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1st September 2010

The 2010 K2 Big Mountain CHILL Series attracted a top line up of skiers and snowboarders, all competing over 5 days of competition at 2 venues.  Craigieburn Valley hosted the first two days with 60 competitors skiing and riding through middle basin chutes on the first day.

The quality of the athletes is the strongest we have hosted in the 12 years of running the CHILL Series.  We have a growing number of talented young kiwi male skiers coming through the ranks. Combine this great interest from European and North American athletes, and this years Series was set to be tightly fought. In the female ski division overseas entries have been strong with all the skiers skiing completely new and unknown terrain, says event director Stu Waddel.

Athletes getting their tickets and heading up to the access tow

All the colourful Athletes at first day briefing

Athletes are judged on the choice of line they ski through steep and challenging terrain; combined with control, fluidity and aggressiveness throughout their run, the judges are looking for an overall impression.

The Venue from the bottom

Looking down on the day lodge which was perfect viewing platform

Day one competition was high

Luke Potts on his way to qualifying for Day 2

Sam Lee from Wanaka took 2nd qualifying spot on Day 1

Cam McDermid stomping his run to take top qualifying spot

Local kiwi skier Cam McDermid qualified top on day one and set the standard high for day two.  Austrian National, Sophie Mitteregger in her first big mountain event qualified top in the female ski division. While in the snowboard division talented kiwi rider Scott Heale qualified top male and Finnish rider Malin Lindroos qualified top female.

On the second day, the field was culled to 35 athletes, all completing two runs and the best one counting toward the final results.

The Judges perched out on the ledge with a great view of the venue

We had fresh snow after a weather day, blue skies and a moderate wind on the ridge tops, all combining for a fantastic day in the mountains.

The chutes were opened for one inspection run, and by the end of the day, with three runs through the same terrain over two days of competitions, the standard of skiing and riding had lifted markedly. commented Stu Waddel

Alex Lyndon spinning to take fourth spot

Pete Oswald

Marc Walker

Cam McDermid sending it huge on Day 2 but he was on the end of some harsh judging ending up in 7th place

Romain Bellon skiied super fast on his second run to take the win

As anticipated there was a tight field of 10 male ski athletes who were fighting for the top spots.  Romain Bellon came first with a solid last run, redemption from returning after competing in 2008 with a broken ski which had taken him out of the competition. Local kiwi skier Alex Lynden, fresh off winning the NZ Free Ski Open was the highest kiwi, placing 4th.
 
2nd Ferdinard Winter AUT
3rd Fabian Lentsch AUT
4th Alex Lynden NZL
5th Orry Grant CAN
6th Sam Lee NZL

Sarah Martinais of France taking first in women's division

In the female ski divsion, French National Sarah Martinais took top honours with a solid last run.
 
2nd Birgit Ertl AUT
3rd Sophia Mitteregger AUT
4th Julie Scott-Hansen NOR
 
In the male snowboard division kiwi rider Scott Heale held onto first place after a confident first run.
 
2nd Ruari Mcfarlane NZL
3rd Seb Zink AUT
4th Johannes Scharl AUT
 
In the female snowboard division kiwi rider Hayley Flintoff took the honours with an impressive first run.
 
2nd Malin Lindroos FIN
 
Moving onto Mt Olympus for the final two days, organisers had hoped for clear weather, but with southerlys forecast and snow falling, the results from the Craigieburn stood as the final results and further qualification toward competing in the World Freeride Tour.

Stu Waddel of Chill, Loic Tonnet, Judge and Simon Knight of K2 stoked with the day at Craigieburn

Bit of Apres Competition celebrating