The Four Freeride World Champions were crowned in Verbier

The Freeride World Tour 2009 came to an end with an amazing fourth stage and grand finale: the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. The Frenchman, Aurelien Ducroz is the Freeride World Champion 2009 whilst simultaneously taking an incredible victory on the mythical Bec des Rosses. For the women, the Norwegian skier, Ane Enderud, dominated the event thus took her first ever Freeride World Champion title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YmVkCw–50

Freeride World Ranking 2009

Men Ski
1- Aurelien Ducroz FRA
2- Reine Barkered SWE
3-Sverre Liliequist SWE

Women Ski
1-Ane Enderud NOR
2-Marja Persson SWE
3-Jess McMillan USA

Aurélien Ducroz was leading before the stage in Verbier, and brought honor to his Golden Bib with historic runs. On the windblown Bec des Rosses face with 55° areas which was even tougher than usual, Aurelian opted for a really tough line.

After his podiums at the Nissan Russian Adventure (2nd) and the Nissan Tram Face (3rd), Aurelien Ducroz was victorious in Verbier. Like his winning run in 2006, he revealed his mastery on such steep slopes. Very emotional at the awards ceremony, Aurelien has now claimed his spot as the discipline leader.

Results for the Nissan Xtreme de Verbier 2009

Men Ski
1- Aurelien Ducroz FRA
2- Reine Barkered SWE
3-Raphy Gillioz SUI

Women Ski
1-Ane Enderud NOR
2- Marja Persson SWE
3-Jess McMillan USA

The Swiss were also successful on the Bec des Rosses with a third place for Raphy Gillioz in ski. Raphy (SUI), a mountain guide in Verbier and chief ski patrol for the Mont Fort area, mesmerized the huge crowd gathered at the Col de Gentianes. By choosing the central line of which he alone knew the secrets, he climbed to the third step of the podium.

The Scandinavian skiers didn’t do too badly either, Ane Enderud (NOR), claimed Freeride World Champion 2009, and Reine Barkered (SWE) and Sverre Liliequist (SWE) were both on the podium of the Freeride World Tour 2009
Encouraged by her entire family that came all the way from Norway, Ane Enderud chose a creative line with impressive jumps. Thanks to her victory in Verbier, she took her first Freeride World Champion title just ahead of Marja Persson (SWE) and Jess McMillan (USA), who were all three on the podium of the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier. For the men, Reine Barkered (SWE), was the revelation of this season winning in Squaw Valley. He concluded the competition with a run packed with lots of quick jumps. Thanks to his 2nd place in Verbier, he thus took second in the Freeride World Ranking 2009 just ahead of his compatriot Sverre Liliequist, winner in Sochi.

The Freeride World Tour (FWT) 2009 brought together the world’s best skiers and snowboarders to compete around the globe: Sochi, Russia, Squaw Valley, USA, Tignes, France and Verbier, Switzerland. Thanks to the 10 Freeride World Qualifiers, certain young talented riders were qualified to participate in this season’s major events.
With points earned in both the Freeride World Tour events as well as the Freeride World Qualifier events, the Freeride World Ranking 2009 was established: only the top three event points earned were counted to determine the Freeride World Champions 2009 as well as the list of those qualified for the Freeride World Tour 2010. The athletes have been actively involved in developing the Freeride World Tour and the future of this sport.

Nicolas Hale Woods, organizer of the Freeride World Tour and founder of the Nissan Xtreme – Verbier
“We witnessed a fantastic show with historical runs on the Bec des Rosses. The riders proved their mastery and wisdom in tough conditions. They have shown the true evolution of Freeride as a sport. My feeling about this second edition of the Freeride World Tour is that it ahs progressed and there is potential for the future.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MEN SKI

1 DUCROZ AURELIEN FRA
2 BARKERED REINE SWE
3 GILLIOZ RAPHY SUI
4 LILIEQUIST SVERRE SWE
5 HOLMES JT USA
6 DUCHOSAL THIBAUD FRA
7 ZACKRISSON KAJ SWE
8 HEREGGER BJORN AUT
9 HAUNHOLDER MATTHIAS AUT
10 PERMIN RICHARD FRA
11 DIET THOMAS FRA
12 MICHAUD SEB FRA
13 WINDSTEDT HENRIK SWE
14 TABKE DREW USA
14 MEIER PHIL SUI
14 VOLE TORGRIM NOR
14 POST GRIFFIN USA

WOMEN SKI

1 ENDERUD ANE NOR
2 MC MILLAN JESS USA
2 PERSSON MARJA SWE
4 MEYNET CAROLINE FRA
5 SAUGSTAD ELYSE USA
6 ASHTON JEN CAN

For more information on Nissan’s Sports Adventure programme please visit: www.nissan-sportsadventure.com