In episode 9 of Jeremy Jones’ Further Unplugged, the Teton Gravity Research crew meets up with Mitch Toelderer and Bibi Pekarek in Innsbruck, Austria, to splitboard deep into the Karwendel Range, a place that sees little winter traffic. After skinning nearly 15 miles, they set up base camp and deal with one of the coldest winters in 50 years to find some rippable lines. Jeremy describes the area as, “one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever been to in this world.”Supported by Cine Tirol. Filmed on location in Tirol/Innsbruck.

Further Unplugged takes you behind the scenes of Jeremy Jones’ two-year snowboarding film, Further. Get an inside glimpse of what goes on between the lines as Jones and other top riders including Terje Haakonsen, Xavier De Le Rue and Josh Dirksen travel to exotic locations such as Japan, the Arctic Circle and the Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness. Challenges arise around every corner as this crew attempts to push their minds and bodies further.

Click Here To Watch More Further Unplugged Episodes: tetongravity.com/videos/series/further-unplugged-49.htm

Click Here To See All of Teton Gravity Research’s Films:
tetongravity.com/films/

Xavier De Le Rue on his way to victory. Photo: Jancsi Hadik

To be honest, I was hoping this press release came with a video of the winning run like that on the women’s final did. But if there was one on Xavier’s run, I could not find it. Oh well. I take it is was rather breathtaking…

After the men’s final competition of the Verbier Xtreme 2010 was postponed Saturday, due to bad visibility, the world’s best freeride snowboarders once again took on the mythical 600 metre North face of the Bec des Rosses. In perfect conditions the riders put on the most spectacular show with the fastest and most committed edition of the 15 years of the “Xtreme”. Several first descents were opened on the face. With this high level, the battle for first was extremely tight. The breathtaking performances of Frenchman Xavier de Le Rue took him to the first step of the podium.

The win in Verbier gave enough points for Xavier de Le Rue to score top position in the men’s snowboard ranking 2010. For the third executive year, the unbeatable Frenchman was crowned World Champion. Austrian Mitch Toelderer is vice Freeride World Champion 2010, and Matt Annetts (USA) took the third step of the podium.

The Tour Top 3: Xavier, Cyril, Mitch. Photo: Christophe Margot

“I was here already 3-4 weeks ago and to inspect this line. When I came back last weekend I saw that it was in good condition. I knew it would be hairy but I felt confident. For me the most interesting aspect of the Freeride World Tour is that we inspect the faces really thoroughly. For days I concentrate on just one thing: my line, which never happens when filming or freeriding for myself. I manage to ride things I would never do otherwise. Everything in my run was meticulously planned – I knew there would be a lot of slough (surface snow sliding) as it was really steep so I needed a lot of speed and take the jump straight in the falline,” explains Xavier De Le Rue.

The Freeride World Champion was awarded with a Nissan Qashqai, and went home with $ 10 000 for the event’s victory.

Results Nissan Xtreme by Swatch, Verbier

1. Xavier DE LE RUE – FRA

2. Cyril NERI – SUI

3. Mitch TOELDERER – AUT

The Freeride World Tour Ranking 2010

Men Snowboard:

1. Xavier DE LE RUE – FRA

2. Mitch TOELDERER – AUT

3. Matt ANNETTS – USA

Women Snowboard:

1. Aline BOCK – GER

2. Susan MOL – USA

3. Nathalie ZENKLUSEN – SUI

Where: Squaw Valley, USA

Rider: Mitch Tölderer, Photo: Tero Repo

The pressure is rising with two out of four competitions already completed of the Freeride World Tour 2010. By the third tour stage, the leading candidates for the Freeride World Champion title will be looking to make a major impression on 27 February 2010 on the infamous Tram Face in Squaw Valley USA, a face that has never officially been ridden before.

The Tram Face is being opened specifically for the Freeride World Tour competition. Its steep and seemingly un-rideable pitch, permanent closure, and tantalizing location in perfect view from Squaw Valley’s Village and base area, have made it a coveted descent among the strong local freeride community. Among many other talented freeriders Jeremy Jones is from Squaw Valley. He will clearly be aiming for victory on home snow and score important points on the FWT ranking.

Conditions are great this year with the El Nino weather pattern bringing huge amount of snow to the Californian resort, and history will be made when the world’s best freeriders will get the chance to challenge the steep rock face. Currently, Austrian Mitch Toelderer and German Aline Bock are heading the FWT rankings. This is what Aline Bock has to say about the upcoming tour stop: “I feel very honoured to snowboard down a face that is normally illegal to ride and closed for skiers and snowboarders. The Tram Face looks playful with steep sections, nice jumps and many technical lines. I think the riders will provide a great show. Leading the FWT Ranking gives me a lot of confidence and I am still super happy about my win in Fieberbunn, but I also know, that it can change very quickly, so I just focus on the next event, trying to do my best and having lots of fun.”

More information on www.freerideworldtour.com

Where: Chamonix, France

Jolly good times in Chamonix. Photo: D. Carlier

The Freeride World Tour 2010 kicked off in perfect weather conditions on the 500 meter “Pentes de l’Hôtel” face at the Brévent resort in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. The 50 best freeriders on the planet put on an amazing performance, showing the 3000 cheering spectators the top of their game on the committing face and challenging snow conditions. The most consistent run among the snowboarders was Austrian Mitch Toelderer’s line, making an interesting line interpretation in the middle, steep section of the course, taking two solid airs towards the end.

Mitch attacking the mountain. Photo: T. Repo

After the last few days’ of snowfall the blue skies finally presented a dream like arena for the athletes and spectators of the Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. However, the snow conditions where tricky for the competitors. A lot of the fresh powder was taken down by the first riders and parts of the face exposed rock hard snow, and at times ice. Control was decisive.

The Chamonix local Douds Charlet showed the international elite the local spice with two stylish jumps right at the start, with one clean “360 front side”, securing second. The only Briton on the line up, James Stentiford, had a very fluid and fast run, with full control down the icy part of the face, giving him the third place of the podium. Here’s what Mitch had to say about his run: “I realised when the forerunner did the first run down the face that the snow looked really firm. So I decided to go for the run I did today and I sticked to my plan till the end, including the jumps. I was a bit sceptical with the landings because of the icy parts but I finally managed ok. Given the conditions, I am happy.”

Another Austrian, Eric Themel, going for it. Photo: T. Repo

Freeriding is not a male-only pastime: Reigning Freeride World Champion snowboarder Susan Mol (USA) had a convincing run down the face, too, with an interesting line interpretation and fast controlled turns. Here’s Susan: “It was fun but it was really icy at times and kind of scary. When I saw the conditions, I decided to change my line at the very last minute but still had to scrape down most of the way.”

Results

Men Snowboard

1- Mitch Toelderer AUT
2- Douds Charlet FRA
3- James Stentiford UK
Women Snowboard

1- Susan Mol USA
2- Nathalie Zenklusen SUI
3- Aline Bock GER