Team News
freestyle.ch
Sep 26 2006
Freestyle.ch ~ Zurich
For those of you who know me, know I’ve never been one for composition. Hard to tell from my previous entries, right? However, this blog page is giving me the practice that I always wanted, so let’s put a little more oomph in this one shall we…
As you can see from the pictures, cause I know you looked at ‘em before you even read this, freestyle.ch is CRAZY! Not that I went to Woodstock, but it’s what I imagine a skiing version would be like.
Skate, FMX, and snowboarding aside, Friday consisted of the big air prequal. Although Bibby didn’t qualify for the main field that followed the next day, not all was lost from a North American perspective because Tim Russel held up strong making his way through to Saturday.
Saturday it was the usual Pros stepping it up. TJ Schiller, Simon Dumont, Jon Olsson, Charles Gagnier, Jacob Wester, Andreas Hatveit, and Mickael Deschenaux, all were in attendance. “Style” is pretty much a cliché to describe the tricks that were thrown…3’s, 5’s 7’s, 9’s, 10’s, and flips (double and single, front and back…but not switch back’s…hmmmmm…). There were even kangaroo’s named Jon and Jacob spotted in Zurich, and no, not in the zoo! Ok, I know I’m not the funniest guy, but you get the point. When the dust cleared, the eight skiers that would qualify for the final on Sunday were Schiller (huge switch 10), Olsson, Missof, Wester, Dumont, Permin, Gagnier, and Wieser. (Note: Russel just out of the 8 in 9th)
Sunday…the main event. Cutting to the chase, Martin Missof of Austria (who seemed to be on fire all weekend) won with a switch 10 grabbing somewhere in mid rotation. Jon 2nd and Charles 3rd to round out the podium. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand how the judges do it…seriously. There were so many sssick tricks (NOTE: the double grab photo of Gagnier to the right…in the final)
Anyway, I hope you die-hard fans get to make your way to Zurich for this event some day. There’s so much going on (seemingly at one time) that it’s hard to comprehend. Everything from freeski to snowboarding, FMX and skate, base-jumping out of helicopters, retailer/demo tents, concerts, movie premiers, food and beer (of course)…kinda gets all your senses going at once! The park is scoured with fans of all ages and nationalities. Props to all the athletes, you sure put on a show!
Look for the next entry…could be next Monday after a CR autograph signing at Norda’s in Park City.
Log In to Comment
Not registered? Register Now
