Event Previews & Reviews from Val d’Isere — 7 of Our Favourites

I had entered the World Cup Super G and Downhill in Val D’Isere! I was excited and nervous as this would be my first World Cup. I headed up to Val D’Isere on Tuesday night alongside my Romanian team mate, Ania Caill, and Orsatus Coach, Pierre Gaidet. We free skied on Wednesday which meant I got some time to try out my speed skis and check out the piste. The Downhill training was due to take place the next day and I was a bundle of nerves but by the evening I had calmed down and really got myself into a good mindset for the race. However, after dinner I got a phone call from my coach telling me that I wouldn’t be allowed to race in the Downhill because my points weren’t low enough to qualify me… I was completely gutted to find out I wasn’t allowed to race however it means the Val D’Isere Downhill is definitely a big goal for next season and I can work as hard as possible to get my points low enough before then! I have just recently scored some good Super G results, taking my points down to 58 so I would be able to compete in the Super G on Sunday. I decided to stay in Val D’Isere for the next few days to get the full World Cup experience and to be able to inspect the Downhill to get to know the piste for the Super G. Whilst I was inspecting the Downhill I really wished I could have been in the start gate for the race but I tried to take in as much of the piste as possible so I would be ready for the Super G.

My coach then called me to let me know that there happened to be a Giant Slalom race in Val Thorens on Saturday so I decided to take the opportunity to try and lower my points and get myself in a racing frame of mind for Sunday. I felt quite nervous for the Giant Slalom race as I had some of the best points so I knew I could do well. The first run was set quite turny which isn’t really my style but I really wanted to go for it. I didn’t ski as well as I had hoped on the steep section but on the flat I skied better than expected and I posted the fastest first run time when I crossed the finish line. However there was still second run and I held my lead by just one hundredth of a second. Second run was set slightly straighter so I tried to give it my all but unfortunately held back a little too much on the steep and I finished in second place overall, 2 tenths of a second behind the winner. I was really happy with my skiing on the flat sections though as my coaches said I was very fast and had missed out on the top spot of the podium due to my skiing on the steep. It is still my first podium of the season though and I scored a second best result which will take my points down to 30.

After the GS race I headed straight back up to Val D’Isere to get my skis ready for the World Cup Super G! I was starting bib 60, the very last racer. I wanted to go to the World Cup to gain invaluable experience and hoped I would ski well but I wasn’t looking for any results as I knew I was up against the best in the World. After inspection I felt confident as the course didn’t seem any trickier than previous Super Gs I had done. I watched the first top 20 racers and was surprised to see that so many of them were falling or coming out of the course. I am usually a very consistent finisher but seeing the best in the world struggling to make turns worried me slightly! I warmed up for the race as I would for any other and tried to tell myself that this was just another race. I wanted to cross the finish line knowing that I had given it my best shot and with a big smile on my face. When it was finally my turn to go I took my place in the start gate, took a deep breath and smiled to myself as I realized that all my hard work had got me to this point. I took a big push out the gate and got straight into my tuck position looking to go as fast as possible. I got a little low on the line over the first jump but soon got myself back into it and throughout the course I felt confident on my skis. I passed through the turns where I had seen most people coming out and I didn’t make any major mistakes the whole way thoughout the run. I made it all the way to the finish and when I crossed the line I looked up to see my face on the big screen and all the people cheering at the bottom of the race. I had posted the 36th fastest time, 7.08seconds off the leader. However I wasn’t interested in the time, I was just so happy to have done my first World Cup! I didn’t expect one race to motivate me so much, now I just want to go faster and faster to have another chance to compete against the best in the world.

Now I’m having some time off to spend Christmas with my family in Meribel before training starts again of the 26th. Three months ago I never expected to be at this point in my skiing career and I can’t wait to see where it leads to next!

Spectators were given the chance to see the crème de la crème of today's freestyle skiers and snowboarders demonstrating their daring skills on jumps, rails and hips in the centre of Val D. If that's not enough to tickle your taste buds then throw in a handful of international DJs and you've got one hell of a show. Excitement grew rapidly in the build up to Frostgun as each night piste bashers worked into the early hours to sculpt a 14m high kicker at the base of the famous La Face. With almost 25,000 cubic metres of snow needed to create it; I can see why it took weeks to build this monster of a jump.

Frostgun Invitational kicked off on Tuesday evening with the Snowboarder's Big Air contest, which was judged on the unusual combination of tech and style tricks, allowing riders a little more creative freedom in their jumps. Haling from Finland, Nuutti Niemelä took home first prize for a mind blowing backside 1080 Double Cork Mute and a backside 720 Nose to Tail. He was closely followed by last year's winner Kalle Järvilehto and Swiss rider Carlos Gerber.

Day Two saw a new addition to the Frostgun line up - the Hip contest - a quarter pipe with perpendicular landing. And what a show it was Ladies and Gentlemen! The height reached by both skiers and boarders was insane, and proves that these riders certainly have guts. French snowboarder Antoine Truchon took home the glory for Highest Air that day and Swiss Markus Knut Mathis won the best trick prize. The skiers also competed fiercely but Jules Bonnaire out rode all competition and quite literally flew to gold for the Highest Air.

Day Three's Streetfighter competition saw both the ski and snowboard rail jams as well as a visit from an infamous pioneering freeskier: Candide Thovex, who made an appearance at the event, taking the time to sign posters in the local Roxy cafe.

The final event was the Ski Big Air Contest; a three heat showdown between 14 world class skiers. The top three riders from each semi-final heat went through to the super final where they battled it out. Despite sub-zero temperatures, a huge crowd gathered at the base of La Face making the atmosphere phenomenal.

During the first two semi final heats the crowd gasped and cheered as riders threw down an impressive array of aerial gymnastics. For me the highlight was Nick Goepper's Switch Dub-side Right Nine with a Screamin' Seamen Japan - in English - an incredibly gnarly trick, requiring the flexibility of a yoga master. The judges rewarded him for his technically sound and stylish execution.

A jump of this size is bound to see some crashes, and there were a fair few during the semis; the most dramatic being when Oscar Wester fell on one leg after tweaking his ski so hard during a grab that it came off mid-air. Luckily there were no injuries.

Another highlight was seeing Jules Bonnaire attempting the Lazy Boy 180 twice, and both times being forced to turn it into a 360, perhaps because the jump is just too big for a take off lying back on your skis.

The super finalists were Elias Ambühl, Nick Goepper, Fabien Bösch, Vincent Gagnier, Kai Mahler and youngest rider Luca Schuler at just 17 years old. Canadian Vincent Gagnier pulled out an effortless 1620 Screamin' Seamen Double Grab, and the crowd went crazy for youngster Luca Schuler who jumped so high and deep that he sprayed them with snow on each landing.

Despite a rocky start during the semis and a stumbled landing in the final, Swiss rider Elias Ambühl took the top spot, and amid roaring support from the crowd accepted his $7,000 prize money. American Nick Goepper came in second place and taking third spot on the podium was this year's X Game's Gold medal winner, Vincent Gagnier.

I was overwhelmed by the standard of competition in this year's competition, which was so high that less than ten points separated all six riders, and proves that these athletes really are pushing the limits of freestyle skiing. What amazed me throughout the event was the sheer confidence of the riders to hit such a big jump at speeds of around 80km/hour, and as winner Elias Ambühl said, "It's big air, it's pretty gnarly; if you're a pussy you don't get far."

The Frostgun Invitational 2015 culminated in a fireworks display accompanied by a show stopping gig by French DJs Klingande. I danced my numb feet back to life with La Face and those mind-boggling kickers still lit up in the background. Frostgun Invitational will be back in Val D'Isère next year for what is set to be an even bigger competition than ever. I for one am looking forward to it, but personally, I'd love to see some women taking on these jumps along with the men.

When it comes to skiing, there is little more impressive than watching the pros take to the skies and flip, spin and grab their way towards the top spot of the podium at the world’s biggest big air competitions.

Frostgun 2016 was no exception as the crowds gathered in their thousands to watch the best freestyle skiers and boarders hurl themselves off the biggest of kickers at the bottom of the world famous Face de Bellevarde in Val d’Isere.

After the pros dazzled the streets of Val with their tricks outside the legendary Dick’s Tea Bar, grinding rails and pulling backflips off the kickers on the purpose built street circuit in the centre of the town, the partying began in earnest. La Folie Douce hosted the official opening party of the event, as TooManyLeftHands entertained the crowds at the world famous party venue. With the beats pumping and the tables full of ski boot clad dancers, it’s hard not to get into the party mood.

Wednesday saw the start of the competition in earnest, as the snowboarders took on the Big Air. With the kicker leading off the exceptionally steep run in on La Face de Bellevarde, the takeoff to landing from the kicker was taking riders over 30m in distance. A staggering jump that ensured that the competition would without doubt provide the buzzing crowds with a complete spectacle.

After a strong field competed across two semi finals and then a final, it was Italian Emiliano Lauzi that reigned supreme, securing the win and pocketing a cool $15,000 US. Not bad for an evening of spinning through the air! His backside double 1260 mute particularly impressed the crowds and judges en-route to victory.

Norwegian Gjermund Braaten took home second place while 18 year old Frenchman Sébastien Koninjenberg finished in third place, giving the home crowd something to cheer.

Snowboard Big Air results:
1 - Emiliano LAUZI (ITA)
Backside Double 1260 Mute
Frontside 1080 Melon

2 - Gjermund BRAATEN (NOR)
Backside 1260 Melon
Frontside Double 1080 Melon

3 - Sebastien KONINJENBERG (FRA)
Frontside 1080 Indy
Backside 1260 Mute

The skiers had their turn on Thursday to take on the Big Air and show off their skills. With Canadian Vincent Gagnier in the field, fresh off a victory in Boston’s Fenway park earlier in the week, it would take a special performance for any of the other riders to challenge for the victory.

In the end it was the Canadian who took home victory on the slopes of La Face, beating out a strong field that contained former X-Games winner Alex Schlopy, 18 year old French sensation Gaëtan Carlier and Les Arcs very own Jules Bonnaire.

With sensational after parties in both Dick’s Tea Bar and Doudoune, the only question left to ask is “How many days to Frostgun 2017?