Wednesday, April 4

Red Bull Snow Thrill Completes Two Runs on Day One

freezeonline.com

Alaska is like no other place on Earth. One day, it can be gray and miserable and the next, it can be clear and beautiful. Today was the kind of day that reminds me just how lucky I am to have traveled all this way just to sit around and watch a couple of people ski a few runs.

Early this morning, we began to load the 205 helicopter and the A-star for the first day of competition here just outside of Cordova at the Points North Heli Camp. The Red Bull Snow Thrill had officially begun and the perfect bluebird skies and warm temperature were just the kind of weather we needed to get things started. Once we all arrived at the venue, the male athletes were taken up to the top of the run as we watched from across the valley.

The competition began at approximately 10 a.m., the earliest MSI has ever started a big mountain event in Alaska. Therefore, details and logistics were in place and the competition was ready to roll. "The heli-loading was in order, the weather was clean and we started the event at one of the earliest times ever in the history of heli events in Alaska," said Jason Winkler of Mountain Sports International.

Sverre Lilliquist of Sweden started off the day with a smooth, fast run taking advantage of being the first skier and impressing the judges who were looking for line, fluidity, technique and overall impression. This week's judges are Michele Boudry, Paul O'Conner and John Dak, all of whom have been on hand for every event this season and know what to look for out of everyone's skiing.

Hugo Harrison dominated the first run, although others presented stiff competition. Davenport skied strong and wowed the audience during his second run by skiing with red smoke flaring behind him, Red Bull style.

With funky snow conditions, the athletes focused on speed and form rather than big air. According to Will Burks, "the venue was amazing because it offered lots of options, good length and decent snow."

Most of the guys skied very similar lines due to the snow conditions which were variable. The top was consitstant but windblown, while the bottom was varyied with wind blown slough and interesting chunks here and there. Almost everyone hit a small rock at the top of the venue, getting about ten feet of air.

Other notable runs were laid down by Diasuke Sasaki, who came all the way from Japan to compete. He stayed to the skiers' left onto a large spine and down through the middle with smooth turns. He took a similar line as many others,but skied faster wih a cool line at the bottom of a small spine and then huge turns towards the end.

Kaj Zackrisson of Sweden ended up third, skiing straight down the fall-line towards skiers right with a fast line and smooth middle section and ending with a straight line to the bottom and his usual celebration as he crossed the finish line.

The women held their own and I overheard the athletes saying the women skied better than some of the men. Chris Davenport said, "the women were really impressive today as they all were skiing really strong."

Aleisha Cline had the crowd humming when she chose a different line than almost all the athletes during her first run. A few followed her lead during the second run. She was all about speed, fluidity and technique. Additionally, this was her first time to Alaska, her first time heli-skiing, her first time skiing big mountain terrain, and her first time competing without an inspection. Wendy Fisher came in second skiing with her usual aggression and line choice and Anne Cattelin of France finished third.

"Today was an awesome experience for an Alaskan virgin," said Cline. "The snow was funky because it was a combination of chalky snow, windblown snow and random spots of powder."

All of the skiers got two runs in whidch means that the competitons could be half way over so that's good news for the event organizers. Tomorrow is supposed to be a weather day which could drag into the rest of the week. Hopefully the weather will clear and the competition will be able to continue. The safty crew will go look for the next venue in the morning and should get a clear picture of just were we can go for the second day of the Red Bull Snow Thrill.

First Run
Location: Chugach Range, Cordova, Alaska
First Descent: Named by day's winner "Canadian, eh"

MEN
1 Hugo Harrisson CAN - 82.167
2 Daisuke Sasaki JPN 75.833
3 Kaj Zackrisson SWE - 75.167
4 Ryan Oakden CAN - 71.667
5 Sverre Lilliequist SWE - 69.667
6 Lief Zapf Gilje - CAN 68.333
7 Todd Windle NZ - 67.833
8 Stian Hagen NOR - 65.167
9 Chris Davenport USA - 64.167
10 Phillipe Troubat FRA - 60.667
11 Guerlain Chicherit FRA - 60.167
12 Will Burks USA - 55.500

WOMEN
1 Aleisha Cline CAN - 71.167
2 Wendy Fisher USA - 68.000
3 Anne Cattelin FRA - 67.667
4 Jennifer Ashton CAN - 50.333