Let me paint you a picture.. think Europe, think X-rated, think big pipes, throw in some white-stuff – what do you have?
Clue.. not a German porn convention. You’ve got it, Winter X Games Europe.
That’s right the Winter X Games is heading to Europe for the first time in the competition’s history! March 10 – 12th will see the event hosted in the beautiful French resort of Tignes. This stunning resort located way up high in the Alps is no stranger to international events. Tignes showcased the Freestyle Skiing portion of the 1992 Winter Olympics, and is home to many events including the Tignes Airwaves.
So soon after Vancouver 2010 we are in for a real treat, it’s pretty much like two christmases in the space of a month!
tignes, val claret
Just some of the athletes who will be attending the X Games;
Elena Hight: Winter X Games bronze medalist, 2006 Winter Olympic and 2010 Winter Olympic competitor
Iouri Podladtchikov: Winter X Games 14 silver medalist, 2006 Winter Olympic competitor and 2010 Winter Olympic competitor
Gretchen Bleiler: Four-time and defending Winter X Games gold medalist and 2006 Winter Olympic silver medalist
Louie Vito: Five-time Winter X Games athlete, 2010 Winter Olympic competitor
Peetu Piiroinen: Winter X Games competitor and 2010 Winter Olympic silver medalist
Torah Bright: Two-time Winter X Games gold medalist and 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalist
Freeskiing
The
Frenchys may have the home advantage with Kevin Rolland and Xavier Bertoni, SuperPipe winners at Winter X 13,14 , respectively but with Simon Dumont on the rampage it’s going to be an epic comp! Dumont is a man on a mission, he has many Winter X Games medals to his name but after missing out completely in Aspen 2010 he’s gonna be hunting down the frogs.
Ski slopestlye, and new kid on the block, Breckenridge Bobby Brown will be out in force – dominated Winter X Games Big Air with his
Switch Double Misty 1440. The following day took gold in Slopestyle, following that up with yet another gold at the Mt. Dew Snow Tour – show off. Amongst others, Noggi Andreas Hatveit and Tom Wallish will be there to try take Bobby down a peg.
For the chicks, Tignes will be just as tense – especially in SuperPipe. Jen Hudak still hot from her SuperPipe Winter X 14 gold. The beautiful Sarah Burke and new on the scene Megan Gunning – this will be a battle for the future of women’s pipe.
Snowboarding
It’s set to be a heated SuperPipe for the guys, Finland’s on form Peetu Piiroinen is a clear favourite after his silver performances at Winter X Games 14 and the Olympics. It’s not going to be easy – 9 other Olympians are turning up including bronze winner Scotty Lago (possibly), fourth place Iouri Podladtchikov and king corkster Louie Vito.
The chicks will be scrapping it out – Olympic gold medalist Torah Bright will be defending her new snowboarding world status. Whilst Winter X Games 14 gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler, who missed out in Vancouver will be looking to
overthrow Torah from her throne. Not to mention steady Elena Hight and new schooly Ellery Hollingsworth. Slopestyle will be as competitive if not more, Winter X 14 gold, silver, bronze medalists – Brit Jenny Jones, Jamie Anderson and Janna Meyen-Weatherby (in that order) will be cat scrapping it out.
preparation
This has been one of the biggest years for freeskiing and snowboarding. The event is historical being the first Winter X in Europe and with so much progression this season Tignes sets to wrap up both sport’s immense progression.
Winter X Games Europe 2010 – Invited Athletes
Winter X Games Europe 2010 – Schedule
Reference; espn.com
Residents of Tignes are in shell shock after the Winter X-Games shredded through the French resort. The event was a massive success, a milestone for European freeskiing and snowboarding. The pipe and slopestyle courses were moulded to perfection – Olympic standards. A huge turnout of world-class athletes, with some unreal performances. The resort was a big hit with the Pros – many blown away by the enormity of ski area.
