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After an intense selection process, the team captains for Europe and the Americas have unveiled the eight elite skiers they will bring to Zermatt, Switzerland for the unique intercontinental team battle in anticipation of the 5th edition of the Swatch Skiers Cup which will be held from February 21-27, 2015.
The pressure is on this year as both teams are ready to break the 2-2 tie, with Team Americas defending their 2014 title. The line up is as strong and versatile as ever with returning “All Star”athletes teaming up with the latest newcomers. The key to winning the Swatch Skiers Cup is not necessarily the sum of a team’s individual talents; but rather the right combination of freeride and freestyle skills, team spirit, and consistency.
Veteran Captain Julien Regnier (FRA) will be excited to welcome back Richard Permin (FRA) to Team Europe following his stand out part in Matchstick Productions 2014 release “Days Of My Youth”and subsequent explosion on the international scene. Markus Eder (ITA) was also featured in this movie and returns to the Team after concentrating on his Olympic escapades last winter. Team Europe can also count on the experience of the iconic freerider and co-founder of the Skiers Cup, former team captain Sverre Liliequist (SWE). New talent has been added to the team with rookie,Sven Kueenle (GER). The creative and multi-talented Fabien Maierhofer (FRA) is back along with Chamonix native Sam Favret (FRA) who complete the French Connection. That leaves just two more riders to round off one of the strongest Team Europe line ups we have seen, austrian Fabio Studerand Zermatt local, and last years Head Mountain Guide, Samuel Anthamatten (SUI).
Team Americas, led by all round hero Seth Morrison (USA) will see the return of some big names such as: 3-time winner of Powder Magazine’s “Best Male Performance” award Sage Cattabriga-Alosa (USA), “Silent Shredder” Callum Pettit (CAN), the master of playfulness and IF3 award winning,Cody Townsend (USA) and super athlete Rory Bushfield (CAN). And although newcomers to the Swatch Skiers Cup, the remaining athletes on Team Americas are already household names through video parts with major production companies: Dana Flahr (CAN), Andy Mahre (USA) and Logan Pehota (CAN), and last but not least, Tanner Rainville (USA). All together a promising, balanced mix of Skiers Cup experience and new inspiration.
The two Swedish skiers, Sverre Liliequist and Kaj Zackrisson established the Swatch Skiers Cup to bring the best riders in the world together once a year and to exchange their passion across the Atlantic in a friendly yet groundbreaking competition between continents. Since its first edition in 2011 in Valle Nevado (Chile), the event has continued to grow in popularity and it has become a melting pot of creative freeskiing and one of the most recognized international showcase opportunities among world class skiers of different backgrounds. As Zackrisson says: “The Skiers Cup works because this environment keeps attracting the best riders, regardless of their background.”
