NISSAN XTREME VERBIER - 09

EVENT PROGRAM                          
                          
Event schedule:                          
Thursday, March 19th 2009                           
   Riders arrival                          
   5pm   Riders Meeting
Friday, March 20th 2009                           
   Mountain Inspection                          
   Opening Ceremony + Bib Draw                             
Saturday, March 21st  2009                           
   9am-12am    Contest                          
Prize-Giving Ceremony 1 - Gentianes                     
   Press conference (podium riders) - Gentianes         
Prize-Giving Ceremony 2 - Verbier                          
   Official Dinner + Party                          

Reserve days: Sunday, March 22nd – Sunday, March 29th 2009. Contest can also be brought forward to the Friday 20th !   
  



LOGISTICAL INFO  
  
Which airport do I fly to ?  
Airport: Geneva (GVA)  

Is there a shuttle to Verbier ?  
An Alpine Express shuttle can be taken from Geneva Airport. It's a 2 hours drive to Verbier  
Booking must me arrange in advance on website or by phone.  
www.alpinexpress.com  
+41 (0)27 771 9600  
One-way    75 CHF
Round trip    140 CHF                  
Or you can take the train and bus with the national train company                      
www.sbb.ch                      
One-way    57 CHF                  
Round trip    114 CHF                  

Do I need a visa ?                      
Each rider should check if he/she needs a visa to enter Switzerland (Switzerland is NOT part of the EU !)                      
                      

Where is the accreditation desk ?                      
In the lobby of the Garbo Hotel                      
                      
Do I get a free ski-pass for the whole event period ?                      
Yes. I will be given to you at the accreditation desk.                      
                      
Where do I sleep ? do I have to pay for it ?                      
All riders will sleep in the Garbo Hotel.                      
Accomodation is offered by the organisation from the Thursday, March 19th to the Sunday 22nd (included).                      
In case of contest postponement, accomodation will be offered by the organisation until the day after the contest.                      
Any extra night has to be organised and paid directly by the rider. If you're travelling with a friend/cameraman/…, you'll have to pay for all extra costs.                      
                      
Do I get food vouchers?                       
Breakfast are offered from the 20th to the 23rd                      
Lunch bags and lunch at the Gentianes are offered on contest day                      
Dinners are offered on the 19th and the 21st                      
All other meals will be paid by the riders themselves                      



COMPETITION                      
                      
What are the Faces options ?           
Face option A:          
Name: Bec des Rosses    Summit: 3222m    Difference in altitude: 500m    Slope: 45°-55°
Face option B:          
Name: Mt Gelé
Face option C:          
Name: Bec des Etagnes

Can I ride/train on the competition face ?          
NO. The competition faces (Options A, B and C) CANNOT be riden 4 weeks prior to the event.          

Riders Meetings hours + locations          
1st riders meeting: 19th of March at 6pm        Location: Garbo Hotel
2nd riders meeting: 20th of March at 1pm        Location: at the judges tent on the Col des Gentianes
      
Do I need an insurance ? What type ?      
For the first time an insurance (Mondial Assistance) has accepted to cover the riders participating on the events of the FWT worldwide. This is a real step forward as we've been looking for such type of insurance for many years now. Experiences from the past having shown that riders were not sufficiently covered or were not having an insurance covering competitions for example, we have decided as organisers of the FWT to take this accident and (heli) rescue insurance and make it obligatory for all athletes participating in a FWT event. The cost of this insurance will be retained from the prize-money of each rider. Just a reminder: all riders get a minimum prize-money of $400/event when participating in a FWT event.   
      
Do I need to sign a disclaimer ?      
Yes. At your arrival in Verbier you'll be asked to sign a disclaimer.
      
What is the compulsory material ?      
Helmet, back protection, Avalanch Victim Detector, shovel, probe, harness and bib      
All safety equipment will be thoroughly checked/tested prior to each competition.       
      
How is the face's security prepared ?      
Our head-guide is C.-A. Gailland (SUI). Throughout the winter he works and prepares (snow cuts and bombing) the faces in cooperation with the local security patrol.      
One day prior to the contest, at the riders meeting at the judges tent, mountain guides will ride the face to help riders evaluate the snow conditions. All riders will have the opportunity to ask questions to the head-guide who will be present at this meeting.                              
                              

What is the rescue team and equipment ?                              
A mountain doctor is standing at the Col des Gentianes ready to intervene with a fully-equipped helicopter. In case of accident, he's able to rapidly reach the injured rider.                              
A second helicopter is also on stand by to evacuate rider to the main hospital in Sion if necessary.                              
The Maison du Sauvetage and a team of 10 guides are displayed on the face.                              
Full details about security procedures will be explained to the riders at the first riders meeting in Verbier