20 Seconds of Joy

Just came back from a great event in Verbier called the Verbier Extreme, which is the highest respected freeride competition being organized.

I have alot of friends attending the competition, but most importantly, I wanted to be there to support my friend Geraldine Fasnacht. She got injured last winter and could not attend, but this year she was back strong. This event is pretty special as the face they are riding is gnarly steep and you dont want to fall pretty much anywhere… if you do fall, you will have to wish for a guardian angel!

I woke up early sunday morning in chamonix and drove over the pass to Switzerland with my boyfriend Hernan. We arrived, stressed as always due to lack of time, to beautiful sunny weather and an amazing crowd that had showed up. I met Aurelien Ducroz brother who had made his way from Slovenia where he had made huge fan-banners for Aurelien. Thats the kind of brother you want! It turned out that the banners came in good use later as Aurelien took off with the first place in the mens, alpine class! Aurelien and I have been on the Dynastar team and traveled the world together in search for powder for years. He really deserved this victory, congrats Aure!!

Geraldine had been a little unsure of wether she should join this comp this year or not, but after testing out her shape and skills at the World Tour in Tignes (where she won), she decided to go for it. It was definitely the right decision as she ripped on the mountain! I´m so proud of you Ge, you deserve this victory more than anyone!! The best!

Also amazing was that my fellow Norwegian, Ane Enderud, won the womens alpine class. Ane is a super strong skier and when I watched her ride earlier this winter in Chamonix, she made me feel proud to be a female skier!! Ane´s dad and brother had come down to watch her and I have seldom seen a more proud dad! With reason!! Super stoked for you Ane!!

After the comp had finished, I took off to the airport in Geneva to go back to Austria and the Red Bull training center. In one day I actually manage to sweep through 4 countries… woke up in France, drove to Switzerland, flew to Germany and drove to Austria where I went to bed! We are getting so international, its amazing!