Freeride World Tour – The World’s Best Freeriders Put On A Clinic In The FWT Season Opener In Ordino Arcalís.

February 20th, 2021

 

Blake Moller – 2nd Snowboard Men – ©Freeride World Tour / Dominique Daher

Mountainwatch | Press Release

Ordino Arcalís, Andorra – February 19, 2021: Sunny skies and spring-like conditions welcomed the competition in Andorra today, with athletes in all categories holding nothing back to secure the season’s first points.

Competition went down on Ordino Arcalís’ Port del Rat face, which proved the perfect playground for athletes to unleash their tricks. Here’s what happened today in Ordino Arcalís, Andorra:

Ski Women

Hedvig Wessel (NOR-1st Place) made it two consecutive wins in Andorra by launching an enormous backflip above some rocky terrain before pinning the rest of her run, following an intense fall-line approach. Juliette Willmann (FRA-2nd Place) earned her first podium finish ever after a gruelling training regime leading up to the event. She opened her run in the steep couloir, stomping an air back into the technical terrain then ignored the surrounding exposure to unleash a fast double and topping it off with a final technical air. Maude Besse (SUI-3rd Place), returning from injury, exploded out of the gates into the steepest section of the face then followed a fast, direct line, popping multiple airs along the way.

 

Hedvig Wessel kicks off her world champion campaign with a solid first place.

“I’ve been dreaming about this backflip. I knew it was going to be the biggest one on this cliff and I was definitely at the limits. I’m so happy to set it all down and stay on my feet.”

— Hedvig Wessel, FWT21 Ordino Arcalís Winner

Ski Men

Ross Tester (USA-1st Place) didn’t show any rookie nerves when he exited gates with some serious heat and delivered an express freestyle masterclass. Starting with a 360 to spin onto the FWT stage, he then stomped a huge air and finished off with a massive backflip to lock in the top spot in his first FWT competition. Maël Ollivier (FRA-2nd Place) opened his FWT account with a risky 360 into a tight chute and linked this at speed into another critical air. He sent multiple airs in the middle section and finished his fluid and dynamic run with a huge stomp. Blake Marshall (NZL-3rd Place) looked comfortable on a quiver of borrowed equipment, executing an effortless tailgrab-360 up top before a rapid-fire double in the middle and a huge bottom air to solidify a podium finish.

 

Ross Tester has a dream start to his rookie year the tour with a win in his first event.

“I never expected to win my first event. After all the training and everything to come together, it’s definitely a dream come true.”

— Ross Tester, FWT21 Ordino Arcalís Winner

Snowboard Women

Marion Haerty (FRA-1st Place) proved she is hungry for a fourth world title with an action-packed run to lock in the top spot. A big air out of the gates set the tone before launching multiple airs with pure class. Erika Vikander (USA-2nd Place) started with some serious freeride steep turns before linking together a fluid run, including multiple airs and grabs. Katie Anderson (USA-3rd Place) found some fresh snow and used it to link some big mountain turns and put down a clean run, navigating some rugged terrain down the bottom and finishing with a clean air to exit.

 

Three-time world champ Marion Haerty has came out with  guns blazing, chasing a record fourth FWT  world title.

“I did a good first season run and I’m really happy about it. Sometimes I’m not 100% satisfied, and despite the conditions not being super easy, I am super stoked with my first place, and I’ll try to keep this rhythm going.”

— Marion Haerty, FWT21 Ordino Arcalís, Winner

Snowboard Men

Cody Bramwell  (GBR-1st Place) clinched victory in his first FWT competition, stomping a massive backflip above some serious exposure before pre-ollying a huge cliff down the bottom, tweaking out a double shifty mid-air. Blake Moller (USA-2nd Place) came out with guns blazing with a creative line, including a huge backflip up top then an insane critical triple drop to earn his podium finish. Nils Mindnich (USA-3rd Place) completed a characteristic fluidic line including two floaty 360s to stake his claim for another world title.

 

Cody Bramwell, another rookie took the win with a radical technical line.

“I was so nervous, but it all worked out, the big trick at the beginning worked out perfectly, then I linked it up at the end. I’m speechless!”

— Cody Bramwell, FWT21 Ordino Arcalís Winner