Powder and sun announced for the qualifying event on Sunday! As riders converge on the area of Vars La Forêt Blanche, snow conditions and weather forecasts suggest stunning days for the competition. The prospect of beautiful sunny skies early next week could lead to an advancement of Tuesday's final to Monday, January 17.
With a generous snowfall earlier this week and and the team shapers working hard under the supervision of Julien Regnier-Lafforgue, the Eyssina ridge will be in top condition for the best freestylers in the world to compete at this third edition of the Red Bull Linecatcher. The biggest names in freestyle backcountry have again answered the call to capture the coveted title, including last minute guest Canadian Rory Bushfield, star of Northern American video super productions.
The qualifying event, scheduled Sunday, January 16, will also benefit from excellent snow conditions as it also takes place in the Eyssina ridge near the route of the final, at nearly 3000 meters. Of the fifteen European skiers invited for this qualifier, the two winners of Skipass.com are now known, Sam Favret of Chamonix and Thomas Barnier of Avoriaz. They join a prestigious group, including the Austrian Fabio Studer, Brit Paddy Graham and the Italian Markus Eder. We can therefore expect a formidable rally between the contenders, advancing two of them to the grand final among the elite of freestyle backcountry.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAM
* Program may be modified depending on snow and weather conditions
* Date of the final to be confirmed Saturday 15th
Saturday 15th, January 2011
17:30 – 20:00 Opening ceremony and bib draw. Village resort – Vars Les Claux
Sunday 16th January 2011 – Qualifying round
10:30 – 11:30 1st run Eyssina Face
12:30 – 13:30 2nd run Eyssina Face
13:30 – 14:00 Results and prize giving, Eyssina Face
Monday 17th or Tuesday 18th January 2011 – Final
09:00 – 10:00 1st run Eyssina Face
10:30 – 11:30 2nd run Eyssina Face
12:00 – 12:45 3rd run Eyssina Face
13:00 – 13:30 Results and prize giving, Eyssina Face
18:30 – 20:00 Ceremony 'Special Jury Prize' – Village resort – Vars Les Claux
INVITED RIDERS
Qualifications:
Arnaud Rougier (FRA)
Asmund Thorsen (NOR)
Bine Zalohar (SLO)
Davide Cusini (ITA)
Fabien Maierhoffer (FRA)
Leo Taillefer (FRA)
Nicolas Vuignier (SUI)
Markus Eder (ITA)
Markus Studer (AUT)
Paddy Graham (GBR)
Thomas Hlawitschka (GER)
Tobias Tritscher (AUT)
Victor Galuchot (FRA)
Wildcard: Sam Favret (FRA)
(1sr contest Skipass.com)
Wildcard:Thomas Barnier(FRA)
(2nd contest Skipass.com)
Final:
Anthony Boronowski (CAN)
Bene Mayr (GER)
Chris Benchetler (USA)
Chris Booth (AUS)
JP Auclair (CAN)
Mathieu Imbert (FRA)
Richard Permin (FRA)
Rory Bushfield (CAN) – replacing Tanner Hall (return to competition postponed)
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa (USA)
Sean Pettit (CAN)
Tim Durtschi (USA)
Wiley Miller (USA) – replacing Pep Fujas (injured)
+ 2 wildcards (winners of the qualification round
Teaser of the 2011 Red Bull Linecatcher:
Still images free of rights for editorial use on:
www.redbull-photofiles.com
TV/web images free of rights for editorial use on:
www.redbullcontentpool.com
