Last winter our lives were taken over by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. This year we can get engrossed in the many more ski and snowboard competitions and events that take place in Europe. Most kick off early season in January, getting us stoked up nicely for the rest of the ski season.
5. Innsbruck Air + Style
One for the snowboarders.
Innsbruck is the second stop on the Air and Style circuit, Emil Ulsletten stole the show at the first event in Beijing in December, and then next step will be Los Angeles in February. The World’s best snowboarders have competed in this big air event over the past two decades. Athletes are whittled down through 3 rounds before the 4 snowboarders battle in out in the super final. Athletes includes at Innsbruck include: GB’s Billy Morgan, Halldor Helgason, Sage Kotsenburg, Max Parrot, Stale Sandbech, Seb Toots & more.
Date: 16th & 17th January 2015
4. FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships
One for the British Team
This year’s World Championships take place in Kreischberg, Austria. This is the first time that both freestyle skiing and snowboarding have been combined in a World Championships. After Great Britain’s success at Sochi we have a 22 strong squad of skiers and snowboarders competing in the event, including slopestyle, halfpipe, moguls, aerials and more. View the full British team line up.
Date: 14th -25th January
3. Suzuki Nine Queens
One for the girls
This is the 5th big air competition of the Suzuki Nine Queens in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Austria. The world’s best female skiers and snowboarders are invited to this stunning pocket in Tirol for a unique event consisting of a series of jumps and features set around a huge sculpted ice castle.
Date: 15th – 20th March 2015
2. Swatch Freeride World Tour
For the utmost dedicated
This mammoth snow sports tour consists of five venues in Europe and the USA. 2015 is bigger than ever with two new stops on the Freeride calendar, Vallnord, Andorra and Alaska, USA. Last season more than 637, 000 viewers followed the finest skiers and snowboarders across this spectacular journey.
Taking part in the Freeride World Tour Competition will be 28 male skiers, 14 male snowboarders, 14 female skiers and 7 female snowboarders. Through the events the riders will be narrowed down to a limited few that will take part in the Grand Finale in Verbier.
The FWT season kicks off in the ultimate freeride resort, Chamonix, on 24th January, then heads to Fieberbrunn, Austria, on 31st January before Vallnord, Andorra for the first time on 14th February. Then it is off to Alaska on 14th March before the grande finale and the 20th anniversary of the Xtreme Verbier on 28th March.
Athletes that reach the Verbier climax will have to take on the legendary Bec des Rosses mountain face. Two-time winner at the Bec des Rosses, Sweden’s Reine Barkered is delighted to be part of the history of the “Bec”: “I'm excited to have the chance to compete at the 20th anniversary of Verbier Xtreme. Verbier is the crowning point for a freerider and I will do my very best to step up to the top of the podium here a third time.”
1. Hahnenkamm
One for the ski elite
Austria’s greatest ski festival is bigger than ever in 2015 as it is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The Hahnenkamm race is one of the most famous alpine ski races of the world and is the highlight of the World Cup calendar. For Kitzbuhel, this is the best week of the year, as spectators and celebrities flock to the town to see the famous ski racers, as well as joining in the week of partying. The magnificent race features jumps up to 80m, steep slopes including peaking at 85% gradient on the Mausefalle, and skiers reaching speeds up to 140 km per hour along the run. The famous ‘Streif’ is considered the most spectacular ski runs in the world where only the elite can
Date: 20th - 25th January 2015
By Krystelle
