretty tricky. It really helped to see the face from the gondola and at the start ridge. I got first tracks in my run and had to manage a lot of sluff. This is my best result on a Freeride World Tour contest and I am really happy to get going!”

3rd ski - Seb Michaud (FRA)
”I decided last minute to go a bit left of the others that took the same jump (big cliff drop) so I went a bit higher and a bit longer and managed to stick it perfectly. Throughout the run I tried to be creative and find a lot of different features to play with (a back flip, steep tight shute, several jumps..). You need to be creative when the mountain offers this kind of terrain! But I am disappointed that I had a small error in the tight section – it was really difficult snow.”

4th ski - JT Holmes (USA)
“It was my best competition run at the Freeride World Tour. I am really happy! The top jump was great (15 m) and I stuck a few more along the way, although I hit rocks at every landing.”

14th ski - Sebastian Hannemann (GER) - jumped the biggest cliff of the day...
“I am really happy with my line – it was a great line and not a sissy line like in Chamonix last week! It was awesome snow and so many options. Too bad I under rotated the backflip but at the bottom cliff I had the biggest airtime of my life..

16th ski - Aurelien Ducroz FRA (winner last week at the first stage of the FWT11)
"I messed up big time but luckily I did not get hurt! I was a bit too eager on the top, I had scouted a line with a technical entry and quite a delicate landing. I felt good but I took a bit too much speed and flew at least 15 metres and landed on a rock. I got really scared! I am really sorry for my performance but I stay more motivated than ever for the upcoming events."

FWT RANKING - SKI (overall)

The result of today’s outstanding event shows the remarkable depth of talent on the Freeride World Tour. The competition is once again wide open for the overall Freeride World Champion title.

SNOWBOARD MEN

Today’s event showed that seemingly-invincible Xavier de Le Rue (FRA) can, in fact, be beaten as the three-time Freeride World Champion seemed to have a very rare off day.

Podium - Snowboard Men, Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch, Photo © J.BERNARD / FWT

Mitch Toelderer (AUS) took the lead early with a line that included several nice drops and a fast straightline to the finish. Mitch told us, "I got pretty nervous at the start when I had to wait for a while as the rider ahead of me fell. But I stepped back and relaxed and got the right focus. I tried to do a fast and fluid run and rode the main feature with a narrow couloir and a drop really well."

However, the day belonged to Matt Annetts (USA) who launched his run with a nice jump followed by a good three-meter drop that had taken out the skier just before him. He then hit the middle of the course with fast smooth style before finishing with another clean air at the bottom.

Matt Annetts told us, “I really like this face. It's long and there are lots of things to do on the way down. For not having been snowing in the region for quite some time the snow was amazing. I had a fairly safe run. I wanted to stay on my feet. I knew there were a lot of flat landings. If you would go too fast on that face today you would hit the landings too hard."

Filling the remaining podium spots were Mitch Toelderer (AUT) who placed second and Flo Örley (AUS), who is returning to competition after taking a year off, in third.

2nd Snowboard - Mitch Toelderer (AUT)
“I got pretty nervous at the start when I had to wait for a while as the rider ahead of me fell. But I stepped back and relaxed and got the right focus. I tried to do a fast and fluid run and rode the main feature with a narrow couloir and a drop really well. It’s the first time I share the podium with Flo (Orley, AUT). We have been around for a long time but this is the first time we manage to be on the same podium!”

3rd Snowboard - Flo Orley (AUT)
“This mountain seems to bring me luck! Every time I’ve competed here I’ve been on the podium (5 times + winner of FWQ Thursday 27/1)! I really like the face. It’s quite extreme but still really playful. You can find everything here. Every rider on the tour can find a line that suites them – it’s really fair. I’m so happy, I hadn’t been riding for 19 months (round the world sailing) before the season and its just getting better and better.”

8th snowboard - Xavier de Le Rue (FRA)
"I am happy with my run. It went well with a big jump and good speed up until the tight couloir where I got caught by the sluff. This was an error from my side. The snow was really fast and it was difficult to control speed today."

FWT RANKING - SNOWBOARD (overall)

As in the ski division today’s snowboard competition throws the overall ranking up for grabs following the first two of the six Freeride World Tour events.

FreerideWorldTour.com
January 30, 2011

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch

Men’s Ski
1. Henrik Windstedt (SWE)
2. Torgrim Vole (NOR)
3. Seb Michaud (FRA)

Men’s Snowboard
1. Matt Annetts (USA)
2. Mitch Toelderer (AUT)
3. Flo Orley (AUT)