Dust settles at the Nendaz freeride

Wed 18 March 09

The third edition of the Nendaz freeride took place last weekend under extraordinary snow conditions and blue sky and was eventually won by Austrian Flo Orley

The third edition of the Nendaz freeride took place last weekend under extraordinary snow conditions. The first four riders of each category were to automatically qualify for the Nissan Xtreme of Verbier, which takes place next weekend.

Austrian Flo Orley won the snowboarding event, Swiss André Sommer receives the ticket for the Nissan Xtreme of Verbier as Flo Orley was already qualified ahead of the Nendaz race.

"The face of finale is perfect for the competition, the snow was excellent and allowed me to carry out the exact line (descent) which I had planned. To take part in the Xtreme of Verbier is a dream for all riders, I will do my best to repeat my performance next weekend in Verbier”.

The final spot on the podium was taken by Swiss Gilles Sandoz from Neuchâtel who performed a
superb technical and very fluid run.

British rider Chris Southwell qualified in an agonising 12th place, and just missed out of competing in the finals

Nendaz Freeride 2009 Rider : Gilles Sandoz
©Nendaz Freeride, photographe Jean-Pierre Guillermin

Maria Kuzma the sister of Janina who won and will attend the Xtrem of Verbier. She was followed by Finnish Kaisa Härkönen and American Shannan Yates.

On Sunday afternoon a great and happy smile was on the face of event organizors, Raphaël Lanfranchi, Ruben Jeanbourquin and Cyril Lanfranchi who are entirely satisfied with the competition and very impressed with the way the level and quality of the riders increase each year. They look forward to welcoming you to the fourth edition of the Nendaz Freeride in 2010 !

Nendaz Freeride 2009 Podium
©Nendaz Freeride, photographe Jean-Pierre Guillermin

Snowboard women final results

Rank	Rider	City	Country	Note
1	Kuzma Maria	Wanaka	NZL	5.6
2	Härkönen Kaisa	Säynätsalo	FIN	5.5
3	Yates Shannan	Salt Kake City	USA	5.1
4	Zenklusen Nathalie	Le Chêne-sur-Bex	SUI	4.2

Snowboard men final results

Rank	Rider	City	Country	Note
1	Orley Flo	Innsbruck	AUT	8.2
2	Sommer Andre	Verbier	SUI	7.7
3	Sandoz Gilles	Neuchâtel	SUI	7.4
4	Aeschbach Mike	Verbier	SUI	7.1
5	Van der steen Jonathan	Villette	SUI	7.1
6	Badoux Emilien	Sion	SUI	7.0
7	Watson Dave	Snowmass Village	USA	6.6
8	Bullet Raphael	Nendaz	SUI	6.5
9	Khryachkov Gennady	Terskol	RUS	4.1
10	Sandoz Bastien	Neuchâtel	SUI	3.9
11	Regensburger Daniel	Innsbruck	AUT	3.8

Hofer takes the Freeride Battle Kanin 2010
The 17 snowboarders just managed to finish their runs before the mountain disappeared in cloud, in the Freeride World Tour qualifier event in Slovenia -7Mar10
Nendaz Freeride schedule announced
more than 100 riders are set to compete in the Freeride World Qualifier event, the Nendaz Freeride on 13-15th March and you can stay there at a bargain 20CHF a night to watch it all unfold. -5Mar09
Freeride de Chamonix results
Everything was in place for the amazing show: sunshine, low temperatures, cold snow, a spot loved by the locals, the Hôtel du Brévent 400 vertical meters on a steep slope facing east and 92 riders anxious to reveal their talent taking on the face! -17Feb09