22nd ExtremeCarving Session, 2025: Feedback - WE NEED YOUR LOVE

[Swoard team]

The 22nd ExtremeCarving Session has just finished, on this Monday 3rd February 2025.

Wow, what another dream Session! Blue skies for three days, and probably the best EC conditions so far this season. What luck for the participants and organisers! Everyone was happy, with a great atmosphere on the slopes, at the stand and during the dinner.

During the evening, Patrice honoured the participants who had travelled from far and wide! Ian from Australia, Grady from the USA, Tony & Amanda from Uruguay! Patrice told some stories about former riders (carving pioneers). Tony had met Peter Bauer in Argentina during the filming of "Pachamama", which we screened during the evening. Jean Nerva was in contact with Nils and encouraged Swoard in our beginnings: he would probably have come to one of our events. RIP Jean.

The day's rushes have been screened. We will put them on YouTube very soon. In 2026 and 2027, we will do the same, and for the 25th anniversary, we are planning a full-length film with the best footage and interviews! By the way, during the evening a "film booth" ran continuously to leave little messages that could be useful in the future.

The participants will be contacted by e-mail to obtain the best photos. First, some rest! Thank you for your patience. We do this within the limits of our available time alongside our busy lives. The same goes for last year's photos: they will be finally published!

To motivate us, WE NEED YOUR LOVE. We were very disappointed not to receive a single thank you or positive message in this English Forum last year. We hope things will be better this year. Social networks make people lazy, but the whole team and the staff have not been lazy in organising this 22nd ExtremeCarving Session.

The date of the 23rd ExtremeCarving Session is already known: 31st January to 2nd February 2026.

Thanks to everyone!

The Swoard team


--- UPDATE 28.02.2025 ---

Here is the group photo on Saturday:

Picture in very high resolution: click the image (or get it by download here - 6.5 MB)

Personal thanks from Patrice, the organizer:
Warm thanks to all the people who helped Swoard before and during the three days. Without them, this event would not exist.
Not in alphabetical order: François "Fanfoué" & René (the photographers), Holly, Etienne, Joël, Arnaud, Anthony, Julien, Alexandre "Taz", José, Valérie, Mallorie, Julien D. (the cameraman and film editor), Yannick C. (2nd cameraman), Théophile B. (3rd cameramen), Laurent R. (drone pilot), and all the other people who helped.

RUSHES OF THE EVENT



These rushes show participants of all levels, so that they can further improve their skills. Even the EC co-founder Patrice Fivat, with the orange jacket, is still in the never-ending quest of gesture purity and smoothness. This is the spirit of extremecarving, coming from surfing.

They were shot on Saturday morning in only two hours, cut in the afternoon for a preview which was screened during the dinner! Congratulations to the film makers: Julien Dewarrat, Yannick Chabot and Théophile Brulhart. Drone images by Laurent Ruchat.

MORE PICTURES
The best pictures will be shown on the social networks progressively, and here. More pictures will be sent to the participants and fans in March. Thank you for your patience, this is very busy time.

The Swoard team

[olive]

And yet another incredible ECS!
I'd love to know their secret, ordering fresh snow just before the event and bright sunshine during...
Conditions were indeed perfect once again.

The Team is right, we take this event and its quality for granted.
They've got us too accustomed to being spoiled...
Patrice and the team deserve a standing ovation for their faultless organization.
And above all for having contributed so much to snowboarding, the proof of their legacy being the abundance of (pale) copy attempts of gear and riding technique.

Many thanks!

[nextcarve]

A big thank you from your colleagues from the Bernese Oberland. We had a great time at ECS 2025. It really doesn't get any better than this.
Once again this year, we met many old friends and were able to make new ones.
We thank you for this great event and for everything you have contributed to alpine snowboarding !!!!
With much love from us, the somewhat different snowboarders

We are one in the snowboarder heart and live (almost) always on the edge, because there is always a nextcarve 🥰

[huuska]

What a session this year!

All I have to say is BIG "THANK YOU" to PATRICE and ALL girls and guys who helped to organised (and will organise) these sessions.

Not only that I met all soul mates but also for the first time I felt confident on all black slopes. What a difference when I was there for the first time five years ago!

Our Czech group increased by 200% compared to last year (Guillaume who went with me last year is not counted as he is French even if he lives in Brno) and probably will grow next year after our friends see pictures in our Czech/Slovak chat.

See you ALL next year in Zinal!

Dalibor

Every hard boot snowboarder must once in a live season go to Zinal.

[manuchill]

From time to time is good to take a step back and reflect on what's happening and what has been achieved.

If I start from the beginning, all credits and huge appreciation and deepest respect for the guys Patrice Jacques and Nils who started this whole Swoard movement with everything that came with it: the custom made boards, the technique, the initial video's, the business, market it and starting the event at Zinal.

Up untill this moment, Swoard didn't take anything for granted and managed to continuously improve wether it's on the extreme carver boards or the event. Investing huge amount of time in making it better and better throughout the years, managed to create another board the Dual which eventually progressed to the Stoke, created custom bindings and last but not least the collaboration with UPZ for the boots.
Aside from the material, expanding the event to multiple locations with Hintertux and Pila and even Japan!
And what about all the video improvements of the past years and having a photographer for 2 days.
There are even free lessons one can attend which are done for many years already by Julien, Arnaud and Anthony.
For such huge determination and firm believing one can only show the deepest respect.

For every Zinal event I've been (17 years now) it still makes me smile seeing how much fun, enthusiasm, determination everybody has during the event and to be honest, Patrice you stand out above all others in this.
As Patrice has been the face of Swoard for the past years and is determined to keep Swoard alive, luckily supported by many people in some way wether it's with the event or logistics or more, he has my deepest respect because running such a business next to your normal day 2 day work is for sure not something easy.

It's really remarkable to see so many people returning yearly to the event and maintain a constant minimum base of participants throughout the years. Personally, the dates for the event are set in stone in my agenda and there is nothing someone can do to plan something over it. This event is simply one I can't miss and I don't want to miss it, so I'm really hoping we have the luxury to keep on extreme carving and enjoying the snow.
We've been so lucky for many years with the conditions, where this edition stood out quite significantly compared to previous years where snow, weather and piste conditions were beyond great!!
Next to that, having the luxury to have a dedicated closed slope in the mornings for 2 consecutive days is something I've never heard of, how awesome is that!

Let's keep on sharing our love for and appreciation of EC, not only towards our family, friends, social media connections etc. about how awesome the event was again, but in particular to Swoard - Patrice - and everyone involded in some way.
This community is really something special and having been around for so many years and still remains open, friendly, welcoming, willing to help & support makes it worthwhile.
Personally got some tips again this year to improve on my backside turn, so I've got work to do
It's just a small example, but to me it means a lot that someone (Arnaud & Patrice in this case) takes the time to look at me riding and is opening up to give me advice. Huge huge appreciation.

Being from the Netherlands, it's amazing so see more and more are finding their way to the event also. Julien and I had so much laughter on Saturday afternoon where he did the lesson and when I stopped by told me that the class was mostly consisting out of Dutch people with 1 German added to it, awesome

Since the dates are already known, see you all next year !!!

[slayer]

Huge Thank You and congratulations to the organisers and helpers of the ECS event - a lot goes into the organisation of such an event, and where else can you try boards to your heart's content on a reserved slope and have lessons for free for a whole weekend?

It has always been a steady increment for me, but this year, I felt I made a lot of progress in both softboot and hardboot carving. It is finally the time I am enjoying Le Col, rather than being wary of it. Over the years, I have had a lot of wipe-outs and in some cases injury on Le Col, this is the first year I have arrived back home unscathed, tired but happy!

Thanks to Arnaud and Patrice on the hill giving more tips outside of the lessons, as well as all you lovely folks attending and also giving tips and encouragement.

Hopefully, see you all next year, same time, same place!

[Swoard team]

The subject has been updated at the very beginning, with the group photo and the film of the rushes!



The Swoard team

[fivat]

I live partly in Grimentz-Zinal, and I can confirm that it was the best weekend of the season so far in terms of snow and weather. I'll be trying to organise something similar in future years!

Many thanks for your words! As we often say:
"Love is good, but proofs of love are better."
Because an event like this, with all its various activities, involves an enormous amount of work before, during and after the event. A team of 16 people to manage, resort managers to meet, a lot of administrative work, dozens of phone calls and e-mails.

With Jacques and Nils, we launched the 1st Session to explain and demonstrate our original ride technique, which we called "extremecarving", as well as our dedicated equipment, which is quite different from everything else. There was a huge buzz when the Website was published in 2002, and a demand (pressure!) from the emerging community.

I'm still organising this event for the EC community, not really for Swoard, because our small brand is now well known. Word of mouth works really well. I like riding with the many friends I have met over the years. It's not interesting to be on your own. EC will never be a mass sport, so we need to get together.

Do you know another brand that offers you absolutely everything? An original riding technique, equipment adapted from start to finish, invites you to the creators' spot, rides with you, gives free lessons, films itself with you, organises a big meal and convivial moments, etc. etc.? In all modesty, I think there is only Swoard. And all this for 22 years.

What does the future hold for EC and the Sessions? Well, young people are THE FUTURE, as last year's film said.
Once again this year, I asked the cameramen to put young people in the spotlight. And I'm pleased with the results of the rushes. You can see them having fun, as well as all the less-young riders!
A "real film" with editing will be made for the 25th anniversary, with the best rushes and interviews.

I have one small regret about the few participants who came with "race" equipment. The concept of the event, since the 1st Session, is far from traditional alpine snowboarding. It's a pity not to try and question your board, the stiff settings and a "facing the board tip" ride technique. These riders will confirm that I don't force anyone. We have always given advice only to people who come to us, who are interested in EC by Jacques and me. No dogma! No, no! There are other events and races for those who don't share our vision. It takes a big effort to change everything, and you can't learn that in one day. Putting a Swoard under your feet isn't going to work miracles if you haven't understood everything else. There are some brave former racers who thank us for helping them rediscover snowboarding.

Once again, I don't force anyone. When I'm asked, I sometimes correct "errors" in style when they have consequences on the technique (= set of fundamentals, such as rotation, push-pull, hips position, etc.). This should not be misinterpreted, as style and technique are often confused. For example, Anthony and I have different styles, but the same Swoard-EC technique.

I'm happy to have been able to get the piste "Le Col" reserved again on Saturday and Sunday, until 10.30am. Thank you all for coming on it. If the people in charge of the pistes, whom I know well, don't see enough participants, we won't have this privilege again next year.

Thanks to you and this event, I can also influence other points. For example, the day before the event, I was able to ask the technical manager to try to make the "Barthélémy" wider. The groomers did a great job, because it doesn't look like it, but there are a lot of stones and rocks underneath. The wind caused problems at the start of the season.

That's it! See you next year, extremecarver friends!
Don't ride alone! Progress can only be made by riding together. And even better with Swoard.

Patrice Fivat

[joemzl]

This must have been my thirteenth ECS in Zinal. And there are several reasons for me, to come year after year.
Zinal ist the only place in the world where you meet more than one hundred extremecarvers.
I remember my first ECS, sitting at Le Col and watching one Carver after the other. Everyone with a different style/skill.
Very impressive scenery. And this feeling is still always there when I take the time to watch.
Extremecarvers from all over the world. Wow. I like to get in contact with them. Sometimes the language is a difficulty,
but sharing my drinks solves all problems.
Christophe followed with sweets and others share parts of their lunch with me. Sunny weather, mulled wine and Raclette at the stand. Wonderfull day. Most friends I only meet here. So it´s like a big family meeting (with Patrice as the head of family).
Not to forget the dinner on Saturday evening. Since many years an outstanding event. So good food and atmosphere.
Le Col and Barthélemy... Why do I name these dream slopes at the end?? Maybe because after so many years the event itself is more important than these fantastic runs.
(Ok, but afterwards only Barth counts. Barth, Barth, Barth .... - Patrice knows. )

Many thanks to the whole team, to make this event possible.