Last scheduled day of competition. The sun is with us again as it has been all week and we’re just waiting for wind conditions to establish themselves. There are just seven heats to run to properly conclude this opening round of the tour at Lautaret.

1.35pm : The competition director announces the start of hostilities, the finals of men’s snowboard and ski.

Competition kicks off with the Sigve Botnen versus Remi Meum heat. The two Norwegians make the most of the 11 knots of steady wind to give us a superb display.
Remi Meum finishes fourth in the standings with Sigve Botnen going forward to meet Romain Fabretti in the next heat. Some killer kite loops see the Norwegian advance to meet superchamp Guillaume Chastagnol in the final.
The home advantage, his superb technique and incredible ease of execution see Chastagnol take first place at this first round of the 2005 Corona Extra Winter Tour.

The first ski heat brings Erkling Lefsaker together with the 2004 title holder Fabio Ingrosso. The Norwegian wasn’t able to improve his position but still took third place on the podium.
Fabio Ingrosso went into a final heat against Bjorn Kaupang. The Swiss took the initiative by taking the heat and thereby granting everyone, judges and spectators alike, the bonus of a super final to see whether it would be a Swiss or Norwegian who would take the first Tour round on skis.
The suspense was oppressively heavy, everyone holding their breath. The power of his kiteloops and the precision of his landings gave the judging jury no option but to declare their unanimous choice of winner. And what an effort by the Norwegian team.
There’s a big get together tonight for the prize-giving ceremony (and sick party) then we all wait a month for the next Tour round, in Simplon.

More new pictures in the gallery:
http://www.wintertour.fr/html/galerie/galerie.php

Final Results:
Men Snowboard:
1° : Guillaume Chastagnol / Ozone
2° : Sigve Botnen /Ozone
3° : Romain Fabretti /Air Evolution

Men Ski:
1°: Bjorn Kaupang / Naish
2°: Fabio Ingrosso / North
3°: Erling Lefsaker / Gaastra

Juniors:
1°: Sebastian Bubmann / Flysurfer.de
2°: Arne Georg Eide Dokken / Ozone
3°: Thomas Bankes / Ozone

Women:
1°: Kari Anne Tragethon / Naish
2°: Agnès Fontenay / Air Evolution
3°: Zoé Parmentier / Ozone