Local hero wins first Austrian World Freeride comp30-year-old Austrian takes first place at the 3-star World Freeride Qualifier in his home resort.
Fieberbrunn, located in the Kitzbu?hel Alps, is still relatively unknown as a freeride resort. But for
ATOMIC Freeski Team rider Matthias Haunholder the resort next to his hometown is not only his
home mountain, but also one of the best freeride spots on earth. And not only to him, as this year’s
Big Mountain Fieberbrunn also showed this to a wider public.
To compete on his home mountain, did not mean any big advantages for the 30-year-old Tyrolean,
who got fourth at last year's Freeride World Tour. As freeride pro he is on tour most of the times and
conditions change from year to year, so that Matthias Haunholder had to work out a new run just as
every other starter had to. Being the local hero he even stood under extra pressure. But Matthias
held out against the expectations and secured a well-deserved win with his resolute run including a
massive Cliff Drop at the northern face of the Wildseeloder. ”To win at home is of course something
very special,“ he admitted happily. The fact that he had to share his triumph with Switzerland's
Samuel Anthamatten, who received the same score, did not bother him at all. Austrian Stefan Moser
got third, right before his fellow country man Stefan Ha?usl, who claimed fourth place, and Wille
Lindberg from Sweden, landing on fifth position.
After having had little luck up to now this season, Matthias Haunholder emphasised his ambitions
with his victory at the 3-star World Freeride Qualifier and secured a start at the following World Tour
events. But not only the Tyrolean has got big potential, also the event on his home mountain aspires
to higher things. At the women’s category the Big Mountain Fieberbrunn already counted for the
World Tour ranking this year, and after the great performances on the impressive face last weekend,
an upgrade for the men’s category next year is likely to happen as well. Matthias Haunholder would
certainly enjoy a home game on the Freeride World Tour.
Read more from this season's Freeride World Tour:
French Domination at the Second Stage of the Freeride World Tour
James Stentiford takes third in Chamonix
A little Q&A with James Stentiford
Freeride World Champion Xavier De Le Rue enters intense 2010
Posted by Online Editor - Wed, 17/02/2010 - 6:03pm
30-year-old Austrian takes first place at the 3-star World Freeride Qualifier in his home resort.
Fieberbrunn, located in the Kitzbu?hel Alps, is still relatively unknown as a freeride resort. But for
ATOMIC Freeski Team rider Matthias Haunholder the resort next to his hometown is not only his
home mountain, but also one of the best freeride spots on earth. And not only to him, as this year’s
Big Mountain Fieberbrunn also showed this to a wider public.
To compete on his home mountain, did not mean any big advantages for the 30-year-old Tyrolean,
who got fourth at last year's Freeride World Tour. As freeride pro he is on tour most of the times and
conditions change from year to year, so that Matthias Haunholder had to work out a new run just as
every other starter had to. Being the local hero he even stood under extra pressure. But Matthias
held out against the expectations and secured a well-deserved win with his resolute run including a
massive Cliff Drop at the northern face of the Wildseeloder. ”To win at home is of course something
very special,“ he admitted happily. The fact that he had to share his triumph with Switzerland's
Samuel Anthamatten, who received the same score, did not bother him at all. Austrian Stefan Moser
got third, right before his fellow country man Stefan Ha?usl, who claimed fourth place, and Wille
Lindberg from Sweden, landing on fifth position.
After having had little luck up to now this season, Matthias Haunholder emphasised his ambitions
with his victory at the 3-star World Freeride Qualifier and secured a start at the following World Tour
events. But not only the Tyrolean has got big potential, also the event on his home mountain aspires
to higher things. At the women’s category the Big Mountain Fieberbrunn already counted for the
World Tour ranking this year, and after the great performances on the impressive face last weekend,
an upgrade for the men’s category next year is likely to happen as well. Matthias Haunholder would
certainly enjoy a home game on the Freeride World Tour.
Read more from this season's Freeride World Tour:
French Domination at the Second Stage of the Freeride World Tour
James Stentiford takes third in Chamonix
A little Q&A with James Stentiford
Freeride World Champion Xavier De Le Rue enters intense 2010