Winter sports enjoy wide popularity, and one of the most extreme is the freeride. Some features are characteristic of it. It is worth noticing that this concept is used also in other sports directions, for example, in cycling and rollers.
What is it freeride?
If to translate the name of this sports direction, then "free driving" will turn out. Understand descent from the mountain on not equipped routes as freeride therefore it is carried to extreme types of a grade. Technique of freeride is similar to that which is used at classical driving, but only demands more skill and sports preparation. People who are engaged in it, claim that it is not sport, but special philosophy and a way of life.
Freeride history
This direction appeared in America in the eighties of the last century, and all thanks to promoting of mountain skis and introduction of the modern industry. The free rider – the person who does not love rules therefore athletes began to glance for protections and began to ride on unprepared routes. Stimulated development of freeride and emergence of a snowboard which opened new opportunities for thrill-seekers.
Freeride and freestyle – difference
Already got acquainted with the first concept, and as for freestyle, this spectacular direction in sport which means performance during descent of different tricks. The freestyle quickly became competitive sport, and it is presented at the Olympic Games. Finding out, than the freeride differs from freestyle, it is necessary to pay attention and a difference in equipment (in this case snowboards).
- For freestyle the sound board has to be shorter and easier that is important for maneuverability, and for other sport – long and wide.
- At a snowboard for freeride the nose has to be longer than a tail, and for other direction – both the nose, and a tail have the identical form.
Freeride – types of driving
Conditionally this direction in sport can be divided into several types:
- Facilitated. It is difficult to present freeride without this direction, it allows to get new emotions. The athlete is brought to a slope on the elevator and nearby there is a base and rescuers. Many resorts have also standard routes and places for free riders.
- Bekantri. In this case the athlete has to rise on foot by the chosen slope, and after small rest, carry out descent on a slope. On the way trees, gorges and other obstacles can meet. The most popular type of such sport. The clothes for freeride have to be convenient that it did not hold down movements.
- Heli-ski. Many saw how in movies over top of the mountain the helicopter from which the skier or the snowboarder jumps off hangs, this also is this type of freeride. This direction is in many places under a ban.
- Exotic. To throw the athlete on mountain top maybe snouket – the special car for preparation of ski slopes.
Mountain skiing of freeride
To go down on the prepared slopes and on a virgin soil is two different things. Technology of driving of freeride means the fast speed of descent. Besides, on such snow it will not turn out to turn and stop rotation of the case, and it is possible to do it only by an inclination / zaklonom. Rotation attempts by shoulders can become the cause of a trauma. Consider that on a virgin soil it is difficult to make sharp maneuvers and it is important to concentrate on balance.
Skis for freeride have the features, so they have to have a wide middle part. Professionals recommend to be guided by the growth, so put vertically ski boards have to be 2-3 cm higher than the person. It is important to understand that the sports ski equipment differs in rigidity of a board. It should be taken into account that there are universal mountain shells which more pliable and on them it is possible to move on the prepared route and the steep not visited hillside.
Conducted freeride
This current arose in the eighties in America. Classical freeride – an extreme type of driving on the mountains on unprepared slopes with different nuances: dirt, stones and so on. From the athlete the skill and good physical training is required. The facilitated types of freeride are based on driving on the thrown tracks and proud paths. These styles are more widespread.
The bicycle for freeride is something average between transport for a daunkhill and mountain. It is important that it was not too heavy as will overcome hillsides difficultly. To ride on difficult routes the bicycle has to have the system of a rear suspension, the big course of shock-absorbers. The bicycle has to be two-suspended and have two-crown forks. It is important to pay special attention to brakes. Tires have to be big. Equipment for freeride surely includes means of protection.
Technique of freeride on a snowboard
To ride a board on "wild" descents, it is necessary to buy the correct equipment and to have good preparation. Technique of freeride includes the high level of skill, experience of the address with a board, ability in the direction of travel to analyze descent and to consider other factors on which the continuity of the movement and safety depends. There are three types of driving: usual descent on any slope (All mountain), driving in the remote area where there is a risk of an avalanche (Back country), and still descent with especially difficult in respect of access and passability of tops (Heli-ski).
The snowboard for freeride has to be long and wide with a form direkshnl. It is important for deduction of balance and distribution of body weight on all surface. Fastenings have to be displaced to a back part. Besides, the board has to be rigid to provide stability during descent from a slope. All surface of a snowboard has to adjoin to the earth.
Rollers freeride
Athletes who cease to derive pleasure from skating on direct paths, are interested in the extreme directions. Technology of driving freeride means fast driving, performance of jumps through different objects, rotations and numerous tricks, and still driving from ladders. Rollers have to have strong boots, good side fixing, an anti-shock insole and the strengthened slider sideways. The strong frame, strong bearings and rigid wheels with a strong nave is of great importance.
Longboard freeride
It is possible to be engaged in an extreme and riding a board, overcoming steep slopes in a sitting position and standing, carrying out turns, making jumps and different tricks. The freeride is the most widespread discipline of a longboard. Best of all for extreme driving to choose longboards at which pendants pass through an opening in a sound board, and a form at them symmetric. Optimum length – 38-42 inches. The rigidity has to be higher than average. In city conditions the youth is engaged in extreme driving on a longboard. Protection is important for freeride which includes kneecaps, elbow pieces and a helmet.
Training in freeride
It is important to understand that it is extreme sport and it is better to develop the skills under supervision of experts. In the cities where there are mountains there are special schools on training and the people who are surely going down on routes are allowed to them. The school of freeride suggests to complete a course which includes the small lecture explaining:
- Driving tactics in group and the choice of the line of descent and the place of collecting. The athlete has to be able to estimate correctly a slope and to control descent.
- Features of descent in different forms of a relief: to steep slopes, lobby, wood, deep snow and so on.
- Technology of performance of jumps, so, the athlete has to estimate opportunities for implementation of a trick and safe landing.
- Rules of avalanche safety.
Freeride competitions
There are multi-stage international competitions which are held for men and the woman in two categories: mountain skiing and snowboards, and they are called Freeride World Tour. The best athletes who can choose for themselves the line of descent participate in them, but it is forbidden to test it. Freeride competitions on skis and snowboards estimate three judges, and everyone can expose about 1 up to 10 points. In attention the complexity of a trajectory of descent, style of passing, technical skill and complexity performance of tricks undertakes. Also general impression from arrival matters.
Movies about freeride
The interesting subject could not remain unaddressed cinema, and about fans of extreme sports really several standing pictures, here some of them are shot:
- "In reason depths". In this movie it is possible to see severe beauty of the wild nature and to enjoy improbable landscapes. Founders of cinema about freeride try to understand whether there is a limit to human opportunities.
- "Conquerors of tops". History tells about two best friends: professional snowboarder and mountain skier. Guys decided to go to Alaska and to subdue one of the wildest tops. Freeride – a dream, landscapes taking the breath away, speed and adrenaline.
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