Back to the 90s! Experience once again the thrilling Grand Finale of the Xtreme Verbier 1997. Dive into the standout moments of this legendary competition on the iconic Bec des Rosses.
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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]
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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.
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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.
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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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08:10 >> 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.
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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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11:35 >> [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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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]
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25:05 >> [FOREIGN]
25:15 >> [MUSIC]
25:25 >> This is the winner, Steve Clanson from the USA.
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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]
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28:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]