Arranged annually since 1992, the Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships is the world´s original big mountain competition. Hosting ski area for the event is the small resort of Riksgränsen, located above the Arctic Circle on the border between Sweden and Norway. Welcome to the 2024 edition, May 6-8.
The preliminary entry list of the 2024 SBMC present 161 riders from twelve countries. Some of the big names are Manon Loschi (France), Olivia McNeill (Canada) Kristofer Turdell (SWE), Max Palm (SWE), Garrett Capel (Canada) and Alex Hackel (USA). Among the snowboarders Ingemar Backman, a true veteran and legend will enter his first ever freeride competition. Unexpected, and very interesting, there are several riders in the telemark discipline to challenge the former champion Erik Nordin.
Check out all the riders in the preliminary entry lists:
Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships in Riksgränsen on May 6-8. The starting field is limited, secure your spot and register today!
The SBMC is not only a championship for fame and glory in the freeride community. It is also the grande finale of the European freeride season with a few days of unforgettable atmosphere, camaraderie and partying in the arctic light. The SBMC is an open freeride competition where amateurs and skilled beginners have the chance to compete against some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the world. Freeride world tour competitors like Kristofer Turdell, Carl Regner and Max Palm have already signed up for the SBMC 2024. The SBMC is a *** Freeride World Qualifier Event. Sign up now and secure your early bird discount.
Seeing young upcoming riders perform and shine alongside the seasoned pros is a big part of what the SBMC is all about. The 2023 Rookie titles was awarded to snowboarder Astrid Paulsson and skier Olof Halvarsson. Photo:Erik Westberg
After three days of competition and fantastic performances the 2023 SBMC champions are crowned!
The final day of competition in the venue Branten was delayed for one hour due to course safety measures where the face was worked on in the morning by security staff to enable the comp to be run in the wet and slushy conditions. After the delay, amazed spectators onsite and thousands of online viewers could watch the spectacular show on real time at Swedish National television’s live webcast.
In the women’s snowboard category Claudia Bings of Germany managed to maintain her lead from the first two days and is the overall winner ahead of Eva Hegnar from Norway and last year’s winner Johanna Lindqvist from Sweden in third place.
In the men’s snowboard category we saw some changes in the rankings after a great run from Lucas Muñoz De Morales Pinazo of Spain that gave him the overall victory ahead of Melker Tillhagen from Sweden and Lorenz Noichl of Austria.
The Women’s alpine category was dominated by the newly crowned Freeride World Tour champion Justine Dufour-Lapointe from Canada and Piper Kunst from USA. Piper had a 0.5 point lead before the final day but after a fast and super solid run with 2 big airs Justine managed to pass Piper and become this year’s Alpine champion ahead of Piper Kunst and Lovisa Rosengren in third place.
The situation was similar in the men’s alpine category where Max Palm and Kristofer Turdell battled for first place in a competition where we got to see loads of new takes on the very steep Branten run. Both top riders managed to defend their positions. Max took first after three fantastic runs in the challenging terrain and Kristofer second in his always technically perfect style. In third place we have Edvin Olsson who skied the best run of the day stomping a perfect 360 on the highest possible takeoff.
Stay tuned for the SBMC finals on Wednesday May 10 at the north face of Nordalsfjäll, when the 2023 Scandinavian Big Mountain Champions will be crowned. The finals will be live broadcasted on the web by national Swedish television.
After two days of riding, freeride world tour skiers Max Palm and Kristofer Turdell are first and second in men’s ski followed by Edvin Olsson.
The freeride world champion in women ski, Justine Dufour-Lapointe from Canada, won todays run in Ravinen and managed to come closer to the leader from the first day, Piper Kunst, USA. Lovisa Rosengren is ranked third.
Lorenz Noichl from Austria is in the lead in men’s snowboard ahead of Melker Tillhagen and Joosef Kuoppala, Finland.Claudia Bings from Germany stood out in the girls snowboard both in the qualification run and in todays final run. She is ahead of Astrid Karolina Paulsson and Eva Hegnar, Norway.
