Day 2 - Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch

Laax Resort, Switzerland – It’s late March, the sun is shining, and over 200 of the world’s best Pro and Am skiers have ascended to Laax resort, Switzerland. Which can only mean one thing… you better break out the swiss cheese and baguette sandwiches ‘cause the Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch is in full swing.

mmmmm... these suisse cheese sandwiches from the coop gas station have been the staple diet behind 4am blog posting at the past 3 European Opens'

Back for the 4th year Orage, Swatch and Laax Resort have joined forces to host Europe’s most prestigious open format slopestyle and superpipe event. Kicking off today’s action were the men and women’s slopestyle qualifiers on a course that’s become both a controversial and unique slope run. As always, the Euro Open comes equipped with killer custom features like this year’s Volkl Electric Guitar Box and the Giro Goggle C Box, but the most notorious of all… (for some) is the one of a kind 2 hit shorty pipe that fills the second spot on the courses feature list.

The jump line as seen through the top of the half pipe

This year’s course is transition heavy and not overly accommodating for the jibbers of the world but if there’s one thing we know, those who have come “shred ready” will get the job done. From top to bottom you’ve got the Volkl Guitar Box, the double hit wonder pipe, a three pack of kickers growing from 40 – 50 – 60ft all capped off with the Giro Goggle box.

Joe Schuster playing with the guitar box

With only a handful prequalified invites passed out for the finals (based on last season’s results)… the athletes riding in the quails looking for a shot at the finals is a testament to the level of the Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch. Spotted in the village and around the hill… Simon Dumont, Jossi Wells and Colby West were in chill mode waiting for Friday and Saturday’s finals... but on the hill today looking to qualify were names like Peter Olenick, John Spriggs, John Strenio, Jacob Wester, Matt Philipi, Matt Margetts, Banks Gilberti, Bobby Brown, Oscar Harlaut, Roz G, Keri Herman, Meg Olenick and Whitney Wickes. To say the least the field was stacked.

Meg Olenick

With bright blue skies, the slope quails were challenged with steady side winds for the afternoon heats but the banana bar crew was on hand prepping for the big show and the riders were ready slay the course.

Matt Phillippi got busy qualifiing for the finals with left and right 9's in the "slope-pipe"

Some of today’s highlights were Marcus Eder, winner of the Orage Itali-AM open at Bormio Italy placing 5th in qualifier heat 3. Also coming in with a strong heat 3 showing was Orage’s own Matt Margetts taking the top spot for Friday’s final. “LJ’, John Strenio threw down in heat 1 to take the top spot followed by Laurent Demartin from Switzerland and Mike Riddle in third from Canada.

Gigi Couttet

Heat 2 was stacked with the top five being split with American, Swiss and Norwegian riders. For the ladies it was Eva-Maria Patscheider, Whitney Wickes and Lena Stoffel who took the top three spots.

Chase Crane in the pipe


When it was all said and done the slope quail was one of the best we’ve seen yet… the skies were blue bird, the riding was unmatched and the only snag we hit was old man winter who decided to kick up the wind just before heat 4… which has been postponed until tomorrow.

Patrick Hollaus cleaning up the end of heat three just before the sun went down

Stay tuned for more from day two of the Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch. Next up: heat 4 men’s slope qualifier followed by pipe qualis…

RESULTS (PDF)

Women Slopestyle Qualifier

Men Slopestyle Qualifier - Heat 1

Men Slopestyle Qualifier - Heat 2

Men Slopestyle Qualifier - Heat 3