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The first-ever Oslo X Games are kicking off this week as the cream of the crop of big-air and halfpipe skiers head for Norway. We want to know, who’s your pick to win?
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Bellemare, Christiansen Win South Korea SlopestylePerennial Canadian competitor Alex Bellemare and Norwegian slopestyle ace Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen topped the men’s and women’s podiums at today’s slopestyle event in Phoenix Park, South Korea.
Here is Alex Bellemare's winning run from today in Korea!!! I am so hyped!!! Holding it down for CANADA!! Congrats my friend!!
Posté par Alex Beaulieu-Marchand sur vendredi 19 février 2016
Maggie Voisin and Emma Dahlstrom took second and third behind Christiansen, while Henrik Harlaut and Jossi Wells rounded out the men’s podium.
The competition, a FIS World Cup event, functioned as the official test event for the upcoming Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018, and featured a highly innovative course design from German terrain park company Schneestern (SST) that had both athletes and commentators (like us) marveling.
“This is easily one of the best slopestyle courses I’ve gotten the chance to ride,” said Noah Wallace, who placed 9th in today’s mens finals. “With so many variation options, it’s made for a much more entertaining contest.”
Nick Goepper, who didn’t make finals, said it even more directly: “It’s the most unique and fun Slopestyle course ever. I really like the direction that the builders are taking.”
Schneestern founder Dirk Scheumann, who led the team that designed and constructed the course, said that this slopestyle was the result of many months of preparation and collaboration.
“In the last months we collected feedback from the athletes and talked with the coaches,” said Scheumann. “We had an internal meeting at SST with our shapers. Then I added my own personal vision, and mixed it all up together.”
Can we expect to see more slopestyle courses like this one in the future? Scheumann says yes.
“In my opinion, this is just the beginning,” he says. “Slopestyle is such a creative sport, and the next course designs are already ready.”
If you’re like us and still aren’t quite used to World Cup slopestyles on live TV, you might have missed the broadcast earlier today. You can pay €5.99 to watch a recap of the coverage on the Eurosport Player—complete with absolutely terrible English commentating.
Mens Final Results
Womens Final Results
A photo posted by Emma Dahlström (@emmadahlstrom_) on
Click On The Mountain returns to Courmayeur with an all new conceptA photo posted by Henrik Harlaut (@henrikharlaut1) on
February 2016, Courmayeur – Once more, Courmayeur Mont Blanc and Click on the Mountain celebrate freeriding from February 29 to March 5 inviting a field of internationally renowned athletes and creatives to Aosta Valley in order to crown the best amongst them. Freeride camps make the events experience accessible for viewers!
All summer long, the masterminds behind the annual freeride photo competition in Courmayeur have been spinning their brains and came up with an all new concept for the eighth edition of the infamous Click on the Mountain! The underlying idea stays the same: depict the magnificence Courmayeur and the surrounding mountains offer to freeriders and showcase the beauty of both landscape and sport alike. But 2016 it’s not limited to still images only – video will play a crucial role in this year’s edition!
Last year’s “Best Ski Photo: Niky Salencon by Klaus Polzer.
It’s never been an easy task to use the 72 hour long time slot and produce the best and most innovative photo portfolio possible to win the COTM competition, and the teams will have to double their efforts this year: each team consists of 1 photographer, 1 filmer, and 3 riders joining forces to deliver 5 pictures and a 2 minute video edit solely produced around Courmayeur Mont Blanc and during a 3 day window. The Aosta Valley awaits the teams covered in powder and a heli-day, a day up on Punta Helbronner with the new Skyway and the vast freeriding possibilities in the Courmayeur resort provide the perfect playground for athletes and creatives alike.
And what a field of freeskiing, snowboarding, photo and film professionals will find their way to Courmayeur! Monster Energy Athlete Jacob Wester, Swedish backcountry freestyle mastermind will be joined by Tom Ritsch (AUT) while the action of the two will be captured by photographer Ethan Stone (USA) and filmer Sam McMahon (UK). Coming from Spain, filmer Borja Azurmendi and photo artist Pablo Varela Perez will chase Swiss rider Sämi Ortlieb and Domi Rhyner all over the Mont Blanc massif. A French armada featuring Arthur Ghilini (photo), Yan André (film) with riders Christophe Henry and Loic Deschamps will round the field, while snowboarders Simon Gruber (Monster Energy) and Nicholas Bridgman will fly the flag for Italy, teaming up with filmer Marco Morandi and photographer Roby Bragotto. Every team will be joined by a local rider who will show his secret spots to the guys.
![HIISHII_Simon_Gruber_BestSnowboard_1[1]](https://www.downdays.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/HIISHII_Simon_Gruber_BestSnowboard_11.jpeg)
Last year’s “Best Snowboard Photo” – Simon Gruber by HIISHII.
It’s an exclusive field gathering at Courmayeur during the week – but you could still be part of the experience: Spend a weekend or even three days in Courmayeur, learn the essentials of skiing off-piste and go freeriding with local guides! All info can be found on the event’s website here.
Join the teams for the public price giving at Jardin de l’Ange and party with them at Poppy’s Club on Saturday, March 5th!
And we are not done yet: till April 10 , share your best skiing and snowboarding pictures on Instagram, tagged with #clickonthemountain in order to win – the 15 best and most liked pictures will be shown on clickonthemoutain.com website and a Jury will choose the best one that will win a special prize by Monster Energy, official sponsor of the event!
For more information please visit:
Event Website: www.clickonthemountain.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ClickOTM
Instagram: @clickonthemountain
Freeride Camps information here and at Alpine Adventures
Jesper Tjäder, Tiril S. Christiansen qualify first in South Korea slopestyleOne of the biggest stories in skiing this week is the incredible slopestyle course built for the pre-Olympic test event at Phoenix Park in South Korea. Today 42 male and 21 female competitors dropped in for two qualifying runs, hoping to navigate this unique slopestyle well enough to earn a spot in the finals, which take place on Saturday, February 20.
Photo courtesy of Luca Tribondeau – check his blog to see more
On the men’s side, the top five from each of two heats advanced to the finals. Felix Stridsberg-Osterud of Norway and Jesper Tjäder of Sweden won their respective heats, with Tjäder posting the highest score of the day, a 92. On the women’s side, Tiril S. Christiansen led the field with a dominant 90.4.
“The level was REALLY high today,” reported Finnish competitor Joona Kangas, who had trouble on both his runs and came in place 32. “There’s so many options to pick, and a lot of special lines, and that’s what I think is the best thing about this course. It makes the riders really think about how to ride the course differently from other skiers’ lines.”
Fabian Bösch, who qualified third in Heat 1, agreed with Kangas. “The level was high, even more so in the second heat,” said Bösch, referencing the heat where four riders—his Swiss countrymen Andri Ragettli, Jonas Hunziker and Kai Mahler, as well as Canadian Teal Harle—all failed to qualify despite posting scores above 87.00.
The high qualifying scores indicate that this challenge of a course is working out well for the skiers who have successfully adapted their riding to the new features.
“The course is pretty difficult, but still nice to ride,” added Bösch. “It will definitely be an exciting final!”
“Qualifying today was the best I’ve ever seen for a qualifying event,” said American Nick Goepper, who placed 20th. “No one held back on their runs. The strongest survive!”
Bösch goes Finals (Run 01)Qualis are done! Not the luckiest day for the Swiss Freeski Team but at least Fabian Bösch made it in to sathurday’s finals!#8Kvideo #pyeongchang2018 #testolympics
Posted by Swiss Freeski Team on Thursday, February 18, 2016
Here are the qualification results—keep checking back for more updates on this one-of-a-kind slopestyle event.
Men’s Qualifying Results
Heat 1
1. Felix STRIDSBERG-OSTERUD 90.80
2. Øystein BRÅTEN 88.80
3. Fabian BÖSCH 87.20
4. Noah WALLACE 85.80
5. Henrik HARLAUT 84.80
Heat 2
1. Jesper TJÄDER 92.00
2. McRae WILLIAMS 91.00
3. Alex BELLEMARE 90.00
4. Josiah WELLS 89.60
5. Evan MCEACHRAN 88.60
Women’s Qualifying Results
1. Tiril SJÅSTAD CHRISTIANSEN 90.40
2. Katie SUMMERHAYES 82.20
3. Dara HOWELL 76.40
4. Emma DAHLSTROM 75.20
5. Maggie VOISIN 74.00
Full qualifying results – Women
Full qualifying results – Men
Frostgun Invitational 2016 – A friendly Street Fighter session
The name Street Fighter might make you think that this was supposed to be a battle, but the opening street rail session at the Frostgun Invitational was actually more of a chill, fun demo show as in days of old. Around ten skiers and six snowboarders sessioned the setup, making young girls scream as they surely will be doing es masse when the Frostgun big air goes off later this week.
The setup was simple and the speed was a bit tricky, the the riders still had fun. “It’s a great atmosphere, just a great atmosphere,” said Jules, who left with 170 euros in his pocket. The concept was easy to understand—no judges, just some influential guys with money in their pockets, giving out bills to the riders if the trick (or the crash) was good enough.
Tom Granier went home (or to the club) with €180, David Bonneville with €40, and Aleksi Patja cashed in with a remarkable €230. Not too bad for a few hours of sessioning rails.
With a massive big air event still coming up at Frostgun, it’s refreshing to see this event kick off with such a mellow fun event. It’s good to have that still around in the freeskiing industry.
The Suzuki Nine Knights event has become synonymous with groundbreaking terrain park design, introducing us to new worlds of possibility with each year’s new feature. This year the S9K crew has focused on one particular terrain feature, looking to re-introduce this decades-old classic with a fresh new look. Meet Suzuki Nine Knights: The Perfect Hip.
The latest crazy invention from the minds of Nico Zacek and his park designers at Schneestern.
With a new location at Watles in South Tyrol, Italy and a new “Mission” to undertake, Suzuki Nine Knights is looking to hit the refresh button its long stranglehold in the snow-castle department, says event founder Nico Zacek. With a new biennial plan in which special “Missions” like the The Perfect Hip alternate with the classic, full-on Suzuki Nine Knights etravaganza, Zacek and team are looking to diversify the options of his classic event brand while continuing to push progression in different directions.
Apparently, last year’s Suzuki Nine Queens hip wasn’t big enough. Skier: Joffrey Pollet-Villard Photo: Klaus Polzer
Here’s the official press release with all the details, plus a Q&A with Nico Zacek.
Watles, South Tyrol (ITA), January 16th, 2016 – The Suzuki Nine Knights 2016 sets out on a new “Mission” to innovate hip and transition riding by building one glorious obstacle: a gigantic hip with 5 take-offs, shaped to perfection.
From the 29th of March to the 2nd of April the best transition snowboarders and skiers in the world will have the opportunity to progress hip riding to a new level. Playing host to the film and photo mega session is the picturesque Watles, in the Venosta Valley in South Tyrol, Italy. The 3D course design shows a 15m tall and over 60m long multi feature hip structure with a plethora of take-offs and landing options. The possibilities appear to be limitless and it will certainly be an exciting week that will is topped off with a Public Contest Day on Saturday the 2nd of April 2016.
Cristoph Schenk floats over the 2015 castle in Livigno. Photo: Klaus Polzer
The iconic Suzuki Nine Knights & Suzuki Nine Queens events have grown exponentially every year; more features and athletes presenting spectacular performances at every event. In 2016 the event series takes on a refreshing new direction, beginning with the men’s “Mission” to focus on one obstacle: “The Perfect Hip”.
“The two-year rhythm allows the alternate years a new freedom to keep it fresh, get creative and try new concepts while focusing on progression”, explains event founder Nico Zacek. The decision to run biennial “Missions” that alternate with the original event concept is an exciting new chapter for the Suzuki Nine Queens and Suzuki Nine Knights events. Find out more in the interview below with Nico…
Why and how is the event concept changing this season?
Nico: After running the events for 8 years, we were looking to keep things fresh and we came up with a way to hopefully innovate even more. We will continue to run the “original” winter events that everybody knows on a two-year rhythm, alternating the Suzuki Nine Knights and Suzuki Nine Queens. But we wanted to give ourselves the freedom to run the so-called “Missions” in the lay-seasons. Once in a while we have some really great ideas that we want to realise, but they don’t fit within the original concept. So the first “Mission” we are tackling is “The Perfect Hip” in Watles.
Why the move to Watles, tell us about the new spot?
Nico: With a new event concept it was also time to find a new resort partner after four incredible years at Mottolino Fun Mountain in Livigno, one of the best host resorts we could ever have imagined. Their partnership and motivation to push the sport let us create amazing things together. We send them a BIG thank you! Everyone should go there to experience true Italian hospitality and ride the kick ass park and terrain. Now we have found an exciting and super motivated partner resort in Watles in the Venosta Valley in South Tyrol, Italy, who have run great events in the past and will help us create more amazing things in the future.
David Wise joining the “elevated club” on last year’s hip. Photo: Klaus Polzer
What can we to expect to see at 2016 Suzuki Nine Knights?
Nico: The Suzuki Nine Knights Perfect Hip is going to be a special one; it’s a concept we have been thinking about for a while. Last year we built a great hip, and we were really close to breaking some world records in terms of height. We said ok, now is the time to just focus on this. Let’s build the best hip we possibly can and try to not only to break the highest ski and snowboarding air ever done, but to add different take offs and options, and a crazy quarter pipe to bank take off. We really want to create a playground that is all about transitions and airtime; and then get the best transition skiers and snowboards the throw down it.
Do you have a recipe for a successful event?
Nico: We bring athletes, photographers and filmmakers together and present them with the most innovative playground we can come up with and let them play for a week. This is the concept we usually run and it works. The first ever “Mission” in 2016 is kind of a little ‘throwback’ to the first events, with a smaller crew and a reduced setup; it’s still going to be epic though!
What makes Suzuki Nine Knights special in your eyes?
Nico: Athletes tell us that we don’t have some of the usual ingredients that other events have: hectickness, stress, judging, prize money or start times due live TV. We give them a mellow atmosphere to really play around with their favourite filmmakers and photographers while they can really focus on progressing in their own way. As a concept it has worked well for us and we are very grateful to have many media and spectators on site who are keen on seeing what were doing.
Keep track of Suzuki Nine Knights on Instagram (#nineknights @nineknights) and Facebook.
Why skiers are raving about Pyeongchang’s insane Olympic Slopestyle test courseDue to the time difference, it was already morning in Europe when the social networks started to fill up with pictures from the pre-Olympic slopestyle test event in Phoenix Park, South Korea. Why?
Because the course looks absolutely amazing, and when Henrik Harlaut calls a feature “possibly the dankest money ‘boot her’ I’ve seen in a slopestyle course,” you know you can trust him.
South Korea WC course previewHere’s a quick zip through the slope course here in Pyeongchang! By far the most innovative course I’ve ever hit! This is why slopestyle skiing is so sick. Always keepin’ it fresh and interesting. Stoked for the contest! #Pyeongchang2018 #SouthKorea #NoShortcuts #SagaFam
Post by McRae Williams on 15 February 2016
Course Preview!Kleiner Einblick in den Süd Koreanischen Parcours. #testolympics
Posté par Swiss Freeski Team sur mardi 16 février 2016
It seems like this slopestyle represents a new direction in course design, with loads of creative transitions and transfer options and only one “normal” kicker.
“This slopestyle is unreal, there are so many options and transitions, and I’ve never seen anything like it… maybe the B&E Invitational,” says JF Furrer, a coach for the Swiss Freeski Team. “There is only one normal jump, but there are some crazy and huge gaps. You will see so many different runs on this course that will make slopestyle cool again. The only problem at the moment is, it’s pure ice because it was raining for two days and the temperature dropped below zero.” Luckily the weather looks good for the next days, and the temperatures will stay cold.
We hope that the riders choose to enjoy this course’s uniqueness by riding it creatively, rather than just picking the biggest features to land their standard doubles and triples. “Our strategy is definitely to be creative, and send it on the last one,” says Furrer. “It’s pretty big, that one.”
We also hope that the judging will support the choice of creative lines, and we hope that the freeskiing community will grab hold of this opportunity that FIS has presented.
“The organization is perfect! The people here are super nice and helpful,” says Furrer. “Yep, now you can’t say ‘Fuck FIS’ anymore!”
Possibly the dankest money ‘boot her’ I’ve seen in a slopestyle course ???
A photo posted by Henrik Harlaut (@henrikharlaut1) on
The 2016 Frostgun Invitational starts tomorrow
One of the biggest, best big airs in Europe is back this week with some of the best skiers on the planet.
In Val D’Isere tomorrow afternoon, a massive crowd of drunken Danes will cheer on a pack of skiing’s best as they tackle the rails of the Street Fighter competition and launch massive doubles, triples and more on the giant signature Frostgun Invitational 30-meter big air jump.
The invited skiers are:
Vincent Gagnier
Alex Schlopy
Klaus Finne
David Bonneville
Gaetan Carlier
Dennis Ranalter
Kim Gubser
Tom Granier
Aleksi Patja
Lauri Kivari
Matt Walker
PK Hunder
Check out the preview video to see the setup, and plan to watch the ski big air livestream on Thursday if you can — this event has consistently been one of the best big airs in the sport! We’ll be on location to capture all the action.
And check the results
Here’s good news for anyone who appreciates a good ski photo: the Arc’teryx King of Dolomites photo contest is back for 2016 with a new format, open to amateur photographers and teams as well as professionals.
From February 18-21, 2016, up to eight “pro” teams and up to 100 “wannabe” crews will descend on San Martino di Castrozza for the King of Dolomites competition. In contestation are the photo categories of “Action,” “Landscape” and “Alpinism,” which will be judged separately for the pros and the ams, and one category to be contested jointly by both the big and the small dogs: the KOD2016 theme, which is called “Lines.”
Zoya Lynch’s spectacular photo of Nat Segal picked up a Special Mention in last year’s contest.
With €1,000 up for grabs in each photo category, and €1,500 for the shared “Lines” category, we’re doubtless going to see some top-notch ski photography coming out of the Dolomites in two weeks’ time. The only question remaining is — will your photos be among them? The new, unfortunately named “wannabe” category opens up a great new opportunity for up-and-coming photographers and riders to put their names on the board while learning from the best.
This is your chance to go head-to-head with Downdays photo editor Klaus Polzer, who will be on hand with his team of Basti Huber and Neil Williman—so make sure to distract them by asking for advice and copies of the magazine at inopportune times, because they’re surely aiming to win a category or two!
Learn more about the King of Dolomites contest, including how to enter, on their website kingofdolomites.com.
X Games Real Ski: The Edits are outClayton Vila
Cam Riley
Tom Wallisch
Will Wesson
Ahmet Dadali
JF Houle
Based in Akureyri, the ski capital of Iceland, the Games will host over 60 events, including an AFP Gold Big Air, a Freeride Competition and the first Icelandic National Freeski Championships.
From Heli skiing on the Troll Peninsula, to dog-sledding, skiing on volcanoes and the pristine park of Akureyri, the video competition is a battle between N. America and Europe. With four teams invited, two ski and two snowboard, they will experience all the unique landscapes and terrain Iceland has to offer.
The ever imaginative Leo Taillefer (FRA) and filmer Brady Perron join Henrik Harlaut (SWE) to make up team Europe. Mike Hornbeck (USA) together with cameraman Corey Stanton are lead by Phil Casabon (CAN) to complete team N. America. Their 90 second clips will be open for you to vote on after the Games. Join the IWG Facebook page to be ready for the voting: https:// www.facebook.com/icelandwintergames
Following the success of last year, the Gold AFP event will be the highlight at Mt. Hlíðarfjall. Conveniently placed between the European Open and The AFP finals in Whistler, athletes will be able to make use of Icelandair’s “Stop-Over” flights, which offers upto a 7 day layover in Iceland when flying between Europe and N. America, for no extra cost.
The whole local community is behind this festival, all the tour operators from the Dog Sledders to the Cat-Skiers are putting on special discounts and “experience” tours for the holiday makers in Akureyri.
As well as winter sports, guests can take breathtaking tours in super-jeeps, helicopters, snowmobiles or even in green energy powered schooner boats.
The festival is a must for adrenaline loving adventure seekers and those looking for a more unusual festival. If you would like to experience the Iceland Winter Games first hand you can check out the holiday packages available on the IWG website here: http://www.icelandwintergames.com/ en/sign-up/sign-up