twenty sixth January 2024
Final modified on January twenty eighth, 2024
The primary competitors of the Freeride World Tour was resulting from be held in Baquiera Beret this weekend, nevertheless it now it’s taken place in Verbier the place situations are higher. UPDATED
It’s all concerning the snow.
Basically it has been a poor begin to winter off piste within the Pyrenees, however good at altitude within the Alps.
The competitors in Spain was cancelled earlier this month.
PlanetSKI was dissatisfied as we have been poised to attend.
Now the FWT group is holding the competitors on Verbier’s Bec des Rosses this weekend.
Bec des Rosses, Verbier. Picture c/o PlanetSKI
“FWT organisers are assured within the climate fashions within the Alps, and present situations present a superb opportunity of working an occasion on the weekend, with plentiful latest snowfall – together with a recent storm early this week – and bluebird skies forecast for the tip of the week,” mentioned an announcement from the FWT because it switched venues.
Picture © Freeride World Tour / JBERNARD, Jeremy Bernard
Picture © Freeride World Tour / DDAHER, Dominique Daher.
Picture © Freeride World Tour / JBERNARD, Jeremy Bernard
So, what was the end result?
Rookies and legends share the rostrum in an epic day of freeriding FWT group pulls off extraordinary occasion in brief lead-time Petit Bec supplied the proper canvas for the primary FWT by Peak Efficiency occasion of 2024
“The world’s finest freeriders captivated audiences on the Verbier Professional at present for the primary occasion of the FWT by Peak Efficiency season,” mentioned an announcement from the organisers.
The beginning was heldf decrease down the face and the Petit Bec was in prime situation for the athletes, with a constant snowpack from prime to backside, and a recent layer of snow in a single day that softened the landings.
Snowboard males
Two-time FWT Champion Victor de Le Rue (FRA) continued his dominance on this class with an aggressive, fluid run to take the win.
He opened his account with a swap 180, then made fast work of the Petit Bec, combining an oozy bottom 360 mid-run and an enormous, fall-line triple drop with ease.
Holden Samuels (USA) began his FWT by Peak Efficiency marketing campaign with a powerful second place, whereas rookie Timm Schröder (GER) exploded onto the FWT scene with an insane show of freeriding to spherical off the rostrum in third.
Picture © Freeride World Tour / DDAHER, Dominique Daher.
“I’m tremendous blissful to stomp my run on this face – it’s steep and quick, however you possibly can nonetheless go large and do tips. I’m pumped for this winter and may’t wait to get again right here for the subsequent occasion and to trip at Fieberbrunn once more. This yr’s rookies look stable, and can push us to do some sicker runs.”
– Victor de Le Rue, 2024 Verbier Professional winner
Snowboard girls
Núria Castán Barón (ESP) firmly introduced her return to competitors after an avalanche incident final season, confidently claiming her first FWT victory.
The Spanish sensation despatched an enormous cliff up prime, then linked some dreamy powder turns surrounded by publicity, and completed with a shifty earlier than the tip gates.
Rookie Anna Martinez (FRA) put down a robust run to complete in second spot, with Estelle Rizzolio (FRA) taking third.
Picture © Freeride World Tour / JBERNARD, Jeremy Bernard
“I selected a line that was the best choice for me; I don’t wish to take it simple, so I selected one thing extra technical with a giant drop. I’m tremendous stoked to complete first, and I believe all the ladies did an important job. It has been such a private problem for me after the avalanche, however I’m so blissful to get to the underside with the win – a great begin for my dream of turning into FWT world champion!”
– Núria Castán Barón, 2024 Verbier Professional winner
Ski girls
Zuzanna Witych (POL) put down an absolute heater with a near-perfect rating of 97.67, rising from a stacked discipline of gifted riders to complete on prime.
Zuzanna’s snowboarding was aggressive and managed, taking no time to stack up the factors with an air out of the gates, then charging some freeride turns earlier than lining up three ginormous cliffs to bolts.
Manon Loschi (FRA) additionally got here out firing in her very first competitors on the prime stage to take second place, forward of Molly Armanino (USA) in third.
Picture © Freeride World Tour/ DDAHER, Dominique Daher.
“I’ve no phrases; I’m so shocked. I cherished this line from the primary time I noticed the face, however I didn’t anticipate it to be that large. I by no means imagined the state of affairs of main the rankings, and I actually wish to hold pushing myself. I really like Verbier – it’s such a mecca for freeriding and residential to so many good riders, and so to win right here is simply mind-blowing!”
– Zuzanna Witych, 2024 Verbier Professional winner
Ski males
The ski males’s class went large at present, however the ever-impressive Max Hitzig (GER) proved too robust, placing down a spicy run and snowboarding with velocity and energy to complete forward of the sphere.
A few speedy airs to begin teased the judges earlier than he discovered one other gear, starting the decrease part with two large airs and a titanic 360.
The younger kiwi Finn Bilous (NZL) completed in second place with a run outlined by velocity and fluidity – together with an insane flat spin – with two-time FWT champion Kristofer Turdell (SWE) in third place.
Picture © Freeride World Tour / JBERNARD, Jeremy Bernard
“It was a extremely particular and technical run. Usually, I like flatter terrain, however I loved the steep slopes right here, it makes you focus. I wished to begin with a stable run this yr, and my plan is to have enjoyable this season and check out my finest. I look ahead particularly to the brand new cease in Georgia.”
– Max Hitzig, 2024 Verbier Professional winner
Relive the day’s motion at www.freerideworldtour.com, and keep tuned to the FWT social media channels and subscribe to the FWT e-newsletter to maintain tempo with the most recent information because it drops, together with competitors and rider updates.
A second FWT occasion for the Pyrenees, deliberate for Ordino Arcalís in ealry February, has not but been selected.
PlanetSKI has not too long ago been within the ski space in Andorra and situations are fairly meagre off piste.
Arcalis, Andorra. Picture © PlanetSKI
“The organizers are intently monitoring the climate forecast within the Pyrenees and hold the choice if new precipitations are forecasted throughout the climate window to prepare the Ordino Arcalís Professional in the course of the occasion’s climate window deliberate from February 1 to 7, 2024,” the FWT mentioned.
Right here at PlanetSKI we’ll hold you posted.
