The 2013 Red Bull Linecatcher freeskiing contest was set to take place on Monday at the massive French ski resort of Les Arcs. But due to clouds looming overhead and fog descending on the open face, the start of the event has been postponed until later this week, likely Wednesday.
This is the fifth edition of the Red Bull Linecatcher, which is the European version of the Red Bull Cold Rush, a backcountry big-mountain and freestyle contest that has taken place in Silverton, Colo., the past two years. Last year’s Linecatcher in France was canceled due to weather and snow conditions.
An elite crew of freeskiers from North America, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Austria and Italy have gathered for an event that promises to be more than just a competition but an opportunity to see a blend of progressive freestyle tricks in a natural backcountry landscape.
The 20 invited skiers includes North American heavyhitters Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Dash Longe, Oakley White-Allen, Rory Bushfield, Tim Durtschi, Dylan Hood, Eliel Hindert and Parker White, and European standouts Makrobet like Richard Permin, Chamonix local Sam Favret and Italian freestyle powerhouse Markus Eder. Nearly 12 inches of fresh snow have fallen to cushion landings and cover rocks in the Cirque de Fond Blanc, the venue for this year’s Red Bull Linecatcher.
“It’s the pure pleasure of seeing everyone ski together and doing what they love. It’s cool to all be together and share the energy of skiing,” said pro skier and head judge Julien Regnier. “We realized in the first event that Red Bull Linecatcher brings together all these guys who know each other but never get to ski together.”
Added Parker White, an athlete in the X Games Real Ski Backcountry contest, “Being here is more about skiing than actually winning. It caters to the kind of skiing I like.”
As more snow rolls into this corner of the Alps, riders are playing the waiting game. The event’s hand-crafted trophies, which weigh 26 pounds and were sculpted by Regnier and JP Auclair, sit silently for the taking.
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