| Results, Reviews, Summary 2005 |
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Slopestyle - 09/03/05 |
| 18 year old French Favourite Jean Laurent Ratchel dominates Slope Style at the Verbier Ride 05, Swiss Carim Bouzenada second |
This morning the weather seemed to be to its best: beautiful sunshine, a bit warmer than the past days and happy Freeskiers jibbing 'La Chaux's' Slope Style, far over some misty clouds deep down in the valleys. Riders and organisers decided to run two qualification runs, from which the better one would count for an entry in the finals. But once more, the weather decided to show its power in an outdoor sport: half way through the qualifications, the clouds raised up the valleys and the judges could hardly see further than their proper nose! Riders, organisers and judges agreed on counting only one for the final results. |
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Last years winner Greg Tuscher from Switzerland was judging, as he is just recovering from an injury."We judge the difficulty, technique, fluidity and - very important - the style."
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Most impressive action was today performed by European Halfpipe Champion Jean Laurent Ratchel from France.
'JL' did a nice Switch Cork 540 Tail Grab over the first kicker, followed by a smooth Cork Screw 720 Tail Grab over the second jump, then hit the C-box where he did a Rail Slide and a 270 Out. With a build up of speed he did a beautiful 540 Grab over the last kicker. To finish, he hit the hipp and did a special 360 where he rotated slightly out of the normal axe with a Grab.
18 year old Jean-Laurent Ratchel originally comes from the Antilles, but lives and rides today in the French ski resort La Clusaz. JL used to be a body- and longboarder. He had moved to France by the age of 12 and decided to adapt to his new environment by putting himself onto skis. There he met Candide (Thovex) and other freeskiers. That's how it all started!...
"It's my first time at the Verbier Ride! It's cool! Today I saw some of the English riders that I met at the London Ride last fall. These guys apparently ride on synthetics!! I've seen them riding on snow today, and they can ski! I wanna come back next year. It was great fun!" |
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| Second ranked 22-year old Carim Bouzenada from Bulle, Switzerland, has the honour of being the best Swiss competitor of the Verbier Ride 05. "I am super happy!"
Carim did a Switch Cork 540 Nose Grab over the first kicker, followed by a Cork 720. He then hit the C box and did a 270 Out. Over the next kicker a Switch Kork 540 Mute and a Big Air over the hipp with another slide on the last box to finish.
"I wanted to compete last year in the Verbier Ride, but I got hurt just before, so this is my first time, and that's cool! There has been a great atmosphere. Sadly the weather turned bad, but that's the mountain! We had some beautiful moments today. That's what counts!" |
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Twenty-one year old Mart Perendi from Finland did a Misty Flip 540 over the first kicker, then a Fakie Five. On the rail a Cork 9, followed by a Big Air. He got third. |
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Today, the most dominating nation in Slopestyle is still the USA, where the industry has been investing in huge parks over the last couple of years hoping to attract young skiers and snowboarders. Europe is not there yet, but ski resorts realise more and more the need for good parks.
Organiser Warren Smith is very happy with the Slope Style park in La Chaux: "Téléverbier has done a really good job with the park this year, the best year yet ". Why the French are just about to catch up with the Americans, has its reasons... JL Rachel explained that untypical but true is that the French were one of the first in Europe organising professional training for their freeskiers! And the Swiss? Well, they're on their way, it just took a bit longer (which doesn't mean Swiss are slow). Watch out for them! |
To understand a bit more about the specific freestyle tricks mentioned above, please find below some explanations:
Cork (Screw) 720 or 900 = A cork is on two different axis. Skier takes off on his right or left depending which side he lands with using the outside edge. After he pops off his edge, he reaches forward with his (right) arm and drops his head looking toward his (left) hip. In the same time, he spins 900°, which are two and a half rotations.
Switch= skiing backwards
270 Out = 270° spin at the end of a rail slide
5.4 = (540°) one and half spins
Tail Grab = grab the tail of the ski
Misty 5 = Front flip with a half spin
Fakie Five: Take Off backwards and spin one and a half times, land natural. |
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Even though the weather for the Verbier Ride 05 has been a bit wild with everything from bluebird sky to strong winds and misty fog, it was once again a great 100% Freeski event, seeming to become bigger and bigger every year! Watch out for the Verbier Ride 06. Hope to see you all first in July at the Saas Fee Ride 05 and in October at the London Ride 05!
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Written by Melina Holzer (melinaholzer@verbierride.com)
Images by Marco Shapiro, Peter Charaf, Yves Garneau |
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