Anna Smoothy Wins Freeride World Qualifier in Slovakia

Jasna, Slovakia (27 February 2016) – Skier Anna Smoothy (Wanaka) has won the Jasna, Slovakia stop of the Freeride World Qualifier Tour.

Snow conditions were testing with a challenging mix of ice and powder.  However, Smoothy took it all in her stride, looking as comfortable as though she were on her home mountain of Treble Cone in NZ and putting together a fluid and well controlled run.

“It was super tricky snow conditions so I just tried to maintain some fluidity and get some air time, it worked out pretty well!” explained Smoothy after the event.

New Zealand was well represented at the Jasna event, snowboarder Maria Kuzma also making the podium in second place.

“It was pretty icy and we had to be cautious down the face but all in all it was a good event,” commented Kuzma.

Kiwi Roland Morley-Brown gave the judging panel and onlookers a fright when he dropped into his run in the men’s snowboard category, taking a slab of snow and ice down with him when he entered his steep section. Thankfully, he was able to maintain control and recovered to claim seventh place.

In the men’s ski category Wanaka athletes Sam Lee and Hank Bilous finished sixth and 10^th respectively. 

About the Freeride World Qualifier Tour

The Freeride World Qualifier is a feeder to the prestigious SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR which hosts the best freeriders in the world on its 5-stop world-cup competition tour. The world qualification circuit (FWQ) is designed to develop the talent and skills of up-and-coming athletes. Riders accumulate points via 60 events held around the world (including forty in Europe). The score system is based on the star ranking of the qualifying events (1-4 stars). The competition in Jasna event is classified as a four star event.

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