twenty second March 2024
The world’s greatest freeriders had been in motion on the YETI Xtreme Verbier, wrapping up the FWT by Peak Efficiency season. NEW
Ski and Snowboard Males dropped from the highest of the Bec des Rosses for the primary time since 2018.
It offered a leg-burning 600-meter elevation drop, which is suffering from a maze of technical options and severe cliff bands.
Constant powder lined the face – providing near-perfect snow circumstances – however some excessive clouds hindered visibility at instances.
That didn’t cease the world’s greatest freeriders from lighting up Verbier, delivering memorable performances within the ultimate occasion on the 2024 FWT calendar.
With all 4 2024 FWT World Champions now topped, right here’s what went down in Verbier:
Snowboard Ladies
Erin Sauve, 2024 Freeride World Champion
Xtreme Verbier, Freeride World Tour. Picture c/o JBERNARD Jeremy Bernard.
Erin Sauve (CAN) dropped a whopping rating immediately to take the YETI Xtreme Verbier win and leapfrog forward to take the FWT crown in her maiden FWT season.
She lined up two big cliffs out of the gates with distinctive board management earlier than linking a number of turns and one other cliff.
Núria Castán Barón (ESP) added one more podium to her stellar season, combining a number of cliffs – together with a double drop – and controlling her pace with ease on the steeps of the Petit Bec.
Anna Martinez (FRA) delivered a easy run with a number of huge cliffs to complete in third, however a few small management points value her some very important factors.
“I’m past phrases. I’m so excited that my run went properly and the snow was nice. It is going to take some time to sink in. I’m so excited to be World Champion, however I need to return subsequent 12 months and push it even tougher, go greater, and present the world what girls snowboarders can do. I dedicate this to everybody who helped me get right here – all their time, vitality, and assist – and I couldn’t have carried out this with out them.”
– Erin Sauve, YETI Xtreme Verbier Champion and 2024 Freeride World Champion
Ski Ladies
Hedvig Wessel, 2024 Freeride World Champion
Xtreme Verbier, Freeride World Tour. Picture c/o DDAHER, Dominique Daher.
Hedvig Wessel (NOR) stomped her technique to victory each in Verbier and the general title, showcasing her energy and fluidity.
She began with a technical double drop, linking easy turns earlier than launching off two of the largest airs of the day within the class.
Zuzanna Witych (POL) completed in second, piecing collectively a fluid line with a number of stable options up the highest, earlier than discovering the gnar with three huge airs additional down.
Astrid Cheylus (FRA) entered a technical, extremely uncovered zone, exiting with an enormous air and one other two cliffs to lock in third.
“It has been such a struggle for the final 5 years to get to this place. It’s all value it with the win. I need to thank everybody who has been there and supported me on this journey. We had been not sure what the circumstances could be like, however I had some good plans in place. I feel this will probably be a superb ending to my story on the FWT, however I need to hold snowboarding and watch the extent proceed to extend 12 months after 12 months.”
– Hedvig Wessel, YETI Xtreme Verbier Champion and 2024 FWT by Peak Efficiency World Champion
Snowboard Males
Victor De le Rue, 2024 Freeride World Champion
Xtreme Verbier, Freeride World Tour. Picture c/o DDAHER, Dominique Daher.
Jonathan Penfield (USA) used his expertise on the face to information him down the Bec and take the win.
He kicked off his run with an enormous 360 to bolts, then lined up a number of cliffs within the Dogleg Couloir earlier than two huge clear airs.
Liam Rivera (SUI) weaved his means by a few of the steepest and most technical zones on the high, earlier than exhibiting us the advantages of his native data.
First, he stomped an infinite air off the Hollywood Cliff, then linked a frontside 360 with a easy backflip. Michael Mawn (USA) regarded comfy within the ultra-technical terrain, backing himself among the many publicity to mix pace and fluidity with some airs up high and an enormous ship off the Hollywood Cliff.
“It feels wonderful and psyched to get a run down the Bec from the highest. I feel my expertise and familiarity on this face helped; the extra instances you’re up there, the much less gnarly it feels. The roster is wonderful this 12 months, and there will not be sufficient spots for what number of good riders there are competing. I plan to be again on tour subsequent 12 months, snowboard as a lot as potential and make the most of each alternative.”
– Jonathan Penfield, YETI Xtreme Verbier Champion
Ski Males
Max Hitzig, 2024 Freeride World Champion
Xtreme Verbier, Freeride World Tour. Picture c/o JBERNARD Jeremy Bernard.
Marcus Goguen (CAN) acquired extremely technical and artistic immediately to take the Verbier title, snowboarding by excessive publicity and looking out like a veteran on the face.
He stomped his first 360 with little hesitation earlier than opening up a brand-new line on the Bec des Rosses, sending arguably the largest triple air in freeride historical past.
Will this now be known as the Marcus Goguen triple?
Max Hitzig (GER) delivered a full-throttle line to take second spot immediately, which was sufficient to say the FWT World Title.
He discovered a spicy entrance to the central couloir, snowboarding with zero hesitation and linking two huge cliffs earlier than spinning a clear 360 and one other cliff to complete.
Finn Bilous (NZL) additionally made historical past immediately, being the primary rider ever to 360 off the Hollywood Cliff, which helped him on his technique to third.
“It’s such a stress aid getting down right here, as my legs had been burning by the tip of the road. I got here right here to have enjoyable and ski my line. My purpose subsequent 12 months is to proceed having enjoyable and perhaps even win the title. I’ll hold attempting to place down these strains and keep constant. I’m excited for the longer term!”
– Marcus Goguen, YETI Xtreme Verbier Champion
“I can’t imagine it. I used to be so nervous earlier than my line. I’ve labored so laborious for this. The extent is getting so excessive, so I do know it’s getting tougher to say the title yearly, which makes me pleased to win it this 12 months. I used to be scared to ski the Bec des Rosses from the highest, however if you find yourself in competitors mode you simply go full ship!”
– Max Hitzig, 2024 Freeride World Champion
Total rankings
FWT veteran Hedvig Wessel claimed her maiden FWT title within the Ski Ladies’s, after a number of runner-up finishes prior to now.
She has labored extraordinarily laborious through the years, and has been a key contributor to pushing the extent of the game.
She was adopted by Astrid Cheylus, who topped off an unimaginable rookie season, which included two wins and a 3rd place immediately.
Zuzanna Witych rocketed up the rankings immediately to complete in third spot, equaling her place in FWT 2021.
Within the Snowboard Ladies’s, Erin Sauve took the crown in her rookie 12 months forward of Núria Castán Barón, who completed in second and couldn’t maintain her lead coming into the occasion.
Anna Martinez completed third total in her rookie 12 months.
Victor de Le Rue already secured his title within the Snowboard Males class in Austria, profitable 4 competitions in a row.
Jonathan Penfield claimed his second win on the Bec des Rosses and, in doing so, jumped up into second total for the FWT by Peak Efficiency season.
Liam Rivera completed his season with three podiums to cement third total for the second 12 months in a row, an unimaginable efficiency by the younger Swiss rider.
The highest two riders within the Ski Males’s class – Max Hitzig and Marcus Goguen – went toe to 2 all season, culminating in a show-stopping efficiency immediately in Verbier.
Each athletes are competing in simply their second season on the FWT, however they at all times take a look at house within the huge mountains.
It was Max who edged forward immediately together with his podium end, claiming the general rating win, with Marcus shut behind.
Kiwi rider Ben Richards had a robust end to the tip of the season – with a win in Fieberbrunn and a fifth right here immediately – to complete third total.
The YETI Xtreme Verbier marks the conclusion of an epic 2024 FWT by Peak Efficiency season.
Congratulations to all of the riders who’ve entertained onlookers all season with their progressive freeriding, and a particular shout out to the 2024 Freeride World Champions.
Nevertheless, the season’s freeride story doesn’t end right here, because the FWT Challenger occasions are nonetheless to come back, which can determine who qualifies for subsequent 12 months’s tour.
Relive all of immediately’s motion at www.freerideworldtour.com.
