Day One is over and I am sitting in 7th position. Not a place I like to be, but not out of the game yet. The Freeride World Tour was concerned with weather and wanted to take full advantage of a blue bird day. Day one of the competition was held on Silverado. The competitors rode the Tram to the top and had a little over an hour to inspect and find a line to ski. I chose to ski a line through the China Wall. When I arrived at the China Wall, the last competitor of the day, my landing was completely bombed out. I hesitated too long before dropping into my final air and paid the price finishing 7th for the day. Luckily, there will be a second day of competition.
The weather forecast is calling for feet of snow. Even a foot of snow would be enough to compete on the Tram Face. So for now, I am enjoying skiing Squaw Valley and waiting for the snow to fall.
Press Release - www.Tramface.com
The first stage of the Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley USA took place today on the impressive Silverado face with excellent conditions. The 53 riders qualified for the only North American stage of the Freeride World Tour amazed the crowd under the California sun. Before launching the second day of competition on the mythical Tram Face at the beginning of the week, the athletes and organizers are anxiously awaiting the snowfall predicted this weekend: everything will then be perfect to mark a page in the history of freeride.
Day 1 Results from the Nissan Tram Face on the Silverado face
MEN SKI
WOMEN SKI
MEN SNOWBOARD
WOMEN SNOWBOARD
1- Reine Barkered SWE
2-Henrik Windstedt SWE
3-Aurelien Ducroz FRA
1-Elyse Saugstad USA
2-Marja Persson SWE
3-Jen Ashton CAN
1-Jeremy Jones
USA
2-Jonas Emery SUI
3-Xavier de Le Rue FRA
1-Susan Moll
USA
2-Aline Bock GER
3-Charlotte
Hagen
NOR
The American riders dominated the Silverado face
The snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Susan Moll won the first day of competition with an excited crowd cheering on all the athletes and their amazing runs. Jeremy Jones, the emblematic rider from Squaw Valley, mastered the terrain with a fluid line and great jumps. Jonas Emery from Switzerland took second with one of the most original lines of the day coming down the center. Xavier de Le Rue from France, Freeride World Champion 2008, opened up the one of the toughest lines of the day with complete control in his jumps.
For the women, Susan Moll, winner of the Freeride World Qualifier in Crested Butte, won again today ahead of the favorite from Germany, Aline Bock, winner of the Nissan Russian Adventure – Sochi, and Charlotte Hagen from Norway. The women truly impressed the spectators present at the bottom of the face, especially the Freeride World Champion 2008, Elyse Saugstad. She won the women’s ski competition hands down with a fast run that could have competed with the men. Marja Persson from Sweden took second taking a similar line as Elyse. She was followed by Jen Ashton from Canada who went for the steepest area of the face taking third.
With the most original and risky line of the day topped off with an incredible jump, the Swede Reine Barkered surprised everyone taking first ahead of the favorites Henrik Windstedt also from Sweden, Freeride World Champion 2008, and Aurelien Ducroz from France, second at the Nissan Russian Adventure, who took the same line. Cody Townsend, the rider from Squaw Valley and favorite, took fourth with just a few points from the podium. Impatient to take on the Tram Face, Cody has already proclaimed “the Tram Face will separate the men from the boys!”
Check out Day 2 on the mythical Tram Face, a historic event that will take place at the beginning of the week!
First amazing day on the Silverado, 12 years after one of the first freeride competitions in Squaw Valley USA
JT Holmes, emblematic skier from Squaw Valley and BASE jump/ski pioneer, was a favorite before falling at the top of his run. He finished his run with an impressive second half, and then spoke about how he sees the evolution of freeride, 12 years after the first freeride competition on the Silverado face:
“Today, skiers and snowboarders are able to land perfect jumps. Security has also evolved; I remember skiing here 12 years ago in a t-shirt with no helmet! Now, the faces are closed before the competition; the snow is kept intact so we can ride in excellent conditions!”
Sébastien Michaud (5th), also present in Squaw Valley in 1997, took a run that only he knows how to do. Beginning with a back flip off the roof of the High Camp restaurant and finishing with a spread eagle on the highest cliff of the face, he says he is proud to “represent the old school” and remains one of the serious contenders for this event!
Shane McConkey, a Squaw Valley skier and freeride legend, opened the competition today as forerunner before heading to the judges tent. His perfect back flip at the top inspired Sébastien Michaud and others. Shane and the head judges, Jon Orarback (ski) and Xavier Jordan (snowboard), all gave their hats off to the performances of this first day saying there were “magical lines, jumps and ambiance.”
Nicolas Hale Woods, organizer of the Freeride World Tour, was pleased with the quality of the Silverado face to start the event saying that “this was a chance to get the riders warmed up for the Tram Face.”
Day 2 of the Nissan Tram Face Squaw Valley USA expected at the beginning of the week
All those from the Freeride World Tour and Squaw Valley USA are now preparing for day 2 that should take place either Monday or Tuesday. With just a few points behind the skiers on the podium, watch out for Adrien Coirier (FRA, 6th), Drew Tabke (USA, 7th) and of course Sverre Liliequist (SWE), current leader of the Freeride World Ranking. In snowboard, Matt Annetts (USA, 4th), Julien Falco (SUI, 5th) and Flo Orley (AUT) are tough contenders for Jeremy Jones.
As for the women, the Americans, Jess McMillan (current Freeride World Ranking leader), Jamie Burge and Shanna Yates will strive to climb the rankings and prove their talent on the Tram Face.
