FREESKI NEWS
ELYSE SAUGSTAD WINS TIGNES FWT
10.03.2008
10.03.2008
On a perfect day, 43 of the world's best freeriders delivered top class action on the north face of Pramecou for the Nissan Freeride de Tignes, the fourth contest of the Freeride World Tour. In fast compact, snow, the astounded spectators witnessed impressive speed and riders stomping some spectacular cliff drops. Now, only one contest remains to crown the first ever Freeride World Champions, at the Nissan O'Neill Xtreme de Verbier in Switzerland next weekend.
The male skiers took the riding to an impressive level. The compact, fast snow was easier to handle for the skiers, charging down the mountain controlling great speed and taking big air. Famous skier cross and Salomon freerider Enak Gavaggio was judging the skiers, as he was injured at the X-Games earlier this winter: "The standard is so high. It was really tight between the first 10 riders, making it difficult for us to judge!"
The Argentinean Estanislao Vasiuk pulled off a perfect front flip flying almost 20 metres at the intimidating start of the run and finished ninth. That shows the level. Swede Henrik Windstedt and Frenchman Seb Michaud have been standing out for the entire season of the Freeride World Tour. Today again they proved to be the most impressive riders, Henrik Windstedt taking first place and Seb Michaud second. Both skied fast without an ounce of hesitation in difficult lines clearing every landing of big drops. Salomon rider Cody Towsend achieved a great performance taking 5th while his american Salomon team-mate, Alaskan Elyse Saugstad, took a well earned first place of the female skiers with a stable, fast run down the face. Thanks to her victories in Tignes and also in Sochi FWT earlier in January, Elyse is leading the Overall:
« Hi! So the Tignes event happened yesterday and it went well (1st place)! I am sitting in 1st overall going into Verbier, but it's going to be a tight race for the title for sure ! »
The Grand Finale: Nissan O'Neill Xtreme de Verbier, 15 March
The Freeride World Champions will be crowned after the final contest, the prestigious Nissan O'Neill Xtreme Verbier on the mythical North Face of Bec des Rosses, in the heart of the resort of Verbier. 37 riders will compete in Verbier: 10 of the best ranked male skiers and snowboarders of the Freeride World Tour, five wild card skiers and two wild cards snowboard, and two of the best ranked female skiers and snowboarders, three wild cards skiers and two wild cards snowboard. Prize money is set at 100 000 USD.
Check out news, updates, photos, riders and events information on: www.freerideworldtour.com
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