With its vast snowboarding options, warm hospitality and consistent annual snowfall, few destinations in North America can rival Revelstoke - all the signs point to Revelstoke becoming a mainstay on the Freeride World Tour.

The "Mackenzie Face” played host to the world’s best big mountain snowboarders in a one-run winner takes all contest.

American Ralph Backstrom earned the highest score of the day, with a 92.67 out of a possible 100 points. On the notoriously challenging “Mac Face," Backstrom was aggressive from the outset, starting with a very technical entrance and finishing with a solid double cliff drop.  Backstrom said: I stayed on my feet, I went really fast, pretty fluid, I kind of white-roomed myself once or twice. My line had some nice features. I am really stoked – we had really good snow.”

In second place was Jonathan "Douds" Charlet from Chamonix. The French snowboarder stomped three cliffs with his fast and fluid style, earning a score of 91.67.  After his run Douds said: “I am very happy. I changed my line at the last moment, popped a big cliff on the right, it was much bigger than I thought, nice landing – really good powder.” Rounding out the Men’s podium was US rider Blair Habenicht with a score of 90.00. 

Of the six women invited to compete, Maria DeBari topped the talented field with a score of 80.67; twenty-five points ahead of the next competitor. Honing her skills on Mt. Baker’s big mountain lines, DeBari chose a smart line, allowing her to ride fast and flawlessly down the steep face. Maria explained: “I rode that skier’s right panel up against the cliff because it looked like the coolest thing when I was looking at it.”

Finishing second  was  France's Margot Rozies  “I was really nervous up there, because I was the first to drop in and it is my first Freeride World Tour Competition. The snow was really fluffy and I had to wait a bit before I could jump, but it was really exciting and I had a great run.” In third place was American Shannan Yates, with a score of 43.33.

The Swatch Freeride World Tour now moves on to the Freeride Mecca of Chamonix Mont-Blanc for the weekend of 21-22 January.  With heavy early season snowfalls in Europe and the Mont Blanc as a back-drop the scene is well and truly set for another great competition