The Freeride World Tour rocked up to Chamonix at the end of January and in what turned out to be a great weekend for British snowboarding (with wins for Jenny Jones and Ben Kilner too), local Quiksilver and Lib Tech sponsored rider James Stentiford, orignally from Devon, rode his way to third place on the podium following his wild card entry to the competition.
The comp took place on the Pentes de l'Hotel face in the Brevent area of Cham on what turned out to be pretty sketchy conditions. Stentiford stomped his run, even beating last year's champion Xavier de la Rue - here, he tells us how...
How many freeride comps do you do annually and how do you prepare – physically and mentally?
This was only the third one I've ever done so I'm learning as I go along. It's very different from filming and shooting which I’m experienced at. Physically I don't really prepare – I always think I should take a couple of days off before the comp to let my body recover but if the snow’s good that's impossible.
I don't really do any special training for the snowboard season, just work on my general core strength and use a wobble board to keep my ankles and knees strong. Surfing, skateboarding and cycling keep me in good shape during the summer. Mentally I just try and relax before the comp and ride the way I would every day.
What brought you to Chamonix Mont Blanc and kept you here for 13 seasons?
Initially, it was friends I'd met in the British snowboarding scene back in the early 90s who were living out here for the season. I was at uni but hating it so after one too many phone calls about epic powder I dropped out and headed for the mountains – that was in ‘93. In the first few seasons I only explored a very small part of the Chamonix valley, as coming from skateboarding I was only really interested in freestyle. The more seasons I did the more possibilities I saw until I realised there’s a lifetime of challenges here.
Like anywhere you become a product of your environment and any freestyler who stays in Chamonix long enough will turn into a freerider eventually. I've travelled a lot of the world snowboarding and Chamonix is a very special and unique valley that has a magical draw for most people who spend any time here.
Did you have a feeling you were going to ride a winning run in the Nissan FWT?
After the last two events I competed in two years ago I set myself a target of coming top three, so I knew I had the ability, I just needed things to come together on the day. There are so many factors in these freeride comps – is the snow on your line good? Does someone take all the good snow off in a previous run? Is the cliff you were looking at twice as big as you thought?
What goes through your mind before and during your freeride comp runs?
I get very nervous and wonder why I'm putting myself through this at 38! I don't really have anything to prove anymore but I’m über competitive and want to win. I go through my run in my head and try to relax and say to myself whatever happens, happens. During my run there isn't really any thinking going on, just concentrating on what’s happening around me with the snow.
Any advice for aspiring freeriders?
Go out into the mountains with experienced freeriders and learn as much as you can. Most people on the tour seem to be in their 30s, which just reflects that it takes a lot of time and experience of different situations to make the right decision at the right time in the mountains.
Do you think snowboarders should learn to ski as well, in order to make the most of Chamonix's backcountry?
No, there are lines in Chamonix that favour skiing and lines that are better for snowboarding. I ski myself but would never ski in the backcountry or when touring – coming from skateboarding and surf as I do the feeling of a snowboard in powder is unbeatable to me. It's true that touring with snowshoes is harder and slower but I tour a lot with skiers and it doesn't make that much difference. Some of the craziest lines in Chamonix were done by snowboarders.
Who do you idolise in Chamonix and the wider world of winter sports?
Idolise is a funny word – I don't think I idolise anyone apart from maybe the Dalai Lama and I'm not even religious. I certainly respect and enjoy some people’s riding, such as Jeremy Jones and Xavier de la Rue, but I’m still more inspired by freestylers who freeride, like Nicolas Müller and Gigi Ruf. I’m also inspired by Tom Burt who is in his mid 40s and still travelling the world climbing and riding obscure mountains.
Can you tell us a bit about your sponsors and if/how they help you do what you want to do?
Quiksilver has looked after me over the years like no other, I've been with it for 13 years. Being a surf, snowboard and skate company, it’s perfect for me to be involved. It’s basically made a lot of my dreams come true by helping me to travel the world snowboarding to places like Alaska, Greenland, India and New Zealand. Despite being a massive multi-national company, there are still a lot of surfers involved in the important positions. I’ve been allowed to develop with the company and am now involved with the UK skate and snowboard team while at the same time still riding and exploring.
I've been with Lib Tech, my board sponsor, for 16 years. Lib Tech is a company close to my heart – a true snowboard company full of people who love to surf, skate and snowboard. The snowboards are made by snowboarders in the most environmentally friendly factory in the US, near Seattle. Lib Tech gives me faith in the future of snowboarding at a time when everybody wants a piece of our sport (eg for the Olympics).
Do you miss Britain at all when you’re out here? If so, what?
No, I like the contrast between being in the mountains and then at the ocean. When it gets cold at home (in Devon) and you have to wear gloves, boots and a hood to surf in, the mountains start to beckon, and when it starts getting too hot in the mountains and everything starts melting I can't wait to get home to the beach. These days I head home every three weeks anyway as my girlfriend Penny has a real job and can't join me in the mountains. I miss my girlfriend and friends when I'm out here, but I've been in Chamonix so long it's like a second home. I can interchange my two lives to keep things interesting. The time I miss Devon is when I've been travelling for too long, eating out and living in a hotel.
What's next in your career? Where you going to be in 10 years time?
That’s a hard question after so many years. I want to explore new mountains and the most important thing is to challenge myself and do more expedition-style trips. I'd like to do the Verbier Xtreme and film one more good video section. I don't see my life changing too much in the next 10 years – once you’re obsessed with the mountains and the ocean it never stops, whether it's your job or not. The only difference will be I'll hopefully be dragging a couple of kids around with Penny and I.
Interview by Ruth Martin - ChamoFix Massage and MUD Unlimited Marketing Services
Natives Rep in Chamonix
For more info on the Freeride World Tour, click here.
