Kick The Vik – Eco Freeride Contest 2011 – Swiss dominate contest – First time Freeride World Qualifier

Maighel Valley, Switzerland – 22nd of March, 2011 – Last weekend 60 riders from seven nations competed at the fourth edition of Kick The Vik to challenge each other and go back to the roots of freeriding, with no technical resources.

Swiss competitors dominate snowboard and ski category. José Carron (SUI) from Martigny is victorious in snowboard-, Mattias Menzli (SUI) in ski discipline. The women´s was decided by Alba Wunderlin, also from Switzerland in snowboard, and Elisabeth Schmoelzl (GER) in ski.

Kick The Vik was for the first time a Freeride World Qualifier event. Contestants had to do a two hours hike to Maighels hut to follow their freeride spirit. Kick The Vik is not solely a competition with no technical resources, like helicopters, ski-doos or lifts, but also a three days gathering of riders to spend time with each other, who treasure and protect undisturbed mountain scenery.

Due to bad weather conditions and insecure, avalanche threatened terrain, the competition had to be postponed to Sunday and Kick The Vik organizers had to create spontaneous, interesting side events. The bad weather day was filled with a team creativity contest, an avalanche security training and a photo workshop with Simon Starkl, an outdoor photographer.

At the highlight, the freeride contest, the Maighels Valley showed off with it´s beauty. – Best possible snow conditions and bright sunshine. The riders in all categories had to hike 330 meters of altitude up to the start and were meant to chose the best possible line. Judging was based on Freeride World Tour terms of reference: overall impression consisting on chosen line, fluidity and control.

José Carron (SUI) on his snowboard won with the most creative line, impressive cliff jumps and a fluid riding style. Behind him, on rank two and three, another two Swiss, Remo Maffiew and Roberto Furger. Alba Wunderlin (SUI) from Winterthur is victorious at the women's.

In the freeride ski category local Mattias Menzli wins with a clean run and two 360-s, ahead of Marco Steinemann and Cornel Russi, all from Switzerland. Elisabeth Schmölzl from Germany wins on the women´s side.

Results:

Snowboard men

• 1. José Carron (SUI)
• 2. Remo Maffiew (SUI)
• 3. Roberto Furger (SUI)

Snowboard women

• 1. Alba Wunderlin (SUI)
• 2. Susanne Amacker (SUI)
• 3. Christine Innerhofer (SUI)

Ski men

• 1. Mattias Menzli (SUI)
• 2. Marco Steinemann (SUI)
• 3. Cornel Russi (SUI)

Ski women

• 1. Elisabeth Schmölzl (GER)
• 2. Lea Hartl (GER)
• 3. Hanna Finkel (GER)

Check out the highlights from this year's event.