James Woods Wins the Freeski Open of NZ Slopestyle

Press Release

The North Face® Freeski Open of New Zealand Park and Pipe competition wrapped up at Cardrona Alpine Resort today with a spectacular showdown in the men’s slopestyle final. Top qualifier, NZ’s Jossi Wells battled hard for the win but James Woods of the UK was on supreme form and snatched a close victory.

“It was head to head the whole way through, right from qualifiers,” explains James ‘Woodsy’ Woods who qualified second behind Jossi Wells in Friday’s opening event.

Following two days of cold temperatures and poor visibility, competition day dawned clear and calm for today’s finals. Competition format allowed each rider three runs to impress the judges, with the top score counting for their final result.

Eager to back up his 2014 Freeski Open of NZ slopestyle title, James ‘Woodsy’ Woods came out firing with a first run score of 93.50. But with Jossi Wells also looking hungry for the win there would be no chance to relax until all three runs were in the bag. With the first round complete, Jossi’s first run score of 89.75 had him sitting a close second with Switzerland’s Elias Ambühl sitting third on 84.50.

On the second run Jossi and Elias both lifted their game, Jossi bringing his score up to 91.50 and Elias to 86.75, closing the gap on the Englishman but not enough to change the pecking order.

A stumble on his third run would stop Elias Ambühl from improving his score any further but his second run performance with two linked double 1260s would be enough for third place.

Coming into his third run Jossi Wells signaled that the top step of the podium was still the goal, attacking the top rail section and making creative use of four features where every other competitors only used three. Landing three different doubles on the jump features, Jossi’s stylish final run gave him his top score of the day of 92.50.

“I knew that Jossi had a mega run in the bank and we were pushing each other harder and harder,” explains Woodsy.

With the pressure on, Woodsy knew that nothing short of an immaculate final run would be enough to secure the win and made the call to up the technicality of his rail tricks before signing off with three huge hits off the jumps. His score of 94.00 was the best of the day and the podium was decided: James Woods first, Jossi Wells second, Elias Ambühl third.

Kuzma and Seaton Defend Titles at The Freeski Open of NZ Halfpipe

Press release

Day two of The North Face® Freeski Open of New Zealand Park and Pipe competition got underway at Cardrona Alpine Resort today with skiers from New Zealand, USA, Japan and The Netherlands competing in the 22ft Olympic superpipe. New Zealand’s Janina Kuzma and the USA’s Taylor Seaton both successfully defended their titles.

The Freeski Open of NZ is classified as a silver level event by the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) and today’s event saw some top ranked skiers in action. Cardrona NZ skier Janina Kuzma, ranked number two for women’s halfpipe on the AFP World Tour, was up against world number one Ayana Onozuka of Japan. Winner of the men’s Halfpipe, Taylor Seaton is ranked 12th in the world for this discipline by the AFP.

The event format was a straight three run final with an athlete’s best score counting for their final result. Low cloud and light snow showers reduced visibility and caused a delayed start to competition and a couple of holds mid-way though.

Last of the female skiers to drop into the pipe and showcasing a brand new competition run, Janina Kuzma looked like she had the win in the bag right from the start. Increasing her spin rotation from her tried and tested 540 to the new 720 and adding a switch (backwards) hit in the middle of the pipe, Janina posted a first run score of 88.25 from a possible 100 points.

Ayana Onozuka came out looking determined on her first run, gaining huge amplitude out of the pipe on her first hit but giving herself a fright in the process, losing her control and coming away with a score of 38.25. Her second run had the control and good technical tricks to bring her score up to 82 points but this still wasn’t enough to beat a hard charging Janina Kuzma.

Keeping consistently high amplitude and changing the grabs on her second run Janina was able to push her score up to 90 points for the win. Ayana Onozuka finished in second place and Saori Suzuki (JPN) in third.

In the men’s field Taylor Seaton came into his first run looking strong and set the high score of 87.75 for the first round. Beau-James Wells (Wanaka) followed behind, starting with a big first hit but crashed out on his second trick.

Knowing that he had two more chances to nail his high score Beau came back strong on the second run, landing the only double of the competition to bump his score up to 92.75. However, Taylor Seaton had also upped his game on his second run, adding in a switch right 900 blunt trick to push his own score up to 95.75.

With Finn Bilous (Wanaka) also putting together some technical runs and sitting on a high score of 89.50 and Japanese skier Soshi Utagawa on 78.50 there was a definite promise of a spectacular third run.

Sochi came through with a huge finale bumping his score to 90.5, enough for third place but not to pass Taylor Seaton in first and Beau-James Wells in second. Finn Bilous finished in fourth.

“This is my fifth podium here at The North Face Freeski Open of NZ, I can’t believe it,” commented Taylor.

A familiar face at the Freeski Open of NZ, Taylor Seaton will also compete in the finals of tomorrow’s slopestyle, the first time he has made the cut in this discipline. “I’m really excited about competing tomorrow,” he said.

Competition continues tomorrow with Slopestyle finals which will see seven NZ athletes in action alongside British, Swiss, Australian and US competitors.

Freeski Open NZ – Jossi Wells Tops Men’s Quals, Keri Herman Wins Women’s Final

Press Release by Freeski Open NZ

Fresh snowfall overnight set the scene for the field of 28 male and two female skiers. New Zealand’s Jossi Wells was the top qualifier for the men while the USA’s Keri Herman won the women’s finals.

There was a strong Kiwi contingent in action on their home ground and up against some heavy hitting international athletes.

The event format for the men allowed for two qualification runs with an athlete’s best score counting, and the top 12 male athletes progressing to tomorrow’s finals. With a small women’s field, the female competitors contested a straight three run final today.

Last rider to drop into the course, Jossi Wells came out charging and owned the top scoring run of the day on his very first run. Making creative use of the rail features and using more of the course than any other competitor by sliding cleanly off the pipe feature and across to the down rail, Jossi then stomped the jump features, landing doubles off each of the three hits (left double 12, to switch right double 10, to left double 10) for a score of 96.

Britain’s James ‘Woodsy’ Woods, who took out first place in Slopestyle at the 2014 Freeski Open of NZ, put down a solid first run and found the greatest amplitude of the day but couldn’t top Jossi’s score. With a first run score of 90.25 on the board, Woodsy stepped up the second run, adding an octo grab in his switch right double 10 to bump his score up to 93 and claim the second qualifying spot.

The closest call of the day from the judges’ point of view was the 0.25 separating third and fourth place qualifiers, Wanaka locals Hamish McDougall and Jackson Wells. Hamish earned his highest score of 79.75 on his first attempt at the course with a technical and near flawless run while Jackson’s creative second run earned him 79.50, marked down for a slight flail on the first jump.

The women’s event was contested by two athletes from the USA. After losing a ski on her first run and having to make a safety call to ski out of the course on her second, Keri Herman made a late bid for the win, scoring 71.75 on her third run ahead of Jackie Kling with 68 points.

Find full results here

Competition continues tomorrow with Slopestyle finals which will see seven NZ athletes in action alongside British, Swiss, Australian and US competitors.

Click here for the Start List

Competition Schedule

Saturday 8th Slopestyle Finals
8:30am Lift open for competitors (finalists) only
9:00am Course inspection then training
10:15am Men’s finals
2:30pm Awards presentation, Cardrona courtyard

Sunday 9th Halfpipe Qualifications Finals
8:00am Pipe open for inspection and training
9:00am Men’s heat 1 qualification
10:15am Men’s heat 2 warm up and qualification
11:30am Women’s qualifications
1:00pm Men’s and women’s finals
3:30pm Awards presentation, Cardrona courtyard

Monday 10th Weather Day

* Note: This schedule is subject to change and all competitors must attend the riders’ briefing and listen to the snow reports on 03 443 7007 daily.

Swatch Freeride World Tour Announces 2016 Dates

Press release – Text by Freeride World Tour

This season the schedule is a nod to the 20+ years of tradition that the FWT boasts. Tradition is being made with events at Vallnord Arcalis, Andorra and Haines, Alaska, while historical venues remain on top, combining old with new to create an action-filled season that is sure to excite and inspire.

Both Vallnord Arcalis-Andorra and Haines, Alaska hosted spectacular competitions in 2015 and the FWT is excited to announce that both will return for 2016 marking the second year that these venues will play a key role in the tour.

 

The FWT also returns to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France one of the most storied locations for freeride in the world, and a global epicenter of glisse. Chamonix’s rich skiing, mountaineering and snowboarding heritage needs no introduction and a podium here is a coveted addition to any athlete’s resume.

Chamonix is complimented by a date at Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, Austria. Fieberbrunn features a difficult, complex venue that will challenge the athletes on one of the crown jewels of Austrian freeride terrain.

Finally, the rich tradition of the FWT reaches a peak on the heights of Verbier’s Bec des Rosses, Switzerland, the spiritual home of the Freeride World Tour. This legendary venue, a place where dreams are crushed and heroes are forged, turned 20 last winter and is a fitting finale for 2016.

With the 2016 schedule coming into focus, the athlete field is nearly complete. The full list of confirmed riders for FWT 2016 will be announced at a later stage.

SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2016
Event Calendar and Cut

1. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR VALLNORD ARCALIS – ANDORRA
Date: January. 23, 2016; Location: Vallnord Arcalis, AND
Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

2. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC
Date: February 6, 2016; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA
Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

3. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR FIEBERBRUNN KITZBÜHELER ALPEN
Date: March 6, 2016; Location: Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, AUT
Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

The following cut takes place after event NO. 3:
– Top 14 Men Ski (from 26)
– Top 7 Women Ski (from 14)
– Top 7 Men Snowboard (from 14)
– Top 5 Women Snowboard (from 8)
Are qualified for FWT Alaska and for FWT17

4. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR HAINES – ALASKA
Date: March 17, 2016; Location: Haines
Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

The following cut takes place after event NO. 4:
– Top 12 Men Ski (from 14)
– Top 6 Women Ski (from 7)
– Top 6 Men Snowboard (from 7)
– Top 4 Women Snowboard (from 5)
Are qualified for FWT Verbier

5. SWATCH XTREME VERBIER
Date: April 2, 2016; Location: Verbier, SUI
Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

Down-Under Contest Season Kicks Off With The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand

While the Northern Hemisphere languishes in the summer heat, the eyes of the skiing world turn now to the south, where The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand fires up the down-under comp scene with slopestyle & halfpipe contests August 6-10. A big mountain contest follows on September 1-6.

Cardrona Parks will host the slopestyle and halfpipe events, while the Remarkables ski field is the venue for the big mountain event. Slopestyle & Pipe are rated as AFP Silver-level events, while big mountain clocks in as a three-star Freeride World Tour Qualifier. More information and registration is available at www.nzfreeskiopen.com.

Who’s that? It can only be James Woods! Photo courtesy NZ Freeski Open

 

Conditions looked good at the 2013 big mountain event. Photo: Neil Kerr/nzskier.com

These events are just the start of a slew of contests that keeps Southern Hemisphere skiers and the globetrotting freeski clique busy throughout the late summer and autumn. Up next is the Audi quattro Winter Games August 21-30, which includes halfpipe and slopestyle, while the One Hit Wonder Mountain Festival in Thedbo, Australia September 9-13 gives a venue for big air skiers on Australia’s biggest jump.

In case you care, the 2022 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China

Corruption, money etc, the rest doesn’t count at all, you know that, it’s Olympics.

 

More informations HERE