CONCEPT

Halfway between Freeride and Freestyle, "Oxbow Back to Powder" features the emerging sport, called simply "backcountry", where different and complementary styles can meet in one single spot. This contest format allows the world's best skiers and snowboarders to confront each other on immaculate slopes. To make the event unique, the riders judge each other to designate the victor.

THE 2008 EDITION
On January 10, 2008, The Chardonnet at Tignes hosted the Oxbow « Back to Powder » event, which was blessed with 30 centimetres of powder. Organized by Laurent Favre, vice-champion of the 2006 X-Games in Half-pipe, the event featured an original concept that allies freeriders on the high slopes and freestylers on the lower slopes. The dozen hand-picked skiers and snowboarders got to shape the three park elements themselves, with snow shovels. A virgin slope was kept secret until the last moment, so as to provide pristine snow conditions. The riders judged themselves, using video to score each other fair-mindedly. Frenchman Xavier Delarue won the snowboarding event, and for the skiers, it was Swedish competitor Kaj Zackrisson.

THE 2009 EDITION
In 2009, the Oxbow Back To Powder will take place from the 1st to the 7th of February, in Arêches Beaufort, a place known by the best Backcountry riders in Europe. An entire week where the terrain will be visualized and then shaped by those who will compete on it. Laurent Favre will host his skier friends, while Christoph Weber will shoulder the weighty task of making up the list of snowboarders to be invited to the event.