eheh french connection !!!!!
www.europe.ripcurl.com/freeski
resume-->
The Rip Curl Freeski Event Saas Fee, took off with the best 30 freeskiers of the international scene , gathered in Saas Fee to charge the pipe. The contest finished with a 100% French podium, Laurent Favre placed on top, followed very closely by Candide thovex , who was first in the qualification and was followed in the finals by an explosive Mattias Wecsteen.
The morning was chilly but sunny at the beautiful spot of Saas Fee, the bluebird skies stained with only a few scattered clouds. In the morning , this time of the year, the sun hits the halfpipe and hides several times behind Allalin, the spectacular 3.500m high mountain that overviews the resort.
The halfpipe, specially built for the occasion by Rip Curl shaper Nicolas Marduel had a kicker at each side, that skiers used to drop in in the pipe with an aereal, making the show even more spectacular …
10:15 in the morning , the first skier dropped in for the qualification runs after the trainning ,where skiers went off, showing amazing tricks that haven’t even been named yet, like Candide’s inverted 720s or the Austrian Nick Draxl’s flat spins.
The sun showed up a bit for the second run and the skiers were heating up too, going bigger and bigger and spinning harder and harder.
Representing the girls was the freeskiing sensation of the moment, the French Marie Martinod , who showed her style in powerful runs, often more consistent than many of the guys.
The final was set for 8 riders but three skiers were even at the eight position: the french Pierre Epagliere-who ended up on 5th position in the final ranking, Niclas Karlstom, a young Swedish skier with a great future ahead that went up to 4th position with his Rodeo 720 and the French Rip Curl skier Baptiste Collomb-Patton, who remained 8th after his 540 followed by an Alley Oop 720.
The Golden Kid of the current freeskiing scene, Swedish Jon Olson took it easy and ended 9th.
The french Mattias Wecksteen, who qualified 6th like Olson, really went off at the finals with an impressive run of 720º, Rodeo Back, 720º Cork and a 540 Alley Oop. Full on…Candide did a very good first run with a fat Mc Twist 900 and his signature inverted 720 Cork but failed to land his inverted cork following his Mc Twist 900 on his second run. Eighteen year old Laurent Favre, did a sick run : Mute, Japan and a Switch Alley Oop 540 that he improved on his second run with a Switch 1080, 360 and a 540 Rodeo, leading him to victory.
Laurent Favre the winner, still couldn’t believe his success amongst such strong competitors . “ I injured my ankle a few days ago so I didn’t expect to do this well…I’m really stoked to beat the big names in the freeskiing scene.”
Candide Thovex “ The conditions were great and the pipe was excellent. I’m not upset I finished second because I fell and Laurent did a very good run. It’s cool ; we’re friends and we like to ride together and have a good time. That’s the most important thing of all.”
Despite of the low temperature, the first day of the event was a great success
