North Face Frontier 4*FWQ at The Remarkables, NZ

Marian Krogh |
Men's Podium
Men’s ski podium – Photo Credit NZ Skier Mag

The Remarkables hosted the North Face Frontier today in the famous Alta Chutes. The conditions were perfect with fresh snow overnight and sunshine for most of the day. The Alta chutes are consistently steep and offer many options for both skiers and snowboarders. There are the classic slightly wider Elevator and Escalator chutes with lots of rockier and narrower areas in between.  The top riders made full use of the venue linking airs the whole way down.

The tops scorers today showed good technical skiing and snowboarding with no mistakes. The judges have been getting tougher and tougher with any small fault costing the riders big points.

womensskipodium
Female Ski podium – Photo Credit NZ Skier Mag

This was especially clear in the men’s ski category, the tops three athletes demonstrated good clean skiing in difficult exposed areas.

Sam Lee was the top male skier with fast fluid skiing, especially on the top part of the venue. Sam has already qualified for next year’s Freeride World Tour and a 4* win is already setting him up for success. Konstantin Ottner did a huge super clean backflip to earn him second place. Andrew Wylie, another kiwi placed 3rd again with fast fluid skiing and solid landings on all of his airs.

 

menssnowboardpodium
Men’s Snowboard Podium

In the female ski Elizabeth Geritzen from Switzerland took out first place. She skied a similar line to several other girls but at high speed which set her apart. Laia Plaza-Castellenarau placed second with an aggressive and creative line. Third place went to kiwi Jess Hottner who was especially stoked to have put down the line she planned on.

Snowboarders found the venue a little tricky today and again it was good clean riding, not necessarily big airs that won the day. First in men’s snowboarding was Rupert Smith from New Zealand, second was American Stephan Denmark and in third place Sergi Diaz from Spain.

womenssnowboardpodium
Women’s Snowboard Podium

 

Long-time competitor Tess Carney made snowboarding over a waterfall look easy winning her category convincingly. Behind her was kiwi Genevieve King who won the 2* on Monday and in third place was Michaela Davis-Meehan from Australia.

Despite several delays over the week today’s event ran very well. It was the first time there was a live feed at a New Zealand competition.  It’s safe to say the everyone is already looking forward to next year’s competition at The Remarkables.

Photo Tour:

Athletes looking at the venue
Athletes inspecting early in the day, looking across Alta Lake to the Chutes
Birgit looking down
Athlete Birgit Ertl warming up , Tent city below on the lake.
cameraman
Live Feed was a new feature this year for the competition. Filming was via several cameras and drones.
 Commentators
Those who tuned into watch live got some great kiwi banter from the commentators. Photo Credit: NZ Skier Mag
Laia in the finish
Second Place in the Female Ski: Laia Plaza-Castellarnau skis to the finish
Sam Lee mid run
Winner skier Sam Lee skiing fluidly through the middle of his run
Snowboard air
Second Place snowboarder Stephen Denmark getting some air at the top of the venue
Spectators
Spectators enjoying the show from below
Stoked Girls
Some of the female skiers getting stoked at the finish line.
Wiley final air
Andrew Wiley, 3rd place skier male on his final air
Final air
Solan DeJouy from France on his final air

 


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