What's New in Les Arcs?

Candide Thovex, this year"s winner in Chamonix

The Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc was the famous French freestyler Candide Thovex’s first Freeride World Tour contest, and with his explosive run he secured a solid victory. Thovex chose a unique line down the face, literally flying through the course at full speed, stomping several solid cliff jumps, cheered on by the excited Chamonix spectator crowd. Swedish Kaj Zackrisson is one of the veterans on the tour, and a Chamonix local since 10 years. The strong skier took second with an extremely powerful and consistent run, taking clean and big air. American rising star and newcomer Tim Dutton impressed the judges as he chose an original line down the face; creative, exposed and searching the good snow.

Candide - “I couldn’t sleep very well last night as I wasn’t really sure of my line, and I felt a lot of pressure this morning. But I went up early and got a good vision of the course. I looked for good snow and a line I could enjoy. I spotted some nice Alaska-like spines with great snow! I chose not to do some tricks and to focus on fluidity. I wanted to come down safe and sound. It has been really cool and the atmosphere is great, which was very motivating at the start. I am really happy of the victory and to share the podium with my friend Tim Dutton who soon will be at his home town in Squaw Valley. I am really motivated for the coming events!”

In the Mens snowboard event last year’s winner and reigning champion Xavier de la Rue finished a disappointing 13th but UK snowboarder James Stentiford had an incredible run and finished third – “I was really nervous up top after the fall of Raphy (Gillioz/SUI – 4th rider that landed a cliff jump on a rock and broke his elbow) so I changed my line a bit. The landings where pretty harsh but it worked out really well for me. I am really happy to be on this podium as I live here and it is the third contest I have ever done!” said James.

The Women event was won by American Jess Mc Millan. With several of the top female skiers injured (Ane Enderud, Marja Persson), Mc Millan (3rd on the Freeride World Tour Ranking 2009) proved to the crowds the high level of the female skiers. With the most original line of the day Mc Millan took a massive cliff drop and skied a fast line including a couple more solid jumps. Reigning Freeride World Champion snowboarder Susan Mol (USA) had a convincing run down the face with an interesting line interpretation and fast controlled turns.

Chamonix will now play host to the Russian stage of the tour which had to be postponed due to bad weather, then the next stop is Sqaw Valley, USA on 27th February.

Results – Mens Ski

1 THOVEX CANDIDE FRA
2 ZACKRISSON KAJ SWE
3 DUTTON TIM USA
4 WINDSTEDT HENRIK SWE
5 LOPEZ JULIEN FRA
6 HAUSL STEFAN AUT
7 LILIEQUIST SVERRE SWE
8 COIRIER ADRIEN FRA
9 BARKERED REINE SWE
10 HANNEMANN SEBASTIAN GER
11 HAUNHOLDER MATTHIAS AUT
12 LAMY MICHAEL FRA
13 DUCROZ AURELIEN FRA
14 DUCHOSAL THIBAUD FRA
15 SOROKIN EGOR RUS
16 POST GRIFFIN USA
17 MICHAUD SEB FRA
18 DIET THOMAS FRA
19 HOLMES JT USA
20 PERMIN RICHARD FRA
20 MEIER PHIL SUI
20 VOLE TORGRIM NOR
DNF GILLIOZ RAPHY SUI

Mens Snowboard

1 TOELDERER MITCH AUT
2 CHARLET DOUDS FRA
3 STENTIFORD JAMES GBR
4 FALCO JULIEN SUI
5 ANNETTS MATT USA
6 ROUTENS AURELIEN FRA
7 KHRYACHKOV GENNADY RUS
8 NERI CYRIL SUI
9 SOMMER ANDRE SUI
10 BROMMELSIEK WILL USA
11 THEMEL ERIC AUT
12 HOLLSTEN NIKLAS FIN
13 DE LE RUE XAVIER FRA
14 ZIPSER MAX AUT

Womens Ski
1 MC MILLAN JESS USA
2 WALKNER EVA AUT
3 KUZMA JANINA NZL
4 HUBER LORRAINE AUT
4 HARGIN JANETTE SWE
6 WRIGHT CRYSTAL USA
7 PAASO JACLYN USA
DNS ENDERUD ANE NOR

Womens Snowboard
1 MOL SUSAN USA
2 ZENKLUSEN NATHALIE SUI
3 BOCK ALINE GER
4 AASEN VIVIAN NOR
5 KUZMA MARIA

All photographs courtesy of Freeride World Tour - D Carlier Photographer