An International assembly of riders congregated at the top of the Slopestyle course. One after the other they hit the kickers and it became obvious that the standard was going to be very high! Local Swiss Riders were comfortable on their home territory, with runs into the kickers looking relaxed and fluid. Verbier Ride 2005 2nd Place winner, Carim Bouzenada from Switzerland did a 5 Tail off the top kicker, into a much styled Nose Mute Switch 7, then on the final kicker a huge 900 with a tail grab getting him 3rd place in the qualifier.
Fellow Swiss Rider, Alex Neurohr who took 3rd Place in the Verbier Ride 2006 was up there with fellow Swiss Rider Carim. Alex threw down an enormous Cork 3 on the top kicker and then without a doubt the most technical trick of the day on the 2nd kicker with a Switch 7 Shifty, finishing with a Cork 5 Shifty at the bottom, gaining him a second place in the qualifier. |
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But the day was stolen by UK rider Andy Bennett who's clean style and super slick landings were not to be beaten on this day. Andy threw a super smooth Switch 7 Mute on the top kicker, into a Switch 7 with a big tweaked out tail grab, then into a much styled switch 7 Ninja.
A special day for James Wood's from the UK turned 16 on the day of the qualifier, and along with getting older he got higher! His tricks were going big with a Cork 7 off the top kicker into a Switch 5 on the second kicker and a Cork 7 on the bottom kicker. |
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It was also nice to see JL Ratchel at the event again this year. After a season in Mammoth he came back strong in not just his skiing but also in English! His energy in the run up to the kickers was evident. He was exciting to watch! With a Cork 3 into an enormous Cork 7 Tail which he stomped at the bottom of the landing with a Switch 7 to finish. |
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In the woman's event Becky Hammond from the UK gave it her all doing a huge Truck Driver off the top kicker, then a 180 off the smaller middle kicker and finished on the down rail gaining her a respectable 3rd Place.
Swiss Rider Nicole Bumann from Saas-Fee who has been riding freestyle now for three years pulled a Mute Grab off the kicker, a 360 off the second kicker and straight into a 540 onto the bottom. With her primary discipline in Moguls skiing, she showed that the technique gave her the foundation for strong technique and smooth landings. |
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Finally, 1st place in the qualifier went to Katrien Aerts from Belgium, former winner of the Saas-Fee Ride 05. She wasn't afraid to hit the big kickers along with the men. With a big Mute Grab off the top kicker, she picked up some speed and did a 360 off the second kicker, rounding off with a big 540 on the bottom kicker. Nice! |
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DAY 2 - FINAL
The Slopestyle had perfect conditions for the final. The fresh snow of the week before was nicely skied in, in the park, with perfect take off and landings. Conditions that are hard to beat in Freestyle skiing! The sky was clear blue and a big crowd were there to soak up the sun whilst watching Verbier's premier freestyle event.
As with the qualifier, the final and super final would be judged on technical difficulty, style and overall impression. Each rider would get 2 runs and the best run would count. 15 Men made it through to the final and 7 Women. |
In the men's everyone were certain that Andy Bennett would make it through and sure enough the judges gave him 3rd place in the final. With a Switch 720 on the top kicker, a Cork 9 Tail Grab on the middle kicker and a Switch 540 Ninja on the bottom kicker, it was clear that this would impress.
Local rider Alex Neurohr from the Verbier Crew had the supporting crowd transfixed! He went for it with a Switch Corked 540 on the top kicker into a Switch 720 on the middle kicker, and finished with a hugely Corked 540 Tail Grab on the bottom kicker. Some awesome riding from the 19 year old from Switzerland who got through to second place in the final.
1st Place went to Boen Ferguson from Australia who had everone talking about getting him sponsored by the end of it! Boen pulled out a stylish 540 off the top kicker, picking it up for a 900 on the second kicker and straight into an impressive Switch 1080 with a really tweaked Mute Grab on the bottom kicker. |
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DAY 2 - SUPER FINAL
The competition had heated up for the Super Final. The vibe was relaxed and exuberant. The stakes high. The crowd were comfortably gathered at the finish area of La Chaux park eating hot dogs, drinking Vin Chaud and having massages at the side of the piste. The weather was perfect and the Super Final was about to conclude the results of who would take the places for the Orage European Open. |
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If anyone were to bet on who would take the podium, they would have gambled well. It was clear that the following would surmise. In 3rd Place, Andy Bennett from the UK who has had his fair share of Podium finishes in the Ride Events! He pulled a Switch 720 on the first kicker, into a Corked 900 Tail Grab and into a Switch 540 Ninja. It was clean and composed like Andy always is. He could have finished in a higher place if it wasn't for his second run where he was unfortunate to wash out on a 1080 on the second kicker after having landed a massive 720 on the top kicker. His 3rd place was well deserved though. |
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| The talented young skier, Boen Ferguson from Australia, already a 1st place winner in other reputable contests took a worthy 2nd Place with a Corked 540 on the first kicker, a 9 Mute on the second and a Switch 1080with a long held tweaked Mute Grab. It was the young Aussies first podium finish at a Ride event, and we hope to see him back for more! |
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However, it was a proud day for Switzerland in Freestyle, and a place at the European Open was rightfully awarded to Alex Neurohr. He pulled off an amazingly stylish Switch 540 Under flip on the first kicker, followed by a Switch 540 Ninja then picking up speed confidently into finishing with a Corked 540 Shifty. We will definitely be seeing more from Alex in the future! |
| The girls had a tough act to follow with that. However, these girls didn't let the side down. They showed that girls are gutsy, going bigger and learning the same tricks that the guys are, and are definitely as enjoyable to watch!
Becky Hammond from the UK proved that the training she gained training on dry slopes in the UK has brought her into competing with internationals who train on the snow day in day out! Becky from Sheffield in England came a proud 3rd place when she pulled off a massive Truck Driver on the top kicker, into a 180 on the small 2nd kicker and finally a Switch 180 on the small bottom kicker. |
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It was great to see a local Swiss female rider take 2nd Place. Nicole Bumann from the neighbouring resort of Saas-Fee went straight for the Critical Grab on the top kicker, into 2 clean 360 on both of the lower kickers. Nicole who is a mogul's skier proved that the training on bumps gave her and advantage when it came to stomping landings.
The girls were all happy to be competing and had an air of ease about them. Their support for each other was affable. They showed genuine excitement for each other's success. |
Saas-Fee Ride winner, Katrien Aerts from Belgium just gets stronger and stronger though and she stole the show. With a huge 360 Critical Grab on the top kicker, it became obvious that she was onto a winner. She hit the second with a 3 and then a respectable 720 on the bottom kicker. Katrien was overjoyed to have won and extremely excited to get a place at the European Open.
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Nearly everyone agreed that the Verbier Snowpark built some great Kicker's for the the Ride event, and the spectacle offered up by the riders was nothing short of superb. The Verbier Ride freestyle event is fast becoming a major stop on the freestyle skiing calendar. With further development from Ride Freesport and the Resort of Verbier, there is no reason why Verbier Ride and the La Chaux Snowpark can't give Europe a truly world class event in 2009. |
Big thanks goes out to Televerbier, Verbier Tourism, Snow + Rock, Farinet/Casbah, Ski Service and 20 Minutes for financial and media support before and during the event.
The action from the event will be going out to the networks from March starting with YOZ on Eurosport. You will also be able to watch the event from your IPOD and mobile by downloading the 24 minute TV programme from www.verbierride.com .
SLOPESTYLE RESULTS |
