New Zealand’s Sam Smoothy stole the show

Janina Kuzma finishes in fourth place

Engadin, Switzerland (11 February 2010) – New Zealand’s Sam Smoothy stole the show yesterday at the Freeride Engadinsnow, a Freeride World Qualifier, earning valuable points in his quest to gain entry to the Freeride World Tour.

Photo: Podium at Engadinsnow 2010 Credit: swiss-image.ch/Photo by Andy Mettler

Smoothy showed the crowd a top class ride completing a technically difficult run with the most fluidity and flow. France’s Mathieu Imbert placed second at just 0.2 points off of Smoothy’s score. Third place went to Thibaud Duchosal, also from France.

This is the second year in a row to see a kiwi atop the men’s podium, Wanaka’s Fraser McDougall won the event last year but was unable to compete this year due to a recent injury.

After a tumble at the bottom of the course, Janina Kuzma, New Zealand’s top female big mountain skier and winner of last year’s event, just missed the podium with a fourth place finish.

The competition took place on the legendary Piz Corvatsch, a north face which athletes accessed by abseiling from the top of a cable car pylon. The face is respected by even the most seasoned riders.