Ted Davenport followed up his big mountain win at the World Heli Challenge with a victory in the Chinese Downhill compulsories yesterday, New Zealand time. It's not clear how the overall results will be tabulated, with scores coming from freeride, big mountain and Chinese Downhill elements. But Davenport is pretty stoked, and he should be—six weeks removed from a near-miss BASE-jumping accident near Rifle, Colorado.
Ted sent along a POV video clip from his winning big mountain run, and he's posted some good reports of Heli Challenge haps on his blog, teddavenport.com.
He also apologized. "Hey dude, sorry I haven't emailed you. Been a little busy... WINNING!. Haha. ... Yeah bro, loving it down here. I'm off right now for a private heli-ski mission, totally gratis; winning pays in heli-gas down here!" Ted wrote.
[Update: Just checked Ted's Tweetdeck and this—"2009 World Heli Challenge Champion. Yeahaha!" So there you have it; partially.]
Also, the latest press release and results from the World Heli Challenge:
VnC Cocktail Downhill ROCKS!
Saturday: September 5 2009
Reporter: Harro
Another perfect day yesterday greeted the World Heli Challenge crew. The "VnC Cocktail Downhill" was nothing short of an epic adventure for all—in many ways.
The event itself was as hard core as snow sports get. The goal is to find out who in the event was the fastest person on snow. Athletes raced head to head at mind boggling speeds. No rules, no regulations, just pure focus and adrenaline.
The top results of the VnC Cocktail Downhill are:
Ski Mens
1.Ted Davenport, Aspen
2. Geoff Small, NZ
3. Geoff Vince, France
Ski Women
1. Jackie Passo, Squaw
2. Janina Kuzma, NZ
3. Ingrid Backstrom, Squaw
Snowboard Men
1. Ralph Backstrom, Squaw
2. Andy Finch, U.S.
3. Darren Powell, AUS
Snowboard Women
1. Maria Kuzma, NZ
2. Susan Mol, Crested Butte
3. Amber Schuecker, AUS
NB Full overall results available soon.
The finish of the race was just the kick off to a crazy afternoon of fun, adventure and lifestyle. The VnC Ice Bar served frozen cocktails as athletes sessioned a windlip, throwing down an array of single, double and even triple flips! But that wasn't all! The athletes had no idea that when they were flown off the mountain they would land on the Makarora river to awaiting Wilkin River Jets and jet boated back to the heli base.
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