|
 Worlds
best freeskiers
The great final of the eighth Red
Bull Snowthrill of Chamonix on Saturday was the perfect showdown
for a sensational three day competition of the world's best freeskiers
won by Sverre Liliequist and Maegan Carney.
Challenging terrain
In the area of the Ensa Couloirs, a very selective and difficult
slope facing the Mont Blanc, the riders were once again challenged
to the limit and impressed spectators as well as judges with breathtaking
runs. Sverre Liliequist of Sweden finished where he started the
competiton and took over the Red Bull Snowthrill-crown from last
year's freeskiing champ Bruno Compagnet (FRA). Liliequist headed
the ranking from the first competition day onwards, continued his
success on the second day to finally deliver a secure, but not spectacular,
final run. "It's really hard to stay focused for three days in a
competition. I think I did quite well and I am more than happy!"
Carney dominated women's comp
Maegan Carney of the United States is the winner in the women's
competition. Carney clearly dominated the competition leading by
16,8 points before her final run. In the final Carney did not deliver
a perfect run, but her points were enough to take over the crown
from last year's winnerin Andrea Binning (AUS). " I knew that if
I wouldn't fall today, that I could win. But it was really scary
up there."
  
Canadian Robin Courcelles won the final run
competition. He choose a breath taking line and pushed himself on
the second place in the final ranking. "It was totally sick! I stuck
to my game plan and choose a line with a lot of powder snow in it."
Todd Windle of New Zealand had a fall in his last run on Saturday
and finally finished off fourth. "I haven't been that nervous in
a long time. I chose the steepest part of the course and unfortunately
had a little fall, but got back on my feet. My legs are burning
like hell, but it was great!"
Chamonix "like a sweet shop"
The selective and difficult terrain challenged the riders to their
limit, all of them were totally exhausted afterwards. Leif Zapf-Gilje
of Canada: "I am dead! There was almost no time to breath coming
down this slope, but it was fun. Chamonix is like a candystore.
There are some many sweet lines - you just have to choose one."
Marja Persson of Sweden won the final run competition and finished
off second: "It was an insanely long run today! I am so happy that
I didn't crash. It was really painful, but great. I had fun!" said
Persson.
The winner of the Snowthrill 2002, Australian
Andrea Binning, ranks third this year and was not very satisfied
with her result: "I can't believe that I crashed. I was caught up
in my line and then tumbled. But I am happy to be here in one piece.
Everyone of us got really challenged today."
 For
the final ranking of the Red Bull Snowthrill of Chamonix the results
of the three runs from Thursday to Saturday were summed up: Five
judges scored the runs according to five criterias: route selection,
control, rhythm, technique and aggressiveness. Points from zero
to ten were judged.
Photos by Camelia
Liparoti
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