Corona Extra Winter Tour Round 1 Day 1
Monday 10.01.2005
You arrive at Col du Lautaret, it's night… Difficult to be aware of what is all around you.
9.30am : Early in the morning you set up at the spot. What strikes you first is the splendour of where you are. A perfect blue sky, a sun which couldn't shine harder if it tried, mountains disappearing into the distance. Relaxed atmosphere, everyone smiling.
11.45 am : Registration closes and the best riders are already out testing the conditions.
12.30 am : There's a spectacular show setting up, the beautiful coloured kites sweeping past mountain tops.
12.44 am : The competition hasn't actually started yet when Chasta (reigning snowboard champion Guillaume Chastagnol) lets rip with a massive kiteloop.
1.30 pm : Skippers meeting : The new race director Matthias Charton and his judges Richard Gowers (UK), William Bogaards (Holland) and Francisco Costa (Portugal) have a final pre-meeting to agree judging criteria.
2.00 pm : Draw for heats :the Juniors and Women will get first use of this fantastic spot.
4.00 pm : End of the day : The spot has been well and truly inaugurated, ski and board tracks everywhere, never mind that we didn't get near the 8 knots minimum competition wind, but that's no problem for these people, they know how to get the most out of the least.
The mountains have this ability to take you far away from your everyday reality and boredom. And with inspiration like that, the Corona Extra Winter Tour is bound to serve some amazing action and moments
Corona Extra Winter Tour Round 1 Day 2
Tuesday 11.01.2005
We arrive at the spot and are greeted by clear blue sky and shiny, metallic sun. The wind finally fills in around 11.00am.
The opening heats in each discipline follow and right from the start, Guillaume Chastagnol starts to assert himself in action as well as his presence : he's on his home spot and ain't giving it up easy. In the second round of board heats, Chasta is out riding his heats alone just to be sure of having as much snow time as the others. He's great to watch, a no-limits snowkiter, but nothing's decided yet. Romain Fabretti's here to challenge and the Norwegians are out in force and they're ready to load up with pure tricks.
On the ski side, Fabio Ingrosso is the man playing at home. Everyone agrees he's looking good, specially when at the very start of competition he hits a monster jump. He's from Geneva but winters in Lautaret, and he wants to defend his patch. But here again, nothing's certain, with the likes of Johann Civel, Kaupang and Lefsaker (those Norwegians again !) less than overwhelmed and launching some impressive kiteloops of their own.
With a variable 8 - 13 knot wind, the girls get out on the snow. There are four of them competing and they've clearly also all decided to make an impression. And same goes for the juniors, three in this round, full of competitive energy and brimming fun from their heats.
The competition judges are obviously well impressed by the snowshow, despite their previous experience judging killer kite shows on the water.
After a great day like today everyone's keyed up wondering if the conditions can hold for tomorrow, which should - conditions depending - kick off with the girls final or men's semi-finals. One thing's for sure, the Corona Extra Winter Tour is well and truly under way and everyone's up for it. 