It's time for the grand final! The last issue of downdays.dm for season 2009/10 is out and we finish the premier winter of our digimag in style.
The main focus this time is on the two outstanding invitational events this spring, JOSS in Åre and Nine Knights in Oberstdorf. We have the best photos and videos for you, exclusive background information and an interview with a real proponent of style, Sig Tveit. But at the end of a long season, of course we also look back at the two major event series, the Freeride World Tour and The North Face Ski Challenge. Here is the round-up of this issue's contents:
JOSS: The Jon Olsson Super Sessions are arguably the most spectacular event of the whole season. But with all the best riders hanging out together for two full weeks, it is also a clash of many egos. We show you what will last and what won't from this year's edition.
NINE KNIGHTS: With his unique snow castle Nico Zacek has managed to put up a show in recent years that turned heads all around the world. This year he made a few changes to keep the concept fresh, and despite some unforeseen challenges, the outcome was the best yet.
THE WORLD'S BEST FREERIDERS: The Freeride World Tour has established itself as the premier freeride event series and its winners are the undisputed kings and queens of big mountain skiing. We present you this year's world champions: Ane Enderud and Candide Thovex.
THE NORTH FACE SKI CHALLENGE: It's the biggest event series for young freeskiers. With its concept to determine the best overall skiers, The North Face Ski Challenge has discovered some of today's top stars in recent years. We have a look at this winter's protagonists.
SIG TVEIT INTERVIEW: It was a big surprise when Sig Tveit was nominated as the rookie for Team Norway at this year's JOSS. Nobody knew this young lad from the Norwegian west coast, but he impressed everybody with outstanding style. We talked to Sig in Åre.
Read also about Markus Eder, the Italian newcomer who took Nine Knights by storm and therefore is our Rider Of The Moment! Find out what makes New Zealand's Treble Cone one of the best destinations for summer skiing and what are the alternatives in Europe. We present you the Nipwitz film crew from Finland, the up-coming eyewear brand Gloryfy from Austria, Tobi Reindl's set-up and Flo Thaler's fascinating art. Finally, we prepare you for summer with a collection of stylish boardshorts. Enjoy reading, enjoy the summer and we will see you back next autumn!
March is the month of contests, particularly on this side of the Atlantic: European Open, Freeride World Tour, European X Games, you name it! Of course, we have an extensive look at and also behind the scenes of recent event highlights in this issue. We also feature the other aspects of freeskiing as usual. Products. People. Spots.
One section in this issue stands out, however. Thomas Charry, a young and aspiring skier and photographer from France, who had joined the downdays team last autumn, was killed in an avalanche this February. We dedicate a full section to his commemoration.
Although this is a sad reason to dedicate a section, we still hope you will enjoy it. As well as these other main stories of this issue:
TANNER HALL INTERVIEW: The man himself, or should we call him “The Lion”, is still on rehab from his nasty crash end of last season, but nothing short of plans or things to say. We have spoken him this winter at the Red Bull Linecatcher in France.
FREERIDE WORLD TOUR: The FWT has really established itself as the prime event series within the freeskiing world. With four events across the globe, it doesn’t only deliver great sport. It is also a venue for skiing culture, as Stefan Häusl found out in Squaw Valley.
ADVENTURE SKIER STIAN HAGEN: Well, Stian Hagen is rather a rider of the season considering his busy schedule of adventure trips all around the world, from the Antarctica to Northern Norway. But we still chose him as our Rider Of The Moment this time.
EUROPEAN CONTEST ROAD TRIP: From the Austrian Open in Kaprun to the European Open in Laax and the European X Games in Tignes. The freestyle elite experienced three crazy weeks beginning of March. Eva Patscheider and Bene Mayr share their memories.
Plus we follow the Dude at the Big LePowSki, experience 28 hours of madness at the Jib Vid in Mayrhofen, review the coolest spring gloves, take a look at the “Wolf Pack”, visit the eco-friendly Livingroom Hochkönig, check out Lena Stoffel’s wardrobe, present you Europe’s best spring skiing, introduce you to Lastage, an innovative new clothing brand, and last but not least give you the free download of SVP’s “Alliance“. Keep on shreddin’, winter is not over yet!
Winter is in full force! There is snow just about everywhere and we are celebrating it with another issue of our downdays.dm Digimag. Click in, we have prepared a stack of goodies for you like the free download of “Generation Flinga”, a fantastic girls’ ski movie, and our Gallery images as wallpapers. But foremost we have lots of great content to keep you entertained when the next snow storm shuts down the mountain:
X Games Review: We could have filled a whole issue, so much happened at this year’s X Games. Instead we recap everything you need to know in just two pages!
Sean Pettit: It’s not too original, but he really IS the Rider Of The Moment. Read what makes the young Canadian arguably the best skier in the world right now, and what his own perspective is on this.
White Crest: Finally we got snow! But following a strange early season the snow cover is sketchy and the avalanche danger is high. This new program wants to help you to stay safe in the backcountry.
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa: Would you skip the chance to become a pro rider for a powder day? Sage would! Fortunately he doesn’t have to. Meet this relaxed big mountain hero in our first ever video interview!
Red Bull Linecatcher: It was probably the most progressive contest of the season. But what else would you expect when a cast of superstars is dished half a meter of fresh? Look what went down in Vars.
Plus we explore Sweden in the middle of winter, review the best avalanche safety equipment, take a look at the “Girls Ski Movie” project, introduce you to the new Alta Badia Snowpark, present you the great photographic work of Rami Lappalainen, visit Fabio Studer’s dressing room and discover Kask, Kaj Zackrisson’s self-made hat company. Don’t waste your time outside, come on in!
