. world ski news : FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2010: Nissan Russian Adventure Postponed and Moved to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - 25 January 2010 - 09:30
Sochi, Russia - January 25, 2010 - Due to heavy snowfall and wind, the Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch is postponed and will be held in Chamonix after the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
As security is key for the Freeride World Tour competitions, organiser Nicolas Hale-Woods and the team of mountain guides decided that the heavy snowfall and high winds over the last 24 hours would not allow for optimal security conditions to hold the competition.
The Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is scheduled for Saturday, January 30th, and the Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch will take place the next possible day using the start list established in Sochi.
Riders will meet in Chamonix for both events. The line up is as good as it gets with many interesting contenders for the Freeride World Champion 2010 title.
Men's ski
Challenging reigning Freeride World Champion Aurelien Ducroz (FRA) will be a talented group of riders led by Sweden's Reine Barkered and Henrik Windstedt. Barkered was an unknown on the international freeride scene before his rookie season in 2009 during which he won one event and placed second in Verbier. Windstedt, the Freeride World Champion in 2008 and considered by many to be one of the best all-round skiers in the world, is fit and eager to win back his title.
Last year's winner in Sochi, Sverre Liliequist will be bringing all his experience back to the tour as will former Xtreme Verbier winner Kaj Zackrisson (SWE) and France's Seb Michaud.
Candide Thovex (FRA), one of the pioneers to the new school freestyle movement, will be making his debut on the tour and will undoubtedly set pulses pulling off some of his infamous freestyle moves. An extremely talented skier, Thovex is expected to challenge the tour's best with his innovative interpretation of freeride.
Keep an eye out for American JT Holmes, who is back on the competitive scene after a few years focusing on film making. His fellow countryman Tim Dutton, a rising star on the American freeride scene, is also someone to look out for.
Last but not least, Germany's rookie Sebastian Hannemann and Torgrim Vole from Norway are young, strong and keen to show the established riders that they mean business.
Men's snowboard
Two-time Freeride World Champion Xavier de Le Rue (FRA) will be hard to beat, but he can expect some stiff competition. The Austrian contingent is particularly strong with young gun Max Zipser, third on the FWT Ranking last year, Mitch Tolderer and Eric Themel, all ready to challenge.
Swiss rider Cyril Neri, three-time winner of the prestigious Xtreme in Verbier as well as winner of the Nissan Russian Adventure last year before hurting his back severely during a minor fall in his hometown. He is now back in full strength for the 2010 season.
Niklas Hollsten from Finland received a wild card following an impressive run of Freeride World Qualifiers performances in 2009. American Matt Annetts qualified for the FWT last year after winning the Freeride World Qualifier in Snowbird, then showed great form on the Freeride World Tour, including a third place finish in Verbier.
Women Riders
12 of the planet's strongest female riders will be challenging skier Ane Enderud (NOR) and snowboarder Susan Mol (USA) for the Freeride World Champion title. With a podium in every FWT contest 2009, Marja Persson (SWE) is a very solid skier striving for the top step of the podium. Elyse Saugstad (USA) won the first edition of the Freeride World Tour 2008, and did a very impressive run at the Nissan Tram Face in Squaw Valley last year. Aline Bock (GER) was the female rookie of the Freeride World Tour 2009. The former freestyle snowboarder made the jump to the Freeride World Tour and landed second in the Freeride World Ranking.
Prize Money
The Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc will offer the total prize money of USD 56,200 and the Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch prize money is set at USD 35,200. The season's prize money grand total exceeds USD 200,000.
The 2010 Freeride World Tour's four stages:
1. NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENTURE BY SWATCH - SOCHI, RUSSIA
Date: 21-22 January 2010
2. NISSAN FREERIDE OF CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC - FRANCE
Date: 30 January 2010
3. NISSAN TRAM FACE - SQUAW VALLEY USA - UNITED STATES
Date: 27 February 2010
4. NISSAN XTREME BY SWATCH - VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
Date: 20 March 2010