More than six thousand spectators watched the world’s best female freeride skiers and snowboarders take on the impressive 600 vertical metre face of the Bec des Rosses in Verbier, Switzerland, for the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, celebrating its 15th edition.

The two women Freeride World Champions 2010 were crowned after the competition, the final stage of the Freeride World Tour which had earlier rounds in Chamonix and Squaw Valley, the opening stage in Sochi, Russia had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Due to poor visibility, the competition was stopped for the men before the last seven athletes were able to go down the face. For the men the competition is therefore postponed to a later date this coming week as soon as there is a weather window. The last possible day is Sunday 28 March.

Norwegian skier Ane Enderud has had an impressive season going from strength to strength. After cancelling the first stage of the Freeride World Tour because of back problems, she won two of the following competitions, and was second once. With that consistent result she was crowned Freeride World Champion on Saturday, defending her title from last year.

Double Olympic silver medallist Julia Mancuso had an impressive first experience of freeride competitions, being the fastest women down the mountain and taking third.

““It was tough on top – it is the first time I skied such technical and steep skiing this year and the first time I skied on these skis. I followed J.T. Holmes (FWT athlete ski) advice not to stall before taking the jump and I got so much speed I missed some features in the end. There are a lot of similarities with downhill – you need to have a very high confidence level, go fast and fluid. I was here to have fun and challenge myself and I am happy I made it down without falling! It is such a cool face.” she said.

Shannan Yates, American newcomer to the Freeride World Tour, won the women’s snowboard on the Bec des Rosses, with German Aline Bock taking second, giving her the World Champion title after four nice podiums this season.

www.freerideworldtour.com