NZSkier.com - Magazine, Video, Web

27th January 2012

Sam Smoothy has once again lived up to his super-hero status and has taken out 2^nd place in the 3^rd stop in the Freeride World Tour at Courmayeur, Italy today.

This is huge for Smoothy who is now one of the highest-ranking skiers in the competition, launching him 1 step closer to the Freeride World Tour title in Verbier.

The conditions today were close to perfect with blue skies and no wind. The venue was a north-facing ridge filled with chutes, steep escalating ridges and big cliffs. There was a light dusting of snow on the two-day-old dump providing fast and clean snow for the riders.

Smoothys smart approach to his run paid off.  I choose a run that no one else had done, and I knew I could do. I wanted to have a solid run, but take a small step back from Chamonix to ensure that I would have a result and not crash.

He started his run with a hit off the wind cornice, and power turned across to gun down a steep coulior that put him in front of the first big cliff. He then took a smaller drop with speed. Then in classic Smoothy style he opened up, full-tilt to charge the final section with three arching turbo turns to the finish gate.  

Neil Williman, NZs other hopeful unfortunately lost a ski off the first drop taking him out of contention.

Winning the Mens Ski Today was Richard Amacker (SUI), and 3^rd was Samuel Anthamatten (SUI)

Winning the Mens Snowboard was Ralph Backstrom (USA), then Max Zipser (AUT) in 2^nd ,  and 3^rd was Jonathon Charlet (FRN) who won the Chamonix stop.

Another epic expression of big mountain riding was exhibited today with some knock out performances from all the riders. 

News brought to you by www.thedailydumpsnowreport.com

Words by Rire Norman @ thedailydumpsnowreport.com 

Photography Credit: Aidan Bolger / The Daily Dump Snow Report