Freeride World Tour in Squaw Valley a success, next up Verbier!

The notorious Tram Face had been the intended pitch for the competition but was changed to the more playful Silverado. However the danger level was apparent to all the competitors as the competition took place just days after the tragic death of C R Johnson who fell and struck his head on rocks in Squaw Valley on a very, very tight and rocky area in the Light Towers sector of the resort.

The Freeride World Tour started despite this tragic event and was by all accounts a success and has changed the leader board again with the top spot still open to a number of competitors as they move towards the final stage in Verbier on March 20th.

The competition in California took a “best of two runs” format and was watched by hundreds of excited fans. The high point of the day was the women stepping up the game with a great level of riding, taking the same big cliff jumps as the men and creative line choices. Local Squaw Valley skier and Freeride World Tour wild card Jaclyn Paaso was without a doubt the biggest crowd pleaser. She took a massive cliff jump at the bottom of the face, faster and higher than most of the men, challenging them for the second heat.

The final results from the day were:-
Men Ski
1- Henrik Windstedt (SWE)
2- Aurélien Ducroz (FRA)
3- Reine Barkered (SWE)

Women Ski
1- Jaclyn Paaso (USA)
2- Ane Enderud (NOR)
3- Ingrid Backstrom (USA)

Men Snowboard
1- Xavier de Le Rue (FRA)
2- Matt Annetts (USA)
3- Ryland Bell (USA)

Women Snowboard
1- Shannan Yates (USA)
2- Aline Bock (GER)
3- Susan Mol (USA)

“Henrik showed the most progressive run of the day, throwing a giant backflip off the start straight into a big 360° (full rotation). He skied very fast and smooth all the way to his final air – a 45 footer (15 metres), which he landed perfectly. He managed to mix both new school freestyle and big mountain skiing.” Said head judge Eric Seymour.

These result put Windstedt ahead of Candide Thovex, who finished a disappointing 17th , putting him into second place in the overall rankings. Xavier de la Rue has once again moved to the top of the overall rankings. After a slow start in Chamonix he has found his form and has now taken first place in the last two events.

British rider James Stentiford, who was unable to ride in Squaw Valley, is still holding on to an impressive 8th place overall and will be looking to show more of his skill in Verbier.

The women's snowboard over all rankings still look very similar with Aline Bock of Germany pushing her lead further forward. She has now finished on the podium for all three stages of the tour so far!!!

In the skiing it is a different story with Wild Card rider Jaclyn Paaso now out in front. Paaso skied a huge, fluid line in front of her home crowd in Squaw Valley and was dropping bigger cliffs than many of the men. “I just wanted to go bigger than the boys. It felt good because I didn't have a wild card until the last minute. I really wanted to prove myself.” She said after the comp.

So it's all to play for as the Tour reaches its final stage at the end of the month in Verbier.