twenty eighth January 2025 | Jane Peel, Val Thorens, France
Probably the most spectacular freeride competitors on this planet is going down in France for the primary time since 2017 this week. It’s scheduled for Wednesday and PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel is in Val Thorens to benefit from the buzz. NEW
Skiers and snowboarders launching themselves off precipitous rocks.
Possibly throwing a backflip or another spectacular trick.
Touchdown on steep, hopefully powdery, terrain.
It’s the stuff of desires for the world’s prime freeriders as they goal to impress the judges with their line, management, method, fluidity, air and magnificence.
The stuff of nightmares for many of us.
The Freeride World Tour – FWT for brief – has come to Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens, for the very first time.
And it’s making a really long-awaited return to France.
PlanetSKI has been invited alongside to the Val Thorens Professional, the second cease on the 2025 FWT.
FWT Media Accreditation. Picture © PlanetSKI
On my first morning in resort, it’s an ideal bluebird day with round 15 to 20cm of recent snow having fallen in a single day.
The omens are good for the FWT.
Val Thorens, France. Picture © PlanetSKI
Val Thorens, France. Picture © PlanetSKI
Even a number of the pistes have a number of centimetres of powder on them.
Powder on a pink run in Val Thorens, France. Picture © PlanetSKI
Together with a posse of fellow journalists, I’m taken to examine the competitors face.
It takes us round 45 minutes to ski over to Cime Caron.
The direct route is unattainable following an accident in November that put the cable automotive out of motion for the winter.
Lastly, we arrive, at 3,105 metres.
With Val Thorens seen within the distance, the competitors face is, I’m advised, down there, just under the place I’m standing.
I’m not that eager to look.
At Cime Caron, Val Thorens. Picture © PlanetSKI
Among the others scope it out.
Inspecting the Cime Caron face in Val Thorens. Picture © PlanetSKI
As we ski again – by way of a standard route – our ESF information, Arthur, factors out the drop-in zone we’ve simply left.
Wanting in direction of the Cime Caron freeride face in Val Thorens. Picture © PlanetSKI
And right here’s the entire face.
Cime Caron, Val Thorens. Picture © Júlia Miralles
By this stage, we all know that the competitors is not going to happen the subsequent day – Monday – as we initially hoped.
Forecast snow, excessive winds and poor visibility for the subsequent couple of days, push it again to Wednesday on the earliest.
However the opening ceremony goes forward in Val Thorens on Sunday night time, as deliberate, earlier than a big crowd.
Freeride World Tour, Val Thorens, Opening Ceremony. Picture © PlanetSKI
Freeride World Tour, Val Thorens, Opening Ceremony. Picture © PlanetSKI
On Monday morning, it’s introduced that the competitors will happen on Wednesday.
On the Lac Noir face.
I urge your pardon? Not Cime Caron?
No.
And the place is Lac Noir?
In Les Menuires.
So the Val Thorens Professional is not going to be in Val Thorens?
It appears not.
Oh nicely, by no means thoughts. Les Menuires is simply subsequent door, shares a house within the Belleville Valley with Val Thorens and each resorts are a part of the world’s largest ski space, the Les3Vallées.
The change has been made to offer one of the best situations for the athletes.
“After days of scouting with our crew and native mountain guides, we’ve decided that Lac Noir is the proper match proper now,” the FWT pronounces.
Sadly, I can’t test it out for myself because the forecast excessive winds have closed the elevate that I’d have to take to get again to my base in VT.
As an alternative, I’m supplied with photographs exhibiting Lac Noir in all its glory.
The face is large, giving the riders quite a few choices for attainable strains.
Lac Noir, Les Menuires. Picture © Freeride World Tour
Lac Noir, Les Menuires. Picture © Freeride World Tour
The summit of Lac Noir is at 2,500 metres and the end line will probably be at 2,010m.
The common steepness is 37 levels with a most pitch of 43 levels.
“Rollovers and terrain transitions create moments of problem, requiring exact navigation and management,” says the official blurb.
“Beginning with a direct leap off the ridge, opponents should carry their A-game from the very first second.
“For snowboarders, the situations are notably thrilling and lots of have expressed their pleasure about main the competitors on this face.”
One of many snowboarders who’ll be dropping in is Cody Bramwell.
He’s the one British athlete and has been given a wildcard entry.
GB’s Cody Bramwell. Picture © PlanetSKI
Cody has had some success on the Freeride World Tour.
His finest outcomes embody a win in Andorra in 2021, 2nd in Fieberbrunn in 2022 and third place total in each 2021 and 2022.
He’s been talking to PlanetSKI forward of this week’s competitors.
Right here’s Cody’s successful operating in Andorra in 2021.
Greater than 40 female and male skiers and snowboarders are on account of compete within the Val Thorens Professional.
The primary rider is because of drop in at 0900 CET (0800 GMT) on Wednesday twenty ninth January with the skiers going first, then the snowboarders.
You’ll be able to watch all of it reside right here and comply with @freerideworldtour on social media for real-time updates, content material and occasion highlights.
We’ll additionally replace this report with outcomes and imagery from the competitors, so do test again.
The 2025 FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Efficiency has 5 stops adopted by a last in Verbier on the finish of March for the riders who rating extremely sufficient to make the reduce. Their finest 3 outcomes from the 5 occasions depend.
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