Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France – January 23, 2011 –

The Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch went off in Courmayeur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc today. A strong field of freeriders were surprised by the quality of both the snow and the number of features. As a result, the north face of Mont Fortin produced high-quality runs that were fast and fluid with multiple airs.
Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch

The world’s best freeriders kicked off the official Freeride World Tour in Courmayeur during a day that boasted an astonishingly high level of action. Although it was difficult to know what the conditions were going to be until they dropped in, riders reported they were really happy to find a face this good despite poor conditions throughout the Alps.

The 300-meter face was crowned by three different starting options and competitors described it as having loads of playful line choices, any of which could have produced the winning run.
In the end the day the competition was dominated by the French who took all three podium spots in men’s snowboarding and the top two spots in men’s ski.

Ski Men
It was Aurélien Ducroz’s (FRA) fast, smooth line and big, cleanly stomped airs that enabled the Chamonix local to return to glory and put him in the lead to regain his 2009 Freeride World Champion title. Setting the tone of the day, Adrien Coirier (FRA) has returned to 100% after two years of back injuries and opened the day with fast, committed skiing. Coirier’s line also proved to be a successful line for 3rd place Reine Barkered (SWE).

Ski Women
Although the women all started from the same starting gate their lines were varied with many ladies focusing on fluidity. However, it was the impressive combination of fast, smooth lines combined with a couple of cleanly stuck airs that distanced Angel Collinson (USA) from the rest of the pack.
 

Official Results of the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch

Men’s Ski

Aurélien Ducroz (FRA)
Adrien Coirier (FRA)
Reine Barkered (SWE)

Women’s Ski

Angel Collinson (USA)
Marja Persson (SWE)
Janette Hargi (SWE)

The Freeride World Tour 2011 Stages:

1. Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch (FRA)
 Date: 22 January 2011 – Men / Women – Ski / Snowboard

2. Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch (SUI)
Date: 30 January 2011 – Men – Ski / Snowboard

3. The North Face Masters of Crystal Mountain 2011 by Swatch and PrimaLoft (USA)
Date: 7 February 2011 – Men – Snowboard

North American Freeskiing Championships Kirkwood 2011 by Swatch, The North Face and Sierra Nevada (USA)
Date: 25 February 2011 – Men / Women – Ski

4. Nissan Russian Adventure Sochi 2011 (RUS)
Date: 5 March 2011 – Men – Ski / Snowboard

5. Big Mountain Fieberbrunn 2011 by Nissan (AUT)
Date: 12 March 2011 – Men – Ski / Snowboard

6. Nissan Xtreme Verbier 2011 by Swatch (SUI)
Date: 19 March 2011 (Finals) – Men / Women – Ski / Snowboard