Click On The Mountain returns to Courmayeur with an all new concept

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.

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 slopestyle

One 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!”

 

Made finals together with @oysteinbraten and @felixusterud today! Can’t wait to ski this course again on Saturday. Watch it live on NRK1 at 08.50 ? @lukeochoallen / @norfreeski #ektahalling #tryoutolympics @tine_sa @dnb_bank @redbullnorge @oakleyskiing @voelklskis @tomtombandit

A photo posted by Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen (@tiril) on Feb 17, 2016 at 11:03pm PST

 

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.

This year Suzuki Nine Knights is building “The Perfect Hip”

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 course

Due 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.

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.

Photo by Luca Tribondeau – check out Luca’s blog to see more great photos of the course

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!”

 

 

? Cool. ???? #pyongchang #korea #olympictestevent #canfreestyleski

A photo posted by Kaya Turski (@kaya) on Feb 15, 2016 at 4:29pm PST

Possibly the dankest money ‘boot her’ I’ve seen in a slopestyle course ???

A photo posted by Henrik Harlaut (@henrikharlaut1) on Feb 15, 2016 at 11:48pm PST

 

Craziest slopestyle course I’ve ever seen, but unfortunately it was mega icy today so we kept it really mellow! Excited of what will go down here the next few days! ??❄️☀️? Link to a full report and more pictures in my BIO! #olympictestevent

A photo posted by Luca Tribondeau (@lucatribondeau96) on Feb 16, 2016 at 12:24am PST

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.

Gaetan Carlier and Tess Ledeux win SFR Tour in Vars

 

And check the results

Arc’teryx King of Dolomites enters its fourth year

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 out

Clayton Vila

Cam Riley

Tom Wallisch

Will Wesson

Ahmet Dadali

JF Houle

Iceland Winter Games 2016 invites Henrik Harlaut & Phil Casabon

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

Real Ski 2016: Urban skiers go nuts to win X Games gold

This year the X Games has swapped out their Real Ski Backcountry competition for an urban-focused Real Ski contest instead, and the results look, well… you can see for yourself.

Tom Wallisch, JF Houle, Cam Riley, Clayton Vila, Will Wesson and Ahmet Dadali are the challengers in Real Ski 2016, which is the X Games’ first foray into an urban skiing video contest; they’ve run Real Snow Street and Backcountry in snowboarding for several years already, but until now only Backcountry contests for the skiers (Sammy Carlson’s won all three).

The new format has certainly spiced up Real Ski for 2016, as it looks like all of the six competing skiers have stepped up to the challenge in a big way. This teaser clip is intended to get you hyped up for tomorrow’s video drop—and for our part, we’ll say it’s done its job.

 

 

Skiers Cup 2016: The Backcountry Slopestyle

“I’m ready! Let’s do this!” says Parker White, a bit impatiently.

We’re milling around at the bottom of the Backcountry Slopestyle course at the 2016 Mona Banc Skiers Cup, and the skiers besides Parker don’t seem all that hyped on the goings-on. High clouds and rising winds have put a momentary damper on things after the morning’s excitement of getting helicoptered up to to the event venue high in the Val de Ransol, across the road from the biggest ski resort in Andorra, Grandvalira.

No doubt, the springlike, low-snow conditions currently holding here in Andorra aren’t the best for the Skiers Cup riders, who’ve been spoiled by excellent snow conditions the past several years in Zermatt. But despite some negativity among some of the riders, who’ve described the conditions with adjectives ranging from “sub-optimal” to “catastrophic”, the sun has been doing a relatively good job of warming up the firm snow and providing adequate corn conditions for the two-day competition to take place. All in all, it hasn’t been half bad—and Parker is tired of waiting around.

“The conditions aren’t great, but they’re the same for everyone,” he says, chomping at the bit. “I’m ready to go right now.”

The weather had been fine earlier this morning as the skiers arrived to scope out the setup created by OG French freeskier Arnaud Kugener and a team of shapers from the Grandvalira snowparks. Kugener, who’s busy putting the final touches on the course’s biggest kicker, says he’s been up here for the last few days with his crew.

 

“I started working alone, finding the face and the right place for all the features,” says Kugener. “Then we had a few nice days of big blocks, shoveling all day in the sun.”

But now after all the sunny weather of the past few days, conditions have turned on us for the moment, and we’re in a holding pattern, waiting for that sun to come back out and soften the snow again. The atmosphere at base camp remains lively—a high-level barbecue session is underway with all manner of tasty delicacies on the grill. The BBQ bosses, an off-duty Freeride World tour technical director and a ski patroller, hold up spears of spiced meat and grilled peppers for all takers. The skiers build a snow shelter at the bottom of the venue and congregate to discuss the course, scowling at the clouds overhead.

“At least it’s not raining,” says Nick McNutt.

“Dude, don’t say that,” answers Parker.

“Atreyu!” Team Americas captain Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, cloudspotting.

“Just hold it up in the air, and somebody will grab it.”

After waiting long enough for the weather to improve, we slowly start moving towards a start—and right on schedule, the weather starts to come around: the clouds blow out, the winds die down, and a warm, spring-like Andorran sun begins its work softening the landings of this spring-like jump course.

The skiers take a couple warm-up laps, figuring out their lines and the speed between the jumps, and all of a sudden it’s on—sixteen of the world’s top skiers going head-to-head in two different runs.

Markus Eder gets inverted.

Parker White’s cork 900s are on lock.

Always smooth: Tanner Rainville

The Cineflex helicopter blazes by overhead scarily close as the skiers drop in one by one. Some stomp their lines, some don’t. Parker bags a clean opening cork 9 blunt in both his runs, but can’t land a follow-up switch 540. Seth Morrison laces a massive Seth backflip into a lincoln loop and a 360 to beat first-round challenger Sam Anthamatten. Europe’s secret weapon turns out to be Mathieu Bijasson, who stomps both his runs to cash valuable points for his team, alongside not-so-secret weapon, Team Europe captain Loïc Collomb-Patton, who also wins both his runs.

Team America, coming into the Backcountry Slopestyle trailing in points 7-9 against Team Europe after the Big Mountain portion of the competition, needs to make up points any way they can. But after breaking even with Europe in Round 1, the North Americans drop several key matches in Round 2, sealing the deal on a Team Europe victory.

“After the first round, we saw the score and thought maybe it would be difficult to win today,” said Collomb-Patton. “But then the second round was a big victory for the European team, six to two.”

“In the end, the contest worked out great,” said French skier Arnaud Rougier, who judged the event alongside Sam Smoothy and Philou Poirer. “ The landings were a big firm, which was perfect for landing switch. Some really good stuff went down, everybody was pushing it hard.”

“They teams were almost equal at one point, but the Europeans were more consistent throughout both the freeride and freestyle segments,” said Rougier. “I think that’s the toughest thing about this event—you have to land four runs clean. And that made a difference.”

Skiers Cup founders Sverre Lillequist and Kaj Zackrisson

“Coming into today, I thought Team Americas was going to put down some good runs,” said Skiers Cup co-founder Kaj Zackrisson. “But in the end, Team Europe was killing it. They skied really well and stomped all their landings, and all the tricks we saw were amazing.”

And who was the most impressive skier of the week?

“Sam Anthamatten was incredible both in freeride and freestyle,” said Rougier. “He hit a feature that no one else took. That guy is so impressive. And Mathieu Bijasson, he also won both his runs. He was up against Seth Morrison both in freeride and freestyle, which I know was a big challenge for him, and he won both times.”

Bijasson: Europe’s secret weapon.

You may already know some of the things that Sam Anthamatten can do, like ice climbing, guiding, first ascents in the Himalayas, and flashing big-mountain lines like nobody’s business. Well, you can add another few things to that list now: Anthamatten can also do rightside cork 720s, toss flips off natural terrain, and generally handle a backcountry slopestyle as well as any of the jib kids.

Before the start of the backcountry slopestyle, I was joking “Whats Anthamatten going to do today? Ice climb up the back of the kicker?” Then he dropped this rightside cork 7, and shut me right up.

Among all of the highly talented Skiers Cup participants, Anthamatten is quite unanimously proclaimed the event’s MVP in 2016. He held his own in the BC slopestyle, losing only one point in his match-up against Seth Morrison, and only because he sent a massive backflip too big and missed the next feature. Especially during the Big Mountain day, Anthamatten left us all stunned with his mastery of the mountain, with two brilliant runs that blended extreme technical capability with previously-unseen levels of creativity and line interpretation—surfing a cornice line, straightlining a grass chute and Super-Marioing off a rollover cliff drop to a near-perfect micro-transition landing.

“I had two good days of riding,” said Anthamatten. “Today I surprised myself— a cork 7 is normally not my specialty, but I had a good feeling and a good end to the run. Just having fun with the boys, you ski much better than when you put pressure on yourself.”

That’s a wrap on the 2016 Skiers Cup, but rest assured—Team Americas won’t be forgetting this defeat anytime soon. With their hemisphere now behind two to four in overall Skiers Cup matchups, 2017 team captain Tanner Rainville and right-hand-man Parker White are reportedly already plotting a comeback.

“Richard Permin is going to have to pick a good team,” said Zackrisson with his characteristic laugh. “Because I think Team Americas is going to train hard this summer.”