Verbier Xtreme 2016

As far back as the 1930's, with only rudimentary ski equipment, European skiers were challenging themselves on various mountain couloirs and gullies that dropped from Mt. Blanc and Chamonix. These skiers were stretching the extremes of downhill skiing, so much so that a single mistake could mean death.

The Americans were not far behind and in 1991 launched the World Extreme Ski Championships in Alaska's Wasatch mountains.

In 1996 Nicholas Hale-Woods launched Verbier Extreme, which was strictly a snowboarding contest. In 2004 that all changed when ten of the top extreme freeriders were invited to participate. Today Hale-Woods overseas the annual world snowboard and ski circuit, the Freeride World Tour, that travels from Russia, America and to the Alps.

Verbier hosts one of the most prestigious freeride competitions in the world. It is held in the Bec de Rosses mountain off Montfort (3300 meters) with a 500+ vertical drop and is considered the most technical and most demanding freeride event.  Only the top ranking skiers and snowboarders qualify. Thousands of people come to watch the event and the town is transformed with outdoor stalls featuring Swiss food and wine, sporting goods, live bands, etc.

Finish line at the bottom of the Bec des Rosses

Snowboarder (at top of photo) coming down the Bec des Rosses

Festivities in the town

Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating this year, and the men's ski final was postponed from yesterday, after the men spent quite a few hours at the top of the mountain.  They are still waiting up there this morning, poor chaps. I decided to sit this one out, having waited hours yesterday, and it's live on the Swatch Xtreme Verbier website.