Day 2 Highlights - Halfpipe & Slopestyle Qualifiers

After a challenging first day, day 2 of the Orage European Freeski Open By Swatch brought the qualifier rounds back to a happy place. Due to the late afternoon cancellation of yesterday's slopestyle qualifiers we were forced to perform at the top of our game. With only 8 hours to wrap up yesterday's slope action, as well as today's halfpipe qualifier for both the men and women, we were forced to double time it.

But, when the skies turn blue bird and the wind settles down everything smoothens out. The action started early and rapid fire was the name of the game. Two sets of judges were put in place for the morning pipe qualifiers. Riders were offered an abbreviated warm up session and once the action had begun it wasn't uncommon to see two riders in the pipe at once, one up top and one at the bottom. With over 100 athletes on the roster we had to bang ‘em out if each rider was going to get two runs in by noon. When a rider made it 2/3's of the way down, we sent a chaser… aka, the next competitor.

The time challenge was met and the action was hot; Orage team rider, Matt Margetts from Canada took the top spot in heat 1 as did his heat 2 counterpart Reto Comnicioli from Switzerland. The pipe was just right, not too soft, not too hard and super “edge-able” as a result of some light snowfall last night. Freshly groomed and warmed from the sun, riders were boosting the entire length of the pipe and averaging 5 to 6 hits per run.

Top 6 Women's Pipe Qualifiers:

1 Davina Williams (AUS)
2 Anais Caradeux (FRA)
3 Kristy Leskinen (USA)
4 Karin Edwards (CAN)
5 Michelle Schlaepfer (SUI)
6 Rebecca Hammond (GBR)

Top 6 Men's Pipe Qualifiers:

Heat 1
1 Matt Margetts (CAN)
2 JF Houle (CAN)
3 Banks Gilberti (USA)
4 Mathieu Bijasson (FRA)
5 Halvard Thon (NOR)
6 Sbrava Guillaume (FRA)

Heat 2
Reto Comincioli (SUI)
Oscar Harlaut (SWE)
Joe Schuster (CAN)
Jimmy Greenleaf (USA)
Paddy Graham (GBR)
Gaute Haaker (NOR)

No sooner had the morning pipe session come to a conclusion did the athletes start making their way to the slope course to wrap up yesterday's unfinished business. With 40 skiers left to ride most of them actually considered themselves lucky to have a second, and much more enjoyable shot at the course. Each rider was given two runs to get the job done and move into the finals.

With ample amounts of speed, visibility and a low avalanche rating the entire course was open and ready to be slayed. The crowd that had assembled at the top of the course was finally able to witness the top feature (aka the Volkl Sushi Bowl) put to good use. Not many people, if any have ever seen a giant bowl made of snow featuring 4 giant chop sticks positioned over the gap and down the side as grind boxes.

When the smoke had cleared the stage for the finals had been set. Moving into the prize round to join the top riders from yesterday are the following…

Top 6 Men's Slopestyle Qualifiers:

Heat 1
1 Benedikt Mayr (GER)
2 Kim Boberg (SWE)
3 Rainer Laa (AUT)
4 Marius Kjølseth (NOR)
5 Patrick Hollaus (AUT)
6 Janne Van Enckevort (SUI)

Heat 2
AJ Kemppainen (FIN)
Pekka Hyysalo (FIN)
Nicolas Vuignier (SUI)
Matt Margetts (CAN)
Aleksander Aurdal (NOR)
Banks Gilberti (USA)