Events

Upcoming snow events

Saturday, 29 April, 2006

Chamonix Freeride Days

The end of the season is nearly upon us with just a few high altitude resorts open: la Grave, Tignes, Val Thorens and Chamonix Mont-Blanc will shut their lifts at the end of the week. That brings us around to the annual Freeride Days. The event, organized in partnership between the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc and Dynastar, will be held on the Monday the 8th on the May at Grands-Montets.

freeride days

Posted by redac at 08:35 PM
• (3) Comments • Read More... •

Friday, 07 April, 2006

18th Derby de la Meije

derby de la meije

With the current excellent snow conditions at la Grave the 18th Derby de la Meije promises to be a vintage starting high on the Dôme de la Lauze and dropping 2150 meters to the Romanche river just below the village. True to its roots the Derby de la Meije gathers riders from all disciplines, monoski, ski, snowboard, telemark and anything else that can slide on snow for a three days of partying, music and competition.

Posted by davidof at 06:25 PM
• (1) Comments • Read More... •

Tuesday, 14 February, 2006

7th North Face Freeride Les Arcs

If you like watching boys and girls throw themselves off impossible heights with skis on their feet then the the 7th edition of the North Face Freeride, part of the IFSA (International Freeskiing Association) world cup circuit is the place to be.

north face freeride

Posted by redac at 12:49 PM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Sunday, 12 February, 2006

2nd Rallye des Crêtes

The La Mure-Matheysine section of the French Alpine Club and the ski resort of the Alpe du Grand Serre (near Grenoble) are organizing the 2nd edition of the Rallye des Crêtes next Sunday (19th February 2006). The event takes place in the superb surroundings of the Oisans, Dévoluy, Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne mountain ranges. The resort of the Grand Serre is at the heart of the Taillefer massif where an array of itineraries open the gates to a vast snow paradise for those passionate about the backcountry. This unique event, brining together both snowshoers and ski mountaineers, is set.

rallye des cretes

Posted by davidof at 01:03 AM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Wednesday, 01 February, 2006

Sore foot from the Munich ISPO

We are back from a leg-breaking four days in Munich, home of the ISPO sports community trade fair. Held in the Messeland, built on the site of the old Munich airport this show is big. So big that even with four days of opening you have to be selective about what you cover. 14 halls bigger than football pitches and 1800 exhibitors including large delegations from both India and China presenting what those countries have to offer in manufacturing capabilities. If you count half an hour for each stand, somewhat conservative as we found out if you want to study the products in any detail, then it would take about a month to visit the whole show.

“IPSO

Posted by davidof at 11:17 AM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Winners from the International Freeride Film Festival

Given the recent success of International Freeride Film Festival a date has already been set for next year’s event. By pure chance, from the most complex to the most modest productions, the jury and public of the Festival International du Film Freeride held at Saint-Lary-Soulan (19-20-21 Janvier 2006) have respected, without realising, the main themes: thrills, wide open spaces and freedom.

Posted by echosaintlary at 09:45 AM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Sunday, 29 January, 2006

Swallowmania

The 5th edition of Swallow Mania is being held over the weekend of the 4/5 February on the slopes of la Grave - le Meije. As the title suggests the event celebrates swallowtail snowboards with the addition of fat skis. Visitors will be able to test the latest gear aimed a carving sweeping turns through powder fields assisted, if needed, by a team of high mountain guides.

swallow mania

Posted by redac at 01:38 PM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Saturday, 14 January, 2006

Tignes Airwaves – Thrills and Spills

Tignes Airwaves – sponsored by that uberkraftig gum “Airwaves” has been on this last week at, well… somewhat logically, Tignes . The program was largely centred around the park and pipe, and the rubber clad “Airwaves Babes” (more later) but we caught the Freeride action on the vertiginous slopes of the Grapillon des Merles. The freeride section is new for 2006 and has been managed by none other than Courchevel rider Manu Gaidet, three times freeride world champion.

Tignes

Posted by davidof at 04:55 PM
• (1) Comments • Read More... •

Monday, 09 January, 2006

Le Grand Raid 2006

Evolution 2 in Tignes is once again organizing its Grand Raid competition, now in its 14th season. This year’s freeride event is held over six qualifying “Derbys” with the final on the 7th-9th of April. The first event is this weekend in Val d’Isère and Tignes, Evolutions 2’s playground. They regularly take clients down the many backcountry itineraries in the resort.

Posted by redac at 12:54 PM
• (0) Comments • Read More... •

Tuesday, 03 January, 2006

Men in Tights or Ski Mountaineering Competitions

It is a big thing in Europe. Rubbing embrocation on your legs, wearing a skimpy lycra suit and climbing up your local mountain to ski back down on gear so flimsy that you wouldn’t let your kids learn on it. It is the antithesis of freeride and now even snowboarders are getting in on the scene.

croix de chamchaude