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The Judge's Perspective: Behold the Bec de Rosses

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The Judge's Perspective: Behold the Bec de Rosses

[ March 19, 2010 - 12:28pm ]
13
by Tom Winter
Bec De Rosses, Verbier
Enlarge Photo
Photo by: Tom Winter
The Lockerroom
Dek: 
The final stop on the Freeride World Tour takes place Saturday on Verbier, Switzerland's ominous Bec de Rosses. Judge Tom Winter tells us what the venue looks like in person and how the athletes are feeling before tomorrow's event.

It’s spring here in Verbier, Switzerland. The sun pounding down out of a topaz sky. After three events on the Freeride World Tour, this is what we know: Anyone can take control of the overall championship here, it is just that tight at the top of the standings. I have been discussing this and other permutations with the judges. Nicholas Hale-Woods has just announced that the final stop of the Freeride World Tour will go off as scheduled, tomorrow. As I talk with the rest of the judges, my eyes keep drifting from their faces, to the massive wall of snow, rock and ice that rises above us: the Bec des Rosses.

The Bec doesn’t seem that steep in the photos. One almost—foolishly and with a bit of hubris—imagines themselves skiing it. But here, confronted by it, face to face with the beast itself, pride is shattered. The Bec is not a place for games.

This latter fact is underscored by Julien Lopez when I catch up with him after leaving the rest of the judges. Lopez is a talented athlete, he’s in the mix for the overall title this year, and he’s scared. “Man,” he says to me. “That’s steep.” I don’t argue with him. It is steep, the face of the Bec. Steep and scary.

Tomorrow, we will watch. We will see the culmination of the year. We will see hopes dashed and dreams realized. And throughout it all, the Bec will remain impassive, a wall of rock and ice and snow that shows no emotion.

Comments (13) Write a comment

How nice to read about

Submitted by LDW on October 18, 2010 - 2:21pm.

How nice to read about Switzerland even after the event is over. Great to see a sample of such a great site. 

Freeride World Tour, I hope i

Submitted by tyler2236 on October 18, 2010 - 8:05am.

Freeride World Tour, I hope i get to see that one day.

This looks like a really

Submitted by makay191 on September 17, 2010 - 8:11pm.

This looks like a really beautiful place. Hopefully I can visit there one day. This is my dream to go there and have some fun finally. I work all the time.

Thanks Makay Richards

What a great view point. The

Submitted by joyce170 on September 17, 2010 - 3:17pm.

What a great view point. The judges really have it made when it comes to these things. Hopefully I can really take some time and visit some of these places.

Thanks Joyce Cartana

I would love to be a judge at

Submitted by rileyss4 on September 16, 2010 - 10:03pm.

I would love to be a judge at one of these events. I love skiing and I cant wait to go again. This is really a special sport that everyone should try. I am really a huge fan.

Thanks Riley Cassign

This is really great. I love

Submitted by olivia29a on September 16, 2010 - 4:31pm.

This is really great. I love skiing. Hopefully one day I can become a good skier. I always seem to hurt myself for some reason.

Thanks Olivia Morena

This is really a fantastic

Submitted by lexisexy33 on September 16, 2010 - 2:57pm.

This is really a fantastic post. I love the picture it is so pretty there. I hope I can get a chance to go there. I love the snow. This is really something special that I really do love.

Thanks Alexia Sampson

This is really a great

Submitted by morgy143 on September 15, 2010 - 4:09pm.

This is really a great article. I really love sking and it is my passion. I would love to be able to compete on this level. These are the most talented people in the world.

Thanks Morgan Gerrard

This is a really different

Submitted by lauren197 on September 15, 2010 - 1:56pm.

This is a really different perspective. I love sking and I am also a nautical decor expert. This is something I love and take pride in. This would be a great place to ski and a once in a lifetime trip.

This is really amazing and

Submitted by arianny26a on September 14, 2010 - 3:57pm.

This is really amazing and such a beautiful place. Maybe one day I can visit this great sking area. This is my dream to visit one day. I really appreciate you sharing this with us.

Thanks Arianna Vasquez

This would be my dream to get

Submitted by beccal440 on September 13, 2010 - 10:48pm.

This would be my dream to get to ski in this area. This would be amazing! I dont think I would be good enough to make it though. This was really amazing to see this.

Thanks Rebecca Stansfield

What a beautiful picture! I

Submitted by Sierra259 on September 12, 2010 - 9:40pm.

What a beautiful picture! I would love to visit here, if not to ski but just to see the beautiful landscape. 

Thanks Sierra Lynn

What a great post. This was a

Submitted by sarab89a on September 12, 2010 - 6:19pm.

What a great post. This was a beautiful picture! I find this really interesting and fun to read. I would love to ski there it is wonderful. I really appreciate everything.

Thanks Sara Powell

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