Monthly Archives: March 2018

Adventure, Global News, Highlights, Lifestyle, Ski, Snow

Slopestyle skiing stars take on first ever big mountain adventure

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Courtesy of Red Bull Media Service Team

Øystein Bråten, Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen and Stian Hagen hiking up a mountain in Jotunheimen, Norway on March 9, 2018 –
Photographer Credit:
Vegard Breie/Red Bull Content Pool

Bråten and Sjåstad Christiansen get ready for X Games Norway on ski tour.

Norwegian freeskiers Øystein Bråten and Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen have never been big mountain skiing, despite wowing audiences worldwide with their Winter Games and X Games medals in big air and slopestyle.

They decided to break their duck ahead of X Games Norway in May by joining freeride legend Stian Hagen for a breathtaking mission to find inspiration for the season finale. Here is all you need to know:



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– The three stayed a week in the Jotunheimen mountains in a Leirvassbu cabin where Hagen taught his younger charges about snow profile testing, ski touring security and avalanche search and rescue.

Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen and Øystein Bråten taking a break at the Leirvassbu cabin during big mountain skiing in Jotunheimen, Norway on March 9, 2018 –
Photographer Credit:
Vegard Breie/Red Bull Content Pool

– Bråten won slopestyle gold in PyeongChang to cap off a great season that also included two X Games silver medals and his second AFP Slopestyle overall title.

– The 22-year-old enthused: “What’s so cool about this place is that you have access to the sickest mountains within walking distance. You can ride untouched powder wherever you see. It is an amazing feeling.”

– Twenty-two-year-old Sjåstad Christiansen, who has won X Games slopestyle gold and silver medals, added: “I’m here mostly to have fun on skis, using nature as a playground and learning from Stian. He is extremely skilled in this type of skiing.”

– Forty-three-year-old Hagen was a Freeride World Tour star, while he has also starred in several groundbreaking ski films such as Australis: An Antarctic Ski Odyssey.

– He revealed: “It has been fun to see how fast they have adapted to a whole new type of skiing. They have a body control and balance that is out of this world, so it just took them 2-3 runs to really master it.”

Øystein Bråten, Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen and Stian Hagen hiking up a mountain in Jotunheimen, Norway on March 9, 2018 –
Photographer Credit:
Vegard Breie/Red Bull Content Pool

Fact files

Øystein Bråten
Born July 21st 1995, Ringerike, Norway
Medal record:
Olympic gold medal Slopestyle, PyeongChang 2018
X Games silver Slopestyle, Aspen 2018
X Games silver Big Air, Aspen 2018
X Games gold Slopestyle, Hafjell 2017
X Games gold Slopestyle, Aspen 2017
X Games bronze Slopestyle, Aspen 2016
Overall winner AFP Slopestyle 16/17 and 17/18

Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen
Born April 7th 1995, Ringerike, Norway
Medal record:
X Games gold Big Air, Oslo 2016
X Games silver Slopestyle, Aspen 2016
X Games gold Slopestyle, Aspen 2013
X Games silver Slopestyle, Tignes 2013

Stian Hagen
Born April 22nd 1974, Norway
Professional freerider based in Chamonix, France
Former Freeride World Tour competitor and ski film star

https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/embed/video/5abffb9666703608a66996df?_=1522531230008

 

 

 

Adventure, Events, Global News, Surf, Water

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Called ON

Courtesy of WSL – World Surf League

– Women’s Round 3 Called ON for 7 AM Start
– Men’s Round 3 and Women’s Round 4 on Standby
– Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

 

 

Event wildcard Kobie Enright (AUS) will face three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) and local favorite Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 3. Caption: © WSL / Cestari

 
Location:      Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
Event window:   March 28 – April 8, 2018
Today’s call:   W Round 3 called ON; M Round 3 & W Round 4 on standby
Conditions:   3 – 4 foot (1 – 1.3 metre)
BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Sunday, April 1, 2018) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Stop No. 2 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), has been called ON for another epic day of action. Huge crowds are expected to fill in for Easter Sunday with women’s Round 3 to run in three-to-four foot (1-1.3 metre) waves at Bells Beach. Men’s Round 3 and women’s Round 4 will be on standby for a possible start today.

“We are on for today, starting at 7:00 a.m. local time,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Deputy Commissioner. “We are seeing clean, solid conditions out at Bells and will run women’s Round 3. We will potentially run men’s Round 3 and women’s Round 4 today. We will closely watch the conditions during women’s Round 3 and make the decision at the end of the round.”

Heat 1 of women’s Round 3 will see two-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner and three-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW), match-up with Victorian Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and event wildcard Kobie Enright (AUS).

Six-time WSL Champion and three-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event winner, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), will come up against an in-form Coco Ho (HAW) and Johanne Defay (FRA) in Heat 4 of Round 3.

The all-American heat will witness standouts Lakey Peterson, Sage Erickson, and 2018 CT Rookie Caroline Marks in Heat 3 of Round 3 for an opportunity to advance to the Quarterfinals.


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Surfline, WSL forecast partner, is calling for:

Solid SW swell tops out Saturday with overhead to well overhead sets, then easing over Easter Sunday. Favorable offshore wind conditions for the mornings, then turning onshore in the afternoons. More sizable swells stacking up for next week to keep surf elevated, with the next one due Mon/Tues, then another by Thursday the 5th. Possible pulse on the 8th as well. For the most part, conditions next week are looking pretty good (although not so favorable on Monday).

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Round 3 Matchups:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Kobe Enright (AUS)
Heat 2: Tyler Wright (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA), Sage Erickson (USA), Caroline Marks (USA)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Coco Ho (HAW)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 3 Matchups:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 6: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Frederico Morais (PRT)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com.

ALL RIGHTS NOT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE RESERVED BY WORLD SURF LEAGUE.
About WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world’s best surfing on the world’s best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The League, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe.The WSL has been championing the world’s best surfing since 1976, annually running in excess of 180 global events across the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed world champions in Men’s, Women’s across all divisions within the tour.

Showcasing the world’s best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the free WSL app, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Tyler Wright, John John Florence, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Taylor Jensen, Honolua Blomfield, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most unpredictable and dynamic field of play of any sport in the world.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com

 

 

 

Global News, Highlights, Moto, Motorsports, road racing

Haslam heads the pack at Donington Park ahead of Sunday’s opening race

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Courtesy of Bennetts British Superbike Championship Media Service

Home hero Leon Haslam topped the times in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship free practice session at Donington Park this afternoon as the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider set the pace in improving conditions ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled opening race of the season.

Haslam’s pace-setting performance came after a revised schedule was issued for the remainder of the weekend due to the forecasted weather conditions, meaning the Bennetts BSB riders are now getting set for free practice three, Datatag Qualifying and race one at the Leicestershire circuit tomorrow (Sunday).

Haslam topped the opening day, but in the second free practice session Christian Iddon had been leading for much of the early stages for Tyco BMW.  Jake Dixon also had a spell at the top before the closing five minutes as Haslam pushed into the 1m:39s lap barrier, to be just 0.138s ahead of Iddon who also improved on his final run.

James Ellison also posted a time to head the session in the final 20 minutes, with the local Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team holding third place at the chequered flag with Dixon dropping to fourth in the final moments.

Bradley Ray was the leading Buildbase Suzuki in fifth place ahead of Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and OMG Racing Suzuki’s Gino Rea who had also been running inside the top five earlier in the session ahead of his Bennetts BSB race debut tomorrow.

Jakub Smrz was eighth fastest for PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW ahead of Richard Cooper who had a crash in the afternoon session and Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten.

Defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne had left it until the second half of the session to head out on circuit, posting the 13th fastest time whilst Josh Brookes and Danny Buchan had a crash together, when the McAMS Yamaha rider fell, taking the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki contender with him, both riders were ok but had a premature end to their day.

Glenn Irwin meanwhile had returned to the circuit from Queens Hospital after his crash in this morning second free practice session and has passed a medical to ride in tomorrow’s opening race.



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Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Free Practice 1:

1.    Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:50.317s
2.    Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +1.437s
3.    Kyle Ryde (CF Motorsport Yamaha Motorsport Yamaha) +1.857s
4.    Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +2.674s
5.    Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +2.888s
6.    Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +3.317s
7.    Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki) +4.312s
8.    Jakub Smrz (PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW) +4.912s
9.    Danny Buchan (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +5.225s
10.    Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +5.550s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Free Practice two:

1.    Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 1m:39.690s
2.    Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 0.138s
3.    James Ellison (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.185s
4.    Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +0.373s
5.    Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) 1.054s
6.    Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +1.285s
7.    Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki) +1.774s

The opening round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship take place this Easter weekend at Donington Park. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Leon Haslam
(JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
Fastest rider of the day

“The first day here at Donington Park has been a cold one and although the track was dry this afternoon, we stayed on wet tyres because the track temperature was so cold. It ended well and we have good information tomorrow.

“The schedule change means we now have a race tomorrow and so I am looking forward to getting the racing underway now and I am looking forward to putting on a good show to try and get the season started as we did last year – with wins.”

 

 

 

Adventure, Global News, Highlights, Moto, Motorsports, Offroad, Video

VIDEO: Solid start of the season for the Monster Energy Honda Team

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Courtesy of Monster Energy Honda Team

  Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018

2018 Cross-Country Rallies   Round W1

Monster Energy Honda Team got the rally season underway with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The first round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship saw, for the first time, the participation of all five team riders getting their first post-Dakar taste of desert racing.

Kevin Benavides’ third place overall and the victory in the Junior category of José Ignacio Cornejo can be considered a fair overall outcome for Monster Energy Honda Team. The squad, back in action for the first time since the Dakar, progressively eased their way into the race. The hazardous characteristics of the first round of the world championship meant that no precaution was too much. The high speed open desert course, full of barely visible dunes and cut dunes made for a highly treacherous and complicated ride. Another point on the positive side of the balance sheet was that none of the five Honda CRF450 RALLYs produced even the slightest setback despite the demanding conditions. There was no shortage of extreme temperatures hovering around 48 degrees, plus huge amounts of sand and dust-filled tracks to deal with.

Argentine rider Kevin Benavides set a swift pace throughout the week and was rewarded with a podium place. Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves returned to competition after the injuries that ruled him out of the most recent Dakar 2018, just days before it was due to start. Paulo grew in strength by the day and, despite a fall, managed to post a respectable fifth place overall.

Also getting back into racing after the two-month hiatus were American Ricky Brabec, sixth overall, and the team’s latest signing Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo, who in addition to finishing eighth, managed to clinch the Junior title. Michael Metge, unable to find the correct suspension settings early on in the rally, had to eventually settle for ninth.


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The team is not scheduled to take part in the Qatar Rally, the next round of the World Rally Championship, but will be back to race the Merzouga Rally, in Morocco, from April 16 – 20. The technical scrutineering will take place on the 15th. Joan Barreda is expected to rejoin the team after recovering from the wrist operation that he underwent in February.

Watch the video here Below

 
 

Raul Castells

Monster Energy Honda Team Manager

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge was the first race of the season of the Monster Energy Honda Team, where all the five riders participated, in which we aimed for higher brand and team visibility, while hoping to maximize our efforts in the world championship as much as possible. The Abu Dhabi meeting is always complicated by the intrinsic characteristics of the race itself: the waypoints are on an open arrow, so there is not much navigation. This means that every time it goes very fast practically in a straight line, without looking at the navigation display so much, which implies a greater degree of difficulty to in high-speed areas with very dangerous cut dunes. The riders took many precautions until they finished “reading” the terrain. It was a bit difficult for the riders to adapt at first. They went cautiously over the first two stages, increasing their speed as they adapted to the environment. The Honda CRF450 RALLY have worked very well in this demanding desert, with temperatures above 48 degrees.
Kevin Benavides had a good race and his third podium is one we are satisfied with. It was the first time that Paulo had got on the bike after his injury and everything was a big unknown. He rode better by the day, picking up the pace as he went to finish the final days amongst the front runners. We expect that he’ll be back in the leading group by the next race.
Ricky Brabec was somewhat hampered by the high speeds of the first few days and he found it hard to adapt to the demanding environment. His result is good when you consider that he finished without any issues and without taking risks.
Michael Metge couldn’t find the right suspension settings for the bike to attack this type of terrain and so he suffered a bit over the first two days. That made it more complicated to try and pull back, so he concentrated on navigation and developing his skill than merely looking for a result.
Finally, Nacho Cornejo, who was back aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY after the Dakar, had a good race and improved over the course of the rally. He’s really beginning to find the pace of the frontrunners which is very satisfying.
On this occasion, as I said, the team has brought five riders unlike other editions, where we participated with two or three pilots. The result has been positive for the acclimatization of the team and the pilots. The team has worked hard and the mechanics have done a great job during these days in which we have also been able to enjoy the immensity of this desert, beautiful but at the same time dangerous. The next appointment with the World Championship will be at the Atacama Rally, in August, although before we will be in Morocco where the Monster Energy Honda Team will be with all its riders. It will be an interesting race to which we will try to get the most out of it.