Dream Event for the Juniors in Chamonix!
What a show! The best competition of the four years of existing Junior events, according to race director Cyril Neri.
The 81 junior skiers and snowboarders ripped up the 300 metre Hotel face at Brévent (Clocher/Clocheton Aiguille du Vioz at 2500 metres of altitude, to be exact) in Chamonix with impressive skill and intelligent riding.
The competition face was not an easy one, more of a senior than junior face and the most challenging face the juniors have ridden up to date. It is long and demanding. In 2011 the FWT female riders competed on this face! However, a lot of different variations with many features and the best possible snow conditions promised for a great show. And wow did these young talents deliver! Fast, stable riding through awesome powder snow, big airs and few crashes impressed the cheering public and put big smiles on the riders’ faces.
That was the best face we’ve ridden, said Paul Sautelli, from Saint Gervais, France, who once again won the snowboarders category. 16-year old Paul, also a fierce competitor in boarder cross, had a hugely successful season last year, winning the snowboard category overall and proved again that he is a force to be reckoned with, stomping two great airs and charging down the face in three powerful turns! 2013 female winner in snowboard Mauranne Strittmatter, repeated her performance from last year and took first place with a solid run.
The local mountain guides of Evolution 2 did a great job securing the face and handling the safety of the riders hiking to the face. The Sunday programme with the PGHM (mountain rescue) gave the kids a true avalanche scenario to work with, a really interesting and important exercise for a freerider.
As always the atmosphere among the juniors was on fire. Everyone is stoked to compete and meet friends and for once it won’t be long till next time. Stop number two in Fieberbrunn, Austria is on for next weekend!
Final results:
Men’s Snowboard:
1.Paul Sautelli FRA
2.Julien Pichel FRA
3.Paul Meynier FRA
Women’s Snowboard:
1.Stritmatter Maurane FRA
2.Surry Marie FRA
3.Beche Gabrielle FRA