20th
- 22nd March, 29th - 30th March
La
Plagne will be playing host to the French freestyle skiing championships at the
end of March.
The championships will be taking place in the resort that is home
to Sandra Laoura, the first French lady to win a bronze medal for moguls in
February 2006 at the Turin Olympics.
The
snow sport of freestyle skiing dates back to the 1930s when Norwegian skiers
began to perform tricks and acrobatics during their cross-country
training. By 1979 it was recognised by the International Ski Federation
and by 1988 it was an event at the Calgary Winter
Olympics.
Freestyle
is an exciting and exhilarating sport to watch. It allows competitors the
freedom to be expressive, culminating in impressive speed and tricks that will
leave the audience wanting more.
This
freestyle tradition just keeps on growing and this year the championships will
include the half pipe where skiers jump off the lip and perform big air
freestyle moves; skiercross where skiers race against each other tackling
natural terrain and manmade jumps and moguls, where skiers perform turns
around large bumps and then perform jumps. The programme is as follows:
- 20th
March - skiercross (stade de plagne centre)
- 22nd
March - moguls (stade de plagne centre)
- 29th
March - half pipe (plagne bellecote
- 30th
March - Slope style (snowpark de plagne centre)
All
the freestyle clubs from large ski resorts such as Tignes, La Clusaz, Les 2
Alpes and Chamrousse will be presenting their best athletes. One team the
French will definitely be cheering on is their mogul's team who have become the
best in the world after their incredible progress last winter.
Residents
of La Plagne will be keeping an eye on their sporting stars Kevin Rolland,
Marie Martinod and Julien Régnier. In 2007 Kevin won the title of Halfpipe
Junior World Champion. More comfortable on the halfpipe than the slopestyle, he
loves taking off on enormous big airs and has targets for this winter to win a
medal at the X games and as many international competitions as possible. Marie,
a freestyle skier and bronze medallist at the x games in 2006 is definitely
making her mark on this male dominated sport. Last winter she took part in the
film ‘Snowhite' the first 100% girl video of freestylers on skis, snowboards,
skateboards and surfboards (www.snowhiteprod.com).
Apart from being a pioneer and a top name in freestyle skiing, Julien created
the Armada ski brand with some friends, as well as launching a magazine and a
production company which makes videos with the best freestylers of today.
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