Freeride World Tour 2024 Georgia Recap

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Written by Xavier— Posted in March 5, 2024

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Images: Dom Daher and Jeremy Bernard | Courtesy of the Freeride World Tour

Candy Mississippi molasses Batman, this could be one of the legendary Freeride World Tour (FWT) stops of all time. Georgia has develop into much less and fewer of a secret on the planet of freeskiing, as phrase of the large mountains and gargantuan snow totals have snuck their means into the mainstream. With all this speak, it was solely a matter of time earlier than we noticed a FWT begin gate perched upon a Georgian peak. Boy, are we glad that day lastly arrived.

On February 29, the highest freeriders from across the globe descended on the jap European nation of Georgia. For individuals who don’t know, Georgia is greater than a state within the decrease 48, imagine it or not. Georgia sits on the Black Sea, nestled beneath Russia and to the northeast of Turkey. The comparatively small nation boasts a vibrant tradition that has lengthy attracted vacationers and people in search of refuge within the big Caucasus Mountain Vary. It wasn’t too way back that this hidden gem was hardly on many skiers’ radars. Again in 2017, Sam Anthamatten, Markus Eder and Leo Slemett mounted a mission with The North Face to place down a primary ski descent on Ushba. Whereas this was the primary goal, this proficient triumvirate scored loads of different strains, driving faces that resembled an Alaskan fantasy coated in snow. They had been removed from the primary skiers in Georgia, however this movie actually provides an incredible perception into the kind of driving one can discover within the nation. Now for the fourth cease of the 2024 FWT, we bought to see over 30 of the worlds greatest skiers tackle such unimaginable terrain, and it didn’t disappoint within the slightest. The Khakhiani face was steep and loaded with options, with deep snow all through the venue. Velocity limitations had been reached, flight miles had been logged and historical past was made, so let’s dive in!

Within the Ski Girls’s Discipline, there was a mixture of veteran and new comers rounding out the highest spots. With three of the seven riders not ending on the face, it wasn’t all sunshine on the market. The punchy, untracked venue proved to have many tough sections all through, however Lily Bradley managed to place down a composed line and take third place. Bradley grew up snowboarding Sierra cement close to Tahoe, California, and that coaching in thicker circumstances paid off on this one. In second place, we noticed the acquainted Hedvig Wessel, who had beforehand taken third place in Canada. The Norwegian common took on just a few heavy airs on her technique to the silver, together with a terrific stomp proper out of the gate. Coming in fourth place total, this was a vital win for Wessel, securing her spot within the finals. The highest spot belonged to Sybille Blanjean, who was in seventh place coming into the race and wanted a giant win. She saved it cool and composed all through her line and made it look all too simple as she went from cliff to cliff, logging loads of velocity in between.

“I’m tremendous glad to place down that run, particularly with how nervous I used to be on the high. There have been a number of questions in my thoughts, so I’m glad that it paid off. Thanks, Georgia! It means a lot to make the lower and have my ticket to compete at dwelling in Verbier.” – Sybille Blanjean, 2024 Georgia Professional winner

Within the Ski Males’s Discipline, we noticed a record-setting day, actually. By no means earlier than have seven riders all scored about 90 factors, however in Georgia, you by no means know what’s potential. From a 90.67 (Maxime Chabloz) to a 98.00 (Marcus Goguen), there have been SEVEN skiers who racked in strains that had been spectacular sufficient for the judges to dish out the love too. With a lot warmth being thrown round, the highest three finishers will need to have felt that significantly better. Third place belonged to Max Hitzig. After ending first on the current Kicking Horse cease, the expectations had been excessive for Hitzig, and the German supplied with a backflip proper out of the gate and a large, managed 3. Second place was taken by Martin Bender. The younger Swiss ripper had a really full line. He threw in a large 720 off one of many rider favourite options, and maintained nice management at excessive speeds. None had been adequate to topple Canada’s personal Marcus Goguen, nonetheless. Goguen received first place by over three and a half factors; a wildly massive margin contemplating what number of riders scored above a 90 however nonetheless couldn’t contact his rating of 98.00. This line is among the greatest demonstrations of freeride snowboarding we now have ever seen, from line choice to composure and every part in between.

“It’s a dream come by way of – I’ve been working in the direction of this for principally my whole life. I’m nonetheless in shock and might’t imagine I landed that run. I made it up after the 720, as I had far more velocity than anticipated, so I’m glad it labored out. Stoked to have scored the equal highest rating with my buddy Logan Pehota. My goal is to maintain it going; hold snowboarding strains I need to and hold having enjoyable – that’s what it’s all about.” – Marcus Goguen, 2024 Georgia Professional winner