The FWT (or to give it it’s full title “The Freeride World Tour: the Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch”) re-routed itself and rolled into a more than welcoming Chamonix. Originally planned for the next Winter Olympic venue, Sochi, Chamonix was chosen after security concerns were raised over the Russian venue. There were also questions about the difficult weather conditions which the competitors would have to contend with.

The descent chosen was in the Flégère ski area, starting from 2,500m up on the north east face of Aiguille Pourrie area. The earlier start position always seems to be best for these types of events; the early runners have the best snow, washing it away for the later competitors. This can leave much icier conditions, and subsequently fewer and fewer good lines to take. The route which had been scoped out earlier, with all moves sussed out, may not be viable and a new route has to be chosen – not always easy when you’re looking down from two and a half thousand metres!

Only the Men took part in the second Chamonix event.

The remaining stops are:

Squaw Valley (USA) - 1960 Winter Olympic Games

Chamonix (France)– The original Winter Olympic Games host (1924)

Verbier (Switzerland)- Legendary extreme venue.

Results

Men Ski

1- Julien Lopez (Fra)
2- Candide Thovex (Fra)
=3- Seb Michaud (Fra) &
Henrik Windstedt (Swe)

Men Snowboard

1- Xavier de Le Rue (Fra)
2- Max Zipser (Aut)
3- Gennady Khryachkov (Rus)

Current FWT Rankings.

Ski Men

1- Candide Thovex (Fra)
2- Julien Lopez (Fra)
3- Kaj Zackrisson (Swe)

Snowboard Men

1.Mitch Toelderer (Aut)
2.Douds Charlet (Fra)
3.Xavier De Le Rue (Fra)

Ski Women

1.Jess McMillan (USA)
2.Eva Walkner (Aut)
3.Janina Kuzma (NZ)

Snowboard Women

1.Susan Mol (USA)
2.Nathalie Zenklusen (Sui)
3.Aline Bock (Ger)

Freeride World Tour – Chamonix

Pic: Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch 2010 – Chamonix / C Margot