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01:15 >> There was guaranteed excitement for those hooked on snowboarding and
01:18 free riding and who came to Verbier in the Swiss Alps from the 13th to
01:22 the 16th of March 1997 for the second edition of Xtreme.
01:25 Like last year, you had to come down the wall of the famous Becque de Ross,
01:30 the starting gate of the summit 3,222 meters up.
01:35 The free ride is a discipline only undertaken by the most experienced and
01:38 talented sportsmen and women, where it's also essential to know a lot about the mountain.
01:43 Contrary to appearances, free riders aren't mindless daredevils.
01:47 In fact, all the competitors have many qualities in common with climbers.
01:51 [MUSIC]
01:55 >> I'm about to climb the first mountain of my life.
02:00 >> The first mountain of her life.
02:02 >> I'm about to climb the first mountain of my life.
02:05 >> I'm about to climb the first mountain of my life.
02:10 >> I'm about to climb the first mountain of my life.
02:15 >> I'm about to climb the first mountain of my life.
02:20 >> And at least it's a pipe opener for us.
02:28 Planted on the summit of the Becque de Ross is the imposing starting gate.
02:32 Once through the gate and then right down to the end of the wall,
02:35 the 25 competitors have completely free choice of route.
02:38 [MUSIC]
03:01 The first day of the extreme is devoted to qualifying.
03:04 Just six men and two women will have the right to take part in the final.
03:08 Despite the incredible success of this competition,
03:10 the organizers have decided to limit the number of participants.
03:14 >> The name Extreme is famous now, thanks to magazines and videos.
03:20 The competition has become well known very quickly.
03:23 Many runners call us and the waiting list is long.
03:27 For the moment, we have to limit the entry to the very best.
03:30 And you can see that the level is rising.
03:33 For example, in just one year, Gilles Oireau has improved tremendously,
03:37 turning professional and riding almost every day in winter.
03:41 The level of the finalists is breathtaking.
03:43 I think that the level is going to rise each year.
03:47 >> [FOREIGN]
03:50 [MUSIC]
04:01 [MUSIC]
04:11 >> The Americans are always hard to beat, and Jason Shultz is no exception.
04:23 Unhappy about his sixth place last year,
04:25 the American says he's going to take his revenge this year.
04:28 For the moment, it's mission accomplished,
04:30 because this surfer from Utah is second to the qualifiers.
04:33 [MUSIC]
04:43 [MUSIC]
04:53 >> Serge Cognia, here in action,
05:03 is the reigning French combined champion, freestyle and alpine.
05:07 Crazy about sailing and surfing on water,
05:10 the Frenchman is taking part in his first extreme in Verpierre.
05:14 A touchdown and a masterstroke in one.
05:16 As Serge Cognia books his ticket for the final, thanks to sixth qualifying place.
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05:56 [FOREIGN]
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06:12 >> The only Italian signed up for the event, Giancarlo Costa,
06:15 doesn't make it through the qualifiers.
06:17 While most of his opponents start off on the shoulder to the right of the summit,
06:21 he decided to dive directly down from the start.
06:24 A courageous option, but certainly way above his capabilities.
06:28 [MUSIC]
06:55 >> Giancarlo Costa's rather chaotic ride will be punished by low marks from the judges.
07:00 [FOREIGN]
07:02 >> There are five criteria that we take into consideration for the run.
07:05 The main criterion is the line.
07:07 The second criterion is the control of this line.
07:10 The third is the general impression of the run.
07:13 Then there's the aggressiveness and
07:15 the technique that the competitors use for the descent.
07:18 It's pretty clear that if a competitor simply slides down for most part and
07:22 doesn't make many turns, he or she won't get very good marks.
07:25 [FOREIGN]
07:28 [MUSIC]
07:36 >> Only five girls make it through the pre-qualifying.
07:38 Three from the States, a Swede, and the French woman Tina Maranval,
07:42 who created a minor sensation by qualifying third.
07:45 Not without having worried Laurie Gibb and Julie Zell, the two favorites.
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08:00 [MUSIC]
08:10 >> The American Laurie Gibb, just like Tina Maranval, makes the most of her
08:24 experience, which means she can permit herself the luxury of choosing a very
08:28 difficult corridor for a first run.
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09:16 With her flowing style and thanks to a flawless line,
09:19 Laurie Gibb wins this very high level qualification.
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09:25 >> You know, I think that there's still, the shots like on the mountain,
09:29 there's still a lot left.
09:31 And I'm a little disappointed with myself.
09:34 I didn't take the line I originally picked out because there was tracks in there.
09:39 So I figured I needed to get some fresh turns.
09:42 It's really mattered, just some powder runs, getting down alive.
09:46 >> And you speak a little word in French?
09:49 >> Un peu de peu.
09:50 I'm trying.
09:51 >> One more time?
09:52 >> Un peu de peu.
09:54 [LAUGH]
09:55 >> Three, two, one, go.
09:56 [CHEERING]
09:59 >> Julie Zell, the firm favorite for this second edition of the extreme,
10:02 is going backside on the south ridge of the Vecchie Rasse.
10:05 A mistake on the right.
10:07 >> Uh-oh.
10:08 >> But Julie Zell comes out of it well.
10:10 That's also where experience counts.
10:13 Winning here last year, Julie's without doubt the girl with the longest list of top honors.
10:18 Including three consecutive wins in 1994, '95, and '96
10:22 in the Queen of the Hill competition that takes place in Valdez in Alaska.
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10:35 Julie Zell, in front of a large attentive crowd, attacks the second half of the wall.
10:40 [MUSIC]
10:47 She comes second in this qualifier, just behind Laurie Gibb.
10:50 The final looks like being very, very tight.
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11:08 [MUSIC]
11:35 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
11:39 >> Julie, what do you think about this shoot?
11:42 >> It's pretty nice. It's pretty full on.
11:46 Snow wasn't quite as soft as I thought it might be.
11:49 But it was still, it was really good.
11:52 >> Key word of the extreme, safety.
11:56 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
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12:12 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
12:35 >> Particular care has been taken in the preparation of the mountain,
12:38 where some of the slopes are at more than 55 degrees from the horizontal.
12:41 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
12:43 >> From the snow point of view, the mountain has been prepared since the first snow.
12:46 That means this year, since the month of November.
12:49 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
12:50 >> Since then, we've kept a war on the observation and controlled the evolution of the snow covey
12:54 because you can't climb a mountain after each snowfall.
12:57 Without that, there's nothing left at all.
12:59 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
13:01 >> There's been a very, very favorable evolution, which means that, a week before the race,
13:05 the snow was relatively solid with a light dusting of powder snow on the surface.
13:09 That you can see there stirred up by the surfer.
13:12 That little snow that's rolling.
13:14 I think these are optimal conditions.
13:17 >> [MUSIC]
13:19 >> All competitors have to carry a bag.
13:21 Gilles Voirreau explains what's inside.
13:24 >> [SPEAKING FRENCH]
13:26 >> In the have a sack, there's a space which we can use to dig out a person buried under the snow.
13:31 There's a probe to help us find a buried person more precisely.
13:37 And we have the orthodox, the med-med, which receives a certain frequency
13:42 so as to be able to locate a person in the snow.
13:45 >> Guides, doctors, helicopters, everybody is ready.
13:48 But safety is also the responsibility of each competitor.
13:51 >> Have the strength to say no when you don't feel like it.
13:55 That's the most important thing.
13:57 To know how to say no when you don't feel like it.
14:00 >> I'm afraid!
14:02 >> Well, see, it's my first time here.
14:04 It's true that the mountains, Steve, are improvised.
14:08 I've seen two or three rocks.
14:10 I'm going to try and pass in the middle.
14:12 >> One, two, three, go!
14:15 >> Antoine Lutaghi isn't just anyone.
14:17 Because last year, he won the Extreme in New Zealand and finished second at Valdez in Alaska.
14:23 Unfortunately, here he'll finish ninth in the qualifying round.
14:26 So he'll be eliminated.
14:28 >> [MUSIC]
14:33 >> Steve Klassen, last year's winner, undisputed number one of the discipline for the past three seasons.
14:40 The one they've nicknamed the "Angel of the Mountains" has by far the best results in freeriding,
14:45 two world championships, and twice king of the hill in Alaska.
14:49 He just had his 32nd birthday, and he's been surfing since the age of eight.
14:54 Logically enough, Steve Klassen leads the qualifiers.
14:58 >> [MUSIC]
15:19 >> I guess I had a good run. Seemed pretty good.
15:22 I did a couple of little sketches, and I think I could go back out there and maybe do even a little bit more.
15:28 The line felt good, though. It felt really good.
15:30 Snow was good, consistent.
15:32 I only got lost once.
15:34 >> Your choice was original and hard.
15:36 >> I don't know. It seemed pretty good to me.
15:39 It was just where it looked like the best snow was, and so I just kind of went for it, you know?
15:44 It felt good.
15:46 >> [MUSIC]
15:57 >> Gilles Foirel is the only European who's been able to compete on equal terms with the Americans.
16:02 A virtual unknown before the first edition of the Swiss Xtreme,
16:05 Gilles is trying to confirm his second place last year, a result obtained to general surprise.
16:11 The Swiss is well aware that this year his opponents will be waiting for him.
16:15 A jump for Gilles' speciality.
16:17 >> [MUSIC]
16:23 >> And a promising third place while qualifying.
16:25 >> [MUSIC]
16:45 >> [FOREIGN]
16:55 >> Everybody was waiting for me to repeat what I did last year.
16:59 Nonetheless, it's difficult to manage.
17:02 >> Five, four, three, two, one, go.
17:05 >> [MUSIC]
17:15 >> Gerald Ruby is quite at home because Jaeger is a guy in the nearby Chamonix.
17:20 But his first love is a snowboard.
17:23 Third last year in W8, the Frenchman qualifies without problem for this year's final with a sixth place.
17:28 >> [MUSIC]
17:38 >> [FOREIGN]
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18:04 >> [MUSIC]
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18:44 >> [MUSIC]
18:54 >> [MUSIC]
18:57 >> Now for the final, bringing together the best riders from the qualifiers.
19:01 Two girls and six guys.
19:03 The planet snowboard is boiling and 5,000 people have invaded the Col de Gencienne above Verbier.
19:09 A huge success for the extreme.
19:11 >> [MUSIC]
19:16 >> I'm amazed.
19:17 I'm simply amazed.
19:18 I wasn't happy with my first run, so.
19:22 But obviously the judges must have been pleased with it and I just want to have a consistent second place.
19:27 >> Come on, Laurie.
19:28 >> All right.
19:30 >> Laurie Gibbs keeps her promise and becomes the number one woman in this extreme 97.
19:35 >> [MUSIC]
19:45 >> [MUSIC]
19:55 >> [MUSIC]
20:05 >> [MUSIC]
20:15 >> [MUSIC]
20:23 >> Well, hey, we're one and two.
20:25 >> [LAUGH]
20:27 >> That was shitty.
20:29 >> Dude, my run didn't start until about a third of the way down.
20:33 >> [MUSIC]
20:41 >> Go.
20:42 [FOREIGN]
20:49 >> And then, blue light, Jerome Ruby is a professional mountain guide based in Chamonix, finishes this final in four clips.
20:55 >> [FOREIGN]
20:57 >> Woo!
20:58 [MUSIC]
21:06 >> [FOREIGN]
21:08 >> That's it.
21:09 >> Go, go, go.
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21:18 >> [FOREIGN]
21:28 >> Three guys dominate, two Americans, Steve Klassen and Jason Schultz, and the Swiss, Gilles Voirel.
21:38 >> [MUSIC]
21:48 >> Wonderful, I had a fun run, felt really strong and just came together.
21:54 >> [MUSIC]
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23:54 >> [MUSIC]
24:01 >> Gilles Voirel at 22 is by far the youngest competitor.
24:04 The Swiss surprises everybody by sharing second place with Jason Schultz and by winning the prize for the most beautiful trajectory.
24:10 Here you can see the six basic lanes.
24:14 Gilles Voirel takes us through his choices.
24:17 >> [FOREIGN]
24:30 >> And then there's the big ridge of rocks in the middle, which was pretty hard today.
24:35 >> [FOREIGN]
24:45 >> [FOREIGN]
24:55 >> [FOREIGN]
25:05 >> [FOREIGN]
25:15 >> [MUSIC]
25:25 >> This is the winner, Steve Clanson from the USA.
25:29 >> [MUSIC]
25:39 >> [MUSIC]
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25:59 >> [MUSIC]
26:09 >> [MUSIC]
26:19 >> [MUSIC]
26:29 >> [MUSIC]
26:39 >> [MUSIC]
26:45 >> Yeah, I felt much more relaxed on that run compared to the last one.
26:49 It made a big difference when I got halfway down because my legs weren't tired.
26:53 I went the whole upper section very relaxed and very calm.
26:59 And then I went off the big jump and that was kind of crazy.
27:05 But the landing was so good that it was okay.
27:09 >> This is my recital.
27:10 I think it's very vital.
27:11 >> Four unforgettable days.
27:13 By the way, if you got itchy feet from watching this, don't try to imitate these artists because they're from another planet.
27:20 >> The best experience in the mountains.
27:23 Planet Snowball.
27:25 >> [MUSIC]
27:54 >> [MUSIC]
28:04 >> [MUSIC]
28:14 >> [MUSIC]
28:24 >> [MUSIC]
28:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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