In a growing collaboration between the Swatch Freeride World Tour, the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding which brought together one of the strongest rider fields ever assembled, North Americans dominated both the ski and snowboard competitions. With its vast ski and snowboard options, warm hospitality and consistent annual snowfall, few destinations in North America can rival Revelstoke – all the signs point to Revelstoke becoming a mainstay on the Freeride World Tour.

Ski Contest – Results
On what could become an iconic competition face on the Freeride World Tour, the North Americans swept the podium in both men’s and women’s ski competitions.

A perfect bluebird day in deep pow on the giant Mac Daddy face in the heart of the Revelstoke back country – it was a classic big mountain Freeride competition. Leading after day 1, Canadian Kye Petersen tightened his grip on the field with an effortless looking ride on this steep and highly exposed venue. Clean, crisp and balanced throughout Kye’s run had a ominous ring to it. If he maintains this level, the 21-year old Canadian is clearly going to be very difficult to beat this year. Kye remarked: “I just wanted to get to the bottom and stay on my feet. This is the best a competition can be, with the best skiers from North America and Europe, I’m excited to come out on top.” Second place went to US rider Oakley White Allen who impressed the judges with his super fluid line. With a giant smile on his face White-Allen stated: “I followed my same approach from day one and that was to ski a line that is fun to ski, I think that comes out in your body language so that’s what I did today. Rounding out the top three was Drew Tabke who weaved his way across the technical face jumping and stomping almost non-stop in the lower section

French riders Adrien Coirier and Jeremy Prevost just missed out on the podium finishing 4th and 5th respectively. Germany’s Basti Hannemann continued his good early season form with another solid performance finishing in 9th position. Other leading European contenders Aurelien Ducroz and Samuel Anthamatten both crashed out attempting huge drops.

In the women’s contest Angel Collinson proved again what a truly world class performer she is. Absolutely rock solid on the highly exposed top section of the face, balanced and fluid in the technical sections she finished her run with a fully stomped cliff. Freeride World Tour runner-up in 2011, Angel has already put her marker firmly in the snow for 2012. “My day was already made when I woke up to bluebird skies this morning. I was really excited to ski that awesome face with tons of options and I felt I had a strong run today,” said Collinson. In second place was Crystal Wright who hit one of the biggest drops of the day for the ladies and completing the US 1,2 3 was comeback kid Jesse McMillan who straight-lined the bottom section.

Germany’s Pia Widmesser was Europe’s top placed female rider in 5th position and looks set for a strong season.

Presented to the winners were Howitzer Shell trophies, courtesy of Swatch. These awards represent shells used in avalanche control work-necessary to ski a venue like the “Mac Daddy”.