ATSX Rider's Cup, Avoriaz

Since its inception in 2001 the Red Bull Crashed Ice downhill ice skating events have grown a reputation for being one of the most exciting races for spectators. And as the reputation has grown, so the event has grown from a single event into a series of world championship races.

This year Avoriaz hosted the fourth round of the ATSX (all terrain skate cross) world championships.

The qualifying event on Friday got off to a slow start before petering out. After some tentative testing of the course it was deemed too dangerous to continue, due to the snowfall.

On Saturday the organisers were determined that the finals would go ahead as planned. Work had been ongoing to ensure that the course would be safe for competitors, or at least as safe as a downhill ice track with jumps in it could possibly be.

Cameron Naasz of America was looking to strengthen his claim to the title, having won the last two races he had competed in (Quebec and Munich, missing the race in Austria). Two local riders - 22 year old Tristan Dugerdil from Morzine - Avoriaz and 24 year old Pacome Shmitt from Les Gets were also looking for a home win.

For the finals, the course (which ran from near Aquariaz down to the bottom of the nursery slope in Avoriaz) was packed with spectators who had come to enjoy the racing and maybe see a few crashes along the way.

The racers all have their own style, ranging from full face motocross helmets to ice hockey helmets, lycra, motocross shorts, hockey jerseys and motocross jerseys. They come down the course four at a time, fighting for position and the racing line coming in to the corners. This produced a very physical contest throughout the evenings events.

Conditions were far from perfect as heavy snow continued to fall on the course throughout the evening. However, the course was scraped and kept in good condition.

In the women's event it was a Canadian 1-2-3, with Jaqueline Legere taking the win, Tamara Kajah in second place and Elaine Topolnisky in third. Former member of the French National Ice Hockey Team Sandrine Rangeon finished in fifth.

In the men's finals Dean Moriarty of Canada took the win, leaving Cameron Naasz to settle for second. Local rider Tristan Dugerdil came in third.

Following these results, Cameron Naasz is still way out ahead in the overall standings on 2200 points, with Dean Moriarty behind him on 1540 points. Tristan Dugerdill sits in fifth,behind Canada's Scott Croxall, on 1160 points.

Despite some problems with the Prodains express leading to a long wait to get home for Morzine residents, it was a great event and it's to be hoped that Avoriaz will host more events such as this in the future. It offered a rare opportunity to witness up close an event that most people only see in video clips. Following the Transition Festival, and with Snowboxx coming to Avoriaz in March, it shows that the resort is actively pushing to offer something different for visitors to resort.