Comment
Share
Posted on Tuesday March 22nd at 12:39 p.m.
Tweet
On a gorgeous day with a fresh blanket of cold snow and bluebird skies, riders competing on the Bec des Rosses skied their best lines in an effort to join the elite few who have been able to call themselves Freeride World Champion. Prior to the event, organizers closed the top looker's right of the face due to security reasons. However, several riders used creative line choices to find their way through the labyrinth of rocks, some to access the main cliff that was the key to winning the event.
Only the top 15 men and 7 women competed. An estimated 7,000 spectators were on hand to watch the athletes ski and ride the 600-meter face.
The women skiers stepped up and put on a remarkable show with the highest level of riding ever seen on the Freeride World Tour. Former Olympic Swedish ski racer Janette Hargin stunned the crowd with a fluid line that included several cleanly landed cliff drops. Her performance earned her the win and the 2011 Freeride World Champion crown. Janette's sister Christine placed second.
Kuzma skied a strong line, stomping a 10-meter cliff on the way, the biggest by any of the girls.
"What a day it has been," said Kuzma. "The conditions were amazing for the heli accessed final on the Petits Bec de Rosses."
"I had an amazing kiwi crew cheering me on. I ended up third overall on the Freeride World Tour. So stoked... it's been a long season competing and it's finally all over."
Janina's twin sister, Maria, went into this competition with a shot at the overall women's snowboarding title. Unfortunately, Maria was caught in a class two avalanche during her run and was dragged 200 meters. Buried up to her waist, she was able to dig herself out with her shovel before the guides got to her. Maria ended her season ranked fourth overall on the FWT.
Click here for final 2011 FWT overall rankings.
The Results From Verbier
The Best Of Verbier
Janina's Sister Maria was caught in a large fast moving avalanche in the event and was lucky to escape uninjured.
Maria Kuzma (NZL) - Photo J.Bernard - Event Nissan Xtreme Verbier 2011 by Swatch
Maria Kuzma (NZL) - Photo J.Bernard - Event Nissan Xtreme Verbier 2011 by Swatch
