Freeride World Tour 2010 Kicks Off

2010-01-14 The pressure is on for the first stage of the Freeride World Tour 2010. Krasnaya Polyana, the alpine and nordic ski area for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014, has become a legendary spot for the planet's best freeride skiers and snowboarders.

The athletes have challenged the Caucasian mountains since the creation of the Freeride World Tour in 2008. The Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch will take off for its third edition 21-22 January at the Russian ski resort, which is working on the continued development of the resort ahead of the Olympics in 2014.

Although one of Vladimir Putin's favourite holiday destinations, Krasnaya Polyana is a rather unknown resort outside Russia. The world elite of freeride skiers and snowboarders are among the few athletes to experience the next coming Winter Olympic resort.

Freeride World Tour
Foto: NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENDURE / J Hadik

Riders' Quotes on Krasnaya Polyana

Nissan athlete and snowboarder Xavier de Le Rue (FRA), Freeride World Champion 2009 and gold medal favourite in Boarder Cross for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February:

"Krasnaya Polyana has the best snow in Europe! With its maritime weather conditions it snows a lot and as in Alaska it sticks very well to the steeps. With the 55 lifts and all the facilities that are planned for 2014, Krasnaya Polyana will be a major resort, which will compete with other big resorts in the Alps. "

Skier Sverre Lilliequist (SWE), winner of the Nissan Russian Adventure 2009, and former alpine racer:
"It is just fantastic skiing in Krasnaya Polyana, which is still an exotic destination. For freeriding the resort can get a lot of snow in a short period of time - nice dry snow in large quantities! The tree skiing is amazing with perfect spacing between the silver birches and with lift access you can find some really good faces. A perfect venue for a freeride contest. Regarding the Olympics, there is a great potential for the alpine disciplines in this terrain."

As media partner to the FWT 2010, Freeride.co.uk will be covering every stage and everything that happens.

Ski Men (20)

1. Aurelien Ducroz FRA

2. Reine Barkered SWE

3. Sverre Liliequist SWE

4. Matthias Haunholder AUT

5. Henrik Windstedt SWE

6. Thibaud Duchosal FRA

7. Raphy Gillioz SUI

8. Seb Michaud FRA

9. Thomas Diet FRA

10. Kaj Zackrisson SWE

11. Torgrim Vole NOR

12. Griffin Post USA WC.

Stefan Hausl AUT WC.

Adrien Coirier FRA WC.

Richard Permin FRA WC.

JT Holmes USA WC.

Phil Meier SUI WC.

Tim Dutton USA WC.

Sebastian Hannemann GER WC.

Egor Sorokin RUS WC.

Julien Lopez FRA WC.

Candide Thovex FRA

Ski Women (9)

1. Ane Enderud NOR

2. Marja Persson SWE

3. Jess Mc Millan USA

4. Elyse Saugstad USA

WC.Rebecka Eriksson SWE

WC.Janette Hargin SWE

WC.Stina Jakobsson SWE

WC.Crystal Wright USA