FWT: Chamonix 2010 Highlights

2010-02-01 This weekend was the first event in the Freeride World Tour. The most impressive run of the day was the clean victory of French freestyle legend Candide Thovex, debuting in freeride contests, announcing a promising future. Check out the highlights right here.

The weather was perfect. There was 40cm powder but Pente de Hotel is a south facing face and below the powder it was very hard. A few crashes and an injury in the beginning made the already late competition lose tempo.

Competition Face
Foto: NISSAN FREERIDE DE CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC 2010 / D.CARLIER

After the last few days' of snowfall the blue skies finally presented a dream like arena for the athletes and spectators of the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. However, the snow conditions where tricky for the competitors. A lot of the fresh powder was taken down by the first riders and parts of the face exposed rock hard snow, and at times ice. Control was decisive. First rider down, skier Julien Lopez of France set the tone with a spectacular line; steep, committing and clearing a massive cliff drop at the end (5th). Many variations and original lines followed.

Ski Men
The Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc was the famous French freestyler Candide Thovex's first Freeride World Tour contest, and with his explosive run he secured a solid victory. Thovex chose a unique line down the face, literally flying through the course at full speed, stomping several solid cliff jumps, cheered on by the excited Chamonix spectator crowd. Swedish Kaj Zackrisson is one of the veterans on the tour, and a Chamonix local since 10 years. The strong skier took second with an extremely powerful and consistent run, taking clean and big air. American rising star and newcomer Tim Dutton impressed the judges as he chose an original line down the face; creative, exposed and searching the good snow.

Thomas Diet
Foto: NISSAN FREERIDE DE CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC 2010 / D.CARLIER

Snowboard Men
The most consistent run among the snowboarders was Austrian Mitch Toelderer's line, making an interesting line interpretation in the middle, steep section of the course, taking two solid airs towards the end. The Chamonix local Douds Charlet showed the international elite the local spice with two stylish jumps right at the start, with one clean "360 front side", securing second. The only Brit on the line up, James Stentiford, had a very fluid and fast run, with full control down the icy part of the face, giving him the third place of the podium.

Female riders
With several of the top female skiers injured (Ane Enderud, Marja Persson), American Jess Mc Millan (3rd on the Freeride World Tour Ranking 2009) proved to the crowds the high level of female skiers. With the most original line of the day Mc Millan took a massive cliff drop and skied a fast line including a couple more solid jumps. Reigning Freeride World Champion snowboarder Susan Mol (USA) had a convincing run down the face with an interesting line interpretation and fast controlled turns.

Candide Thovex
Foto: NISSAN FREERIDE DE CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC 2010 / D.CARLIER

Candide Thovex FRA - Winner Ski
"I couldn't sleep very well last night as I wasn't really sure of my line, and I felt a lot of pressure this morning. But I went up early and got a good vision of the course. I looked for good snow and a line I could enjoy. I spotted some nice Alaska-like spines with great snow! I chose not to do some tricks and to focus on fluidity. I wanted to come down safe and sound. It has been really cool and the atmosphere is great, which was very motivating at the start. I am really happy of the victory and to share the podium with my friend Tim Dutton who soon will be at his home town in Squaw Valley. I am really motivated for the coming events!"

Also read: First FWT Event Postponed, FWT: Chamonix 2010, FWT: Second stage highlights, FWT: Squaw Valley