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The Freeride World Juniors by Dakine started with a real whoompf!.

La Flegere in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc  was the setting and Loic Burry from France exploded  out of the start gate with a clear intention of making an early statement about what it'll take to win at this level.  It's rare to see freeriding  so clean, so fast and so technically sound.  If Burry can consistently re-produce that level of riding then a future in the higher echelons of the sport looks assured.

Burry was quickly followed by Swiss rider Forrest Schorderet who had clearly and sensibly taken his time in selecting his line.  He executed perfectly  showing control and poise in the steep and technical top section leading him seamlessly into a 5 metre cliff drop which he stomped without missing a beat. He then rode the heavier than anticipated snow in the lower section with speed and a level of control that was clearly going to please the judges.

In extremely capricious weather conditions, Juniors riders flowed down the mountain having clearly taken on board the expert tuition given the previous day by  Freeride legend and Scott Pro Rider Seb Michaud. 

In the first competition of the season  the level of riding really was nothing short of exceptional.  No-one demonstrated this better than English born but Swiss based Luke Smith. At just 14 years of age, Smith's control was impeccable in the steep face and his second jump a thing of true beauty  - set perfectly, clean in the air over an intimidating 5 meter  vertical drop and a "right to the boots" landing that any pro rider would have been proud of.

There was the occasional thrill and spill to keep the healthy looking crowd on their toes but unfortunately as the fog set in the contest had to be stopped.

Contest organiser, Cyril Neri explained:  "We knew from the outset that our biggest enemy today was always going to be the weather. We had to wait longer than expected to start the contest due to the fog then with a few falls and some lost skis,  we ran further behind.  This means that the points scored from today will not count in the Juniors rankings as Freeride World Tour rules stipulate that two-thirds of the riders have to complete their run.  We fell just short of that mark. "

Markus Otto from Dakine:  "It was an amazing contest with riders showing a level that far exceeded our expectations.  Obviously the weather worked against us but the weekend has been an enormous success and we really hope all the Juniors go back with great memories and will be back for the next events in Fieberbrunn and Verbier."