The freestyle skiing competition kicked off on Sunday with, for the first time at the event, the Riderscup. Inspired by the golfing competition, the contest saw North America take on Europe in the Big Air contest, followed by the half pipe competition yesterday.
Unlike other freestyle competitions, the Riderscup is based on team ranking. Team leaders Candide Thovex (Europe) and TJ Schiller (North America) each recruited 8 of the best riders, including one promising new talent.
Sunday's Big Air featured an 18ft high kicker which the competitors used to perform tricks and jumps to bag points. Canadian Ian Cosco did an impressive double‐cork 1,260° mute and North American captain, TJ Schiller, performed for the first time an amazing switch double cork 1,200° safety. The Europeans came out on top though and finsihed the day 4 points ahead of the Northern Americans.
Monday arrived and North America were looking to fight back in the Half Pipe, but unfortunately Ian Cosco, Mike Riddle and Josh Bibby were injured during the Big Air event and Half Pipe training.
European team were keen to prove their skill in the 412ft long half pipe. French Kevin Rolland took the lead with a superb cork 5 double mute when entering the copping and performed a crazy switch cork 7 mute to end his run.
Loïc Collomb‐Patton and Thomas Krief, the youngest of the team, also impressed the crowd and performed a fat 540°, a holly hoop flat spin 540°, a cork 900° and a switch 720°.
At the end of the day the results said it all and with 23 to North America's 11, the European team won a resounding victory and took the title of the very first Tignes Airwaves Riderscup.
The Tignes Airwaves event continues this week with the 4Cross today and then the Moguls and Ski Cross competitions on Wednesday and Thursday.
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