10 March 2010

We arrived in Tignes yesterday night for the European XGames. Going there to cover the event, not going, we thought about it many times but since there are not many big snowboard events here in France, we give it a chance and we decided to show up there before making our minds… For the first day we have the slopestyle trainings and the women pipe qualifiers. Our vision of it in what follows.

The first stricking things when we arrive in Tignes are the structures set up : tents, visual communication, press room etc… Almost all the worldwide known snowboarders came (except from Shaun White), all the big french medias are here (TF1, France 2 and 3, Canal+…) Most of the major snowboard brands are here too and some other brands like Coca Cola, SFR, Walt Disney etc… In short words, the snowboard in another dimension. Even if the event is taking place in Tignes it doesn’t seem french but more like an international standard event. You feel it especially when your accreditation is checked all the time (approximatly 200 times per person per day, they must have quotas like the police…)


However we think some imrpovements could be made : firstly the slopestyle. Even if it has been modfiied already, is not really safe (I think about this poor skier who crashed in front of me and broke a shinbone and a knee.) The slopestyle is quite impressive with 2 rails and not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6 (it is long right ?) but 7 tables ! Something never ever seen before, so unusual that the riders are trying to find enough different rotations, double corks or not… It is clear that the organization is late regarding some infrastructures, the pipe is half lightened, the galleries for the public are not finished yet and so is the exhibitors’ area that is supposed to open tomorrow with THE FAMOUS BLEU CARPET.

For the women pipe qualifiers we can say that Kerjtsi Buas’ style is killing, Torah Bright (aka baby love for some) showed that she deserved her Olympic gold medal. We saw some good crashes and some sick tricks… 

We have to say it... We are very proud of our french ripper Sophie Rodriguez who is 3rd !










Results of the qualifiers:

1 Torah Bright

2 Ellery Hollingsworth

3 Sophie Rodriguez

4 Kjersti Oestgaard Buas

5 Mercedes Nicoll

6 Kaitlyn Farrington