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Press Release
SWATCH XTREME VERBIER 2015 BY THE NORTH FACE®
THE FWT 2015 TITLES WERE AWARDED TODAY AT FANTASTIC
CELEBRATION OF THE 20th EDITION OF THE XTREME VERBIER
Hazel Josie Birnbaum (USA) and Aurelien Ducroz (FRA) took the wins in skiing, resulting in George
Rodney (USA) taking the Champion title in men's skiing.
Nicola Thost (GER) and Jonathan Charlet (FRA) won in snowboard, resulting in Estelle Balet (SUI)
and Jonathan Charlet (FRA) winning the Champion titles in their respective categories.
FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONS 2015
Ski Men: George Rodney (USA) Snowboard Men: Jonathan Charlet (FRA) Ski Women: Eva Walkner (AUT) Snowboard Women: Estelle Balet (SUI) SWATCH XTREME VERBIER 2015 BY THE NORTH FACE® Final results: Women’s Snowboard: 1. Nicola Thost (GER) 71.00
2. Estelle Balet (SUI) 55.00 3. Shannan Yates (USA) 52.25
Women’s Ski: 1. Hazel Josie Birnbaum (USA) 88.00
2. Silvia Moser (ITA) 76.25
3. Christine Hargin (SWE) 72.75
Men’s Snowboard: 1. Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 91.00
2. Emilien Badoux (SUI) 85.75
3. Sammy Luebke (USA) 82.75
Men’s Ski: 1. Aurelien Ducroz (FRA) 88.50
2. Reine Barkered (SWE) 88.12
3. George Rodney (USA) 87.75
FULL RESULTS CLICK HERE
Verbier, Switzerland ­ March 28, 2015 – As the final event of the Freeride World Tour, the Xtreme
Verbier is not only a prestigious contest in itself. It also decides the faith of the contenders for the
World Champion title of the year. While in the women's skiing category, Eva Walkner (AUT) was
untouchable already after the latest stage held in Haines, Alaska less than a week ago, a lot was on
the line today in the other categories.
Today's battle for the FWT titles took place on the mythical 3222m (10570 ft) Bec des Rosses, all while
celebrating 20 years of Xtreme. The much respected north face that has provided the stage for the Xtreme
Verbier for twenty years, showed a new challenging side, being dressed in a lighter snow cover this year.
Men’s Ski
In men's skiing experience beat audacity. Not in the sense of conservatism but in the ability to spot the
winning lines.
Aurelien Ducroz (FRA) who has already won three times on this face and who was competing on an
honorary wildcard did not let his fans down. He opened the men's skiing with a spectacular line below the
highest start that set the expectations of both the judges and the crowd as to the awesomeness needed
for a podium. He has now set his print in the history books as the only skier to have won the Xtreme
Verbier 4 times with a score of 88.50. “I'm just really pleased ­ a 4th victory for the 20th anniversary of the
Xtreme! I have so much love for this face. I really feel good here,” Aurelien said emotionally. “I almost
changed my line last minute and then with Reine we motivated each other and I went ahead with it. I'm so
happy I don't know what to say...”
Just behind Aurelien with a score of 88.12 was another skier who has experience written all over
him.Reine Barkered (SWE) went a little slower into the same line as Aurelien but quickly picked up the
pace in this line leading to an enormous cliff that he landed perfectly in the exposed area, making it
possible for him to take immediate control of the acceleration despite the very steep part of the face.
Another A­run from the stomp master that he ended shooting down over the apron at the bottom.
The skier in the golden bib, George Rodney (USA) had quite a comfortable position to reach out for the
World Champion title getting into today's contest. All he needed to be untouchable was a 5th place. He
knew that he couldn't just play it safe though, especially having Jeremie Heitz (SUI) in his heels, hungry
for a win on home turf. George laid out with a big top air getting straight into the game and skied fast and
strong down a technical line for a 3rd place finish and a score of 87.75, bringing the rookie the World
Champion title after a a very tight top of the field to day and a fantastic season on the FWT.
« Pretty much speechless. My dream came true today – and a lot of hard work that I've put in, has finally
paid off, » said an obviously moved new World Champion. « It's just so cool – I'm stoked ­ First time on
tour, first time here, first win in Alaska – it's a season of firsts!
Men's Snowboard
In the men's snowboard category the battle was very tight and a podium result today was crucial to
anybody contending to grab the title. The situation translated directly into what will probably be
remembered as one of the most diverse and next­level snowboard freeride event of all times. As if paying
tribute to the Bec des Rosses and its greatness and surprises, the riders incessantly showed new
interpretations of the face, making for the supreme showcase of what is possible on a snowboard.
Jonathan Charlet (FRA) had the chance of taking over Sammy Luebke (USA) in the overall if he won
today's event – provided that the super smooth American rider didn't finish second. Jonathan stepped up
to the challenge and delivered a mind­blowing run, perfectly mixing playfulness into his trademark big
mountain style of riding, ending it up flying down the apron in what could have been the forerun for
wingsuit pilot, Geraldine Fasnacht (SUI).
An incredible score of 91.00 set Jonathan straight to the top. “I'm super stoked! Everything was just great. I
realized a run without any pressure – extraordinary! Long live the Argentois,” the new World Champion
said with a salute to his hometown.
Jonathan can thank the ­ as of today ­ former World Champion, Emilien Badoux (SUI) for taking care of
the rest needed to secure the title. Emilien has been out with injury all season, but he showed that he is
more than just back in the game. He rode an amazing line where he used the big middle feature below
start number 2 as a transfer over to a no­fall zone with a huge triple that no­one else had spotted so far.
Stomping 1­2­3 he was completely in sync with her Majesty the 'Bec' earning him 85.75. This put him in
front of Sammy who had chosen a third approach. He laid out with the cliff right below start number 1
giving him VIP entrance into the more open patch, finally setting himself up for a very technical finish with
two big drops in the fall line earning him a score of 82.75. Good for a 3rd place in this great celebration of
20 years of snowboard on the 'Bec' ­ yet just 30 ranking points away from the title.
Not on the podium but definitely deserving to be mentioned was the absolute veteran (19 out of 20
possible starts on the Bec des Rosses), Steve Klassen (USA). And what a classy rider! Staying right on
top of his game for 19 years, taking features of all shapes and sizes all the way to the very bottom of the
face like a certain pink rabbit with excellent batteries. Women’s Ski
The women's ski podium provided everything from bold and ballsy lines, executed whole heartedly and to
perfection by the young Hazel Birnbaum (USA) to the experience­driven line choice of Christine Hargin
(SWE). In between was the creativity of the young rookie Silvia Moser (ITA).
The battle for the title was already won by Eva Walkner (AUT) this Monday in Haines, Alaska. Today she
had to give in to the classic release of pressure after such a big accomplishment, but hungry hearts were
more than ready to step in.
Hazel had spotted the winning line, and the way she rode it got the crowds screaming in excitement twice!
First when she stomped an exposed double up top and second after another big double on the bottom.
She scored 88.00 standing out as the only woman scoring in the 80es. “As my rookie year I feel like I learned a lot and I got to be inspired by a lot of incredible women that I've
looked up to for so many years, so it's an incredible privilege and an honor to even be part of this event.
I'm beyond ecstatic!” Hazel expressed after realizing her outstanding performance.
Fresh off a win in Alaska, Silvia Moser picked an original line all the way out the skier's left of the face and
with a committed run lining up feature after feature, she scored 76.25 and took 2nd place. Christine Hargin showed her experience in knowing exactly how far to take the risk aspect for putting
down a solid run evolving around two main features and good speed. The 2012 World Champion could
thus walk away with a strong finish to the season and a 3rd place with a score of 72.75.
Women’s Snowboard
Wildcard and former Olympic Champion, Nicola Thost (GER) showed that she has ridden off any
wildcard intimidation and re­found her freedom to flow. She set herself apart today, with a score of 71.00 ­
16 points more than number two!
“My plan for today worked out really well. It was a perfect day, and I knew from the beginning that I would
have a lot of fun. It was super fun to ride this mountain and I’m absolutely stoked I could take the win,” the
winner said afterwards. “The snow conditions were fine, and it’s just awesome to win Verbier. There’s
really a positive vibe going on at this event, and this helps a lot to have fun and stay focussed at the same
time.“
The battle for the title in the women's snowboard category was between Shannan Yates
(USA) andEstelle Balet (SUI).
While Shannan caught up with Estelle in Alaska, Estelle knew how to use her home advantage in Verbier.
Opening the contest in the line that Nicola also chose, unfortunately some slough lead her to a minor stop
in the flow, but the difficulty of her airs were enough to give her the 2nd place today with a score of 55.00.
Shannan tried to make the difference with a technical line on riders' left which allowed her to keep a good
flow but without the same difficulty of features. Enough though to squeeze in on the podium just one
quarter of a point ahead of Anne­Flore Marxer (SUI/FRA) with a score of 52.25.
For more riders quotes click here
Qualified for the FWT 2016
The top 16 Ski Men, 8 Snowboard Men, 7 ski women and 4 snowboard women of the final FWT ranking
are directly qualified for the FWT 2016.
FWT16 ­ Qualified riders click here
Freeride Junior Tour by Dakine
The Freeride Junior Tour 2015 Verbier By Dakine 3* (14­18 years) was held today on the 'Junior
Bec',side­by­side with the pros. In what was also the final event of their tour, these young riders showed ­
with incredible skills and maturity ­ that the future of freeride looks extremely bright. Linnea Meyer Du Gay (SWE) and Luke Smith (SUI) took the wins in skiing, resulting in Linnea Meyer Du
Gay (SWE) and Carl Renvall (SUI) the FJT Champion titles in skiing.
Fiona Torello (ESP) and Jake Simpson (FRA) won in snowboard, resulting in Gaëlle Melet
(SUI) andMateo Lugrin (FRA) taking the FJT Champion titles in snowboard.
Stay tuned to www.freerideworldtour.com to stay up on the latest news.
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THE NORTH FACE®
The North Face®, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in Alameda, California, the
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FWT MANAGEMENT
FWT Management SA, based in Lutry/Lausanne­Switzerland, is organizing world­class sports events in mountain
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Management SA has taken the stand­alone Xtreme Verbier event to create in 2008 Freeride World Tour (FWT),
Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ), and a Freeride Skiing Team Competition (Swatch Skiers Cup) with events in Europe,
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