SPECTACULAR SEASON FINALE OF THE FREERIDERS AT THE KITZSTEINHORN
As part of the X OVER RIDE, which will take place on 22. and 23. March in Zell am See- Kaprun celebrated its 10th edition, the state champions in freeriding were crowned for the first time. The first Austrian champions are Flo Orley (snowboard) and Martin Rofner (ski) from Tyrol, Liz Kristoferitsch (snowboard) from Styria and Angelika Kaufmann (snowboard) from Vorarlberg.
After eight qualifier competitions in Austria and the big season finale at the X OVER RIDE on the Kitzsteinhorn, the Austrian Freeride Champions have been decided. The Innsbruck snowboard pro Flo Orley secured not only the day’s victory but also the national championship title at the X OVER RIDE 3-Star Qualifier from the Lakerschneid on the Kitzsteinhorn with an intelligent run and the highest drop of the day: “I went to Zell am See- Kaprun with mixed feelings, I knew that I would have to ski really well to secure the title and chose a correspondingly challenging line. It’s my 14th year as a pro, but it’s the very first Austrian championship title that was up for grabs. The fact that I can still win it at my age is of course a gift,” explains the 37-year-old.
Already in the run-up to the X OVER RIDES, the winner of the men’s ski class was Martin Rofner, the Arlberg native secured victories in four of seven OPEN FACES events and had to miss the grand finale on the Kitzsteinhorn due to illness.
Despite a fall in the final competition on the Kitzsteinhorn, it is enough for the Vorarlberger Geli Kaufmann for the championship title: “It feels extremely good to be Austrian champion. I didn’t expect it because the season was rather mixed. But it’s perfect and I’m extremely happy. The Face today was super cool and offered a lot of opportunities for features.”
With the second place at the X OVER RIDE 3*, Liz Kristoferitsch from Graz secures her supremacy in the snowboard ladies and brings the first freeride state championship title to Styria: “Sensational! Especially because the title was awarded for the first time. I am happy that I could be there. The winter was great, I was on the podium at every contest, was 2nd in Hochfügen, first at the OPEN FACES contest in Stubai and now second again at the X OVER RIDE. These are results you can only be satisfied with. I am thrilled with the terrain here at the Kitzsteinhorn, with its many different possibilities. The snow conditions were not easy today, but the same for everyone. I was happy from top to bottom.”
The Austrian Freeride Champion title is made up of the nine qualifier competitions of the Freeride World Tour. In addition to the five new OPEN FACES competitions, OPEN FACES Axamer Lizum (2*), Open Faces Fieberbrunn (2*), Open Faces Hochkönig (1*), Open Faces Kappl (2*) and Open Faces Stubai (3*), the points of the renowned competitions X OVER RIDE Kitzsteinhorn (1* and 3*), Big Mountain Hochfügen (4*), Big Mountain Goldeck (2*) and Pitztal Wild Face (1*) count. From them the Austrian Freeride Champion will be determined in the categories ski and snowboard, men and women.
X OVER RIDE again full success
Two fantastic days at the Kitzsteinhorn, with lots of powder snow and blue sky made the X OVER RIDE again a special experience for riders, spectators and organizers. Head of organization Chris Geissler sums up with satisfaction: “Our 10th anniversary has brought us two fantastic competitions. First and foremost we have to thank our partners Kitzsteinhorn and Zell am See- Kaprun, who make the X OVER RIDE possible and are always very open to our ideas. 10 years ago the X OVER RIDE started as a small competition, meanwhile we have grown to a part of the Freeride World Qualifier Series and the fact that also some World Tour pros were at the start is a great honor for a 3-Star Qualifier. We are very motivated to take the next step and host a four-star event in the coming years. The X OVER RIDE will continue to develop in the coming years.”
Results:
X OVER Ride:
Snowboard women:
- Amber Schuecker (AUS)
- Liz Kristoferitsch (AUT)
- Manuela Mandl (AUT)
Ski ladies:
- Lotten Rapp (SWE)
- Katharina Schuler (AUT)
- Jenni Kaipainen (FIN)
Snowboard men:
- Flo Orley (AUT)
- Niklas Hollesten (FIN)
- Sasha Hamm (GBR)
Ski men:
- Jochen Mesle (GER)
- Felix Wiemers (GER)
- David Cusini (ITA)
OPEN FACES Freeride Series:
Ski ladies: Katharina Schuler (AUT)
Snowboard women: Jenny Farrah (USA)
Ski Men: Martin Rofner (AUT)
SB Men: Niklas Hollesten (FIN)
Austrian champions:
SB Ladies: Liz Kristoferitsch
Ski ladies: Angelika Kaufmann
SB Men: Flo Orley
Ski Men: Martin Rofner