Fast times at the Verbier Xtreme – FWT Champions crowned

March 25th, 2010






The view from the top, FWT winner Candide Thovex. Image – FWT/C Magot

After the men’s final competition was postponed Saturday, due to bad visibility, the world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders once again took on the mythical 600 metre North face of the Bec des Rosses, Verbier for the 15th Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, the final event on the Freeride World Tour.

In perfect conditions the 24 male riders put on the most spectacular show and several riders opened first descents on the face. With this high level, the battle for first was extremely tight. The breathtaking performances of Swede Kaj Zackrisson, ski, and Frenchman Xavier de Le Rue, snowboard, took them to the top step of the podium.

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Kaj Zackrisson takes on the huge taking the huge “Gilles Voirol” cliff on the Bec des Rosses to win the Verbier Xtreme

The freeride World Champions were also crowned at the end of the event.

The win in Verbier gave enough points for Xavier de Le Rue to score top position in the men’s snowboard ranking 2010. For the third executive year, the unbeatable Frenchman was crowned World Champion. Austrian Mitch Toelderer is vice Freeride World Champion 2010, and Matt Annetts (USA) took the third step of the podium.




Xavier de le Rue – Most probably the fastest line that has ever been ridden on the face of the Bec des Rosses

“It was a really tight field and all the riders were in great control, executing solid, original runs, with many new lines and no major tumbles. It is one of the rare contests where no one was scored below average,” said head snowboard judge Berti Denevaud.

French freestyle legend Candide Thovex can now claim to be part freeriding history. For his first season on the Freeride World Tour he has proved to be a consistent freeride competitor (3 podiums) with committed and influential skiing. Thovex’s impressive third place on his premiere run on the Bec des Rosses put him on top of the men’s ski ranking 2010. Kaj Zackrisson (2nd) and Henrik Windstedt (3rd) completed the podium.



The Freeride World Tour overall Champions. Image – FWT/C Margot

“It was so tight between the first two riders Kaj and Aurélien,” said head ski judge Seb Michaud. “They skied more or less the same line but Kaj jumped one more cliff where Aurélien skied around. For the rest they both skied fast, fluid and stomped all the jumps in the extremely committed terrain, and taking the huge “Gilles Voirol” cliff in the middle clean. Just amazing.”

The two male Freeride World Champions were awarded with a Nissan Qashqai, and the winners today went home with $ 10 000 each from the total prize purse of $ 206 200 for the Freeride World Tour 2010.

Results Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, Verbier

Mens Ski:

  1. Kaj ZACKRISSON- SWE
  2. Aurélien DUCROZ AURELIEN – FRA
  3. Candide THOVEX – FRA

Men Snowboard:

  1. Xavier DE LE RUE – FRA
  2. Cyril NERI – SUI
  3. Mitch TOELDERER – AUT

The Freeride World Tour Final Results 2010

Mens ski:

  1. Candide THOVEX – FRA
  2. Kaj ZACKRISSON – SWE
  3. Henrik WINDSTEDT – SWE

Men Snowboard:

  1. Xavier DE LE RUE – FRA
  2. Mitch TOELDERER – AUT
  3. Matt ANNETTS – USA