Swoard Demo Tour 2021 > events > info, videos, ...

[Swoard team]

SDT - 11th edition / ECS - 18th edition !
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VIDEOS OF PREVIOUS EVENTS here in the YouTube channel
MOST RECENT 17th ECS: YouTube film
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The Covid-19 is really a big problem worldwide. But we have to stay optimistic.

If the resorts will be open, the events of SDT 2021 will take place! The number of participants could be limited due to restrictions, closed borders and quarantines, but local people could be present. Indeed for each event we have local organizers.

Whatever the number of participants, 20 or 200, the events will take place!
The most important thing is the spirit: CARVE TOGETHER! Passion is our engine!

The events will be as simple as possible. Thus:
1) We keep flexibility: only people who have no Covid-19 restrictions will join.
2) Officially the meetings won't be gatherings: people just see each other on the slopes.
3) A small stand of demo boards will be open, outside on the snow. Eventually the number of persons at the stand could be limited.
4) We don't plan any dinner all together, however a dinner could be improvised at the last minute if the situation is good. In Zinal, we could organize a private dinner if we are allowed to do it. Our usual cooker Stéphane has good solutions. Of course masks, hands cleaning and distance will be required.

The packages won't include any dinner or party.

The Swoard team

[Swoard team]

Thus, we are very excited to announce here the dates of the "Swoard Demo Tour 2021". This "Tour" includes of course the main event "ExtremeCarving Session (ECS)" (18th edition) and other meetings in resorts we have "certified for EC". "Demo" does not only mean that the participants can test Swoard boards, but also that they can watch demonstrations of extremecarving by the Swoard team (the founders and Swoard instructors).

La Grande Première

• 21-22 November 2020: Val Thorens (France) > info here and on Facebook (only Dual2 model) - CANCELLED

Rock On Snow

• 11-12-13 December 2020: Avoriaz (France) > info here and on Facebook (only Dual2 model) - CANCELLED

Swoard Demo Tour

• 12-13 December 2020: Hintertux (Austria, very close to Germany and Italy) > CANCELLED - COVID-19

• 23-24-25 January 2021: Zinal (Valais, Switzerland) - 18th SWOARD ExtremeCarving Session > details and registration here with COVID-19 restrictions
  Book your hotel or apartment as soon as possible, in Zinal or Grimentz (both resorts are linked by a gondola)
  accommodation

• 13-14 March 2021: Pila (Aosta, Italy) > CANCELLED - COVID-19

During the SDT, free lessons (in Zinal) or advices are given to explain the ride technique we have developed from 1995 to 2001. This technique, easily identifiable, is especially adapted to the width and other specificities of the SWOARD Extremecarver (now the Gen5), the snowboard that inspired extremecarving. The words "rotation", "push-pull", "fluidity" and "gesture purity" will be part of your vocabulary. Advices on the settings of bindings and boots are also provided to fully benefit from all the advantages of the SWOARD snowboards.

At least 2-3 Swoard instructors will be present at each event. The Swoard team will be complete with 5 instructors during the main event "ExtremeCarving Session" in Zinal.

The model SWOARD Dual2 will also be available. Therefore the riders in soft boots are welcome!

The third model, the SWOARD Extremecarver Pro2, is made in limited series by hand (in 3 sizes and 5 flexes): thus only few demo boards are available. The SWOARD-UPZ EC12 hardboots and the SWOARD Redline2 bindings are not in demo as the settings take too much time, but a few items can be seen and touched.

The Swoard team


Personal thanks:

Big thanks to all the people who are now also part of the Swoard team:
- the Swoard EC instructors: Arnaud, Frabass, Alex, Anthony, Julien, Sébastien and Petr
- the staff in organization: Arnaud, Joël, Frabass and Petr
- the staff in backstage: Jörg, Etienne and the Forum moderators
- the numerous volunteers helping us in the stands: Christophe, Flaviano, Christian and more (they will be listed after the ECS).
Without your help and passion, those events would not be possible since 17 years. We believe that this is contributing to make snowboard carving trendier in Europe and in the world. Actually many brands are now following on the softboots scene mainly, but with commercial goals. Progressively we will make alpine snowboarding more popular too.

Patrice Fivat

[Swoard team]

In parallel to this Tour, we are also very proud to announce already the

4th ExtremeCarving Camp in Japan, February 2021. Details are coming soon.

Meanwhile you can see the info from last year, the video of the 2nd camp and get in contact with Shun.

Registered participants could get lessons with Japanese Swoard-EC instructors!

The Swoard team

[TimW]

I was planning to join the Zinal event this year for the first time since 2007...

I am a bit skeptical, but I hope the pandemic has reduced sufficiently by then. If I can join in a reasonably responsible way I will be there!

Fingers crossed, and stay healthy!

[Swoard team]

Yes, the main words are: flexibility and last minute!
Most important is to set the dates in your diary and to be ready to join if the situation is good when the events take place.
For sure the Swoard team will be partially present at each event, if the resorts are open.

For now in Switzerland some resorts on the glaciers are already open. Same in Austria and France. In Italy they are closed till 24th November.
Zinal will open at mid-November (weekends only). And most other resorts at mid-December. Of course everybody has to use masks at the lifts.

Stay tuned, and stay healthy!

The Swoard team

[pokkis]

Due Covid we, Paula and me, will skip this year in Zinal
All the best for all carvers there
It is sad to miss great slopes and new lifts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwCHSl5T_vc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUF9Lki_FbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epautACwWG8

[Swoard team]

They are a bit late in building the new gondola lift in Zinal, but the opening is planned for mid-December.

Here are some pictures which we shot last month "on the slopes":

New-gondola-Zinal-1.jpg (89.71 KiB) Viewed 15647 times

New-gondola-Zinal-2.jpg (94.33 KiB) Viewed 15647 times

New-gondola-Zinal-3.jpg (98.16 KiB) Viewed 15647 times

The stand for the "ExtremeCarving Session" will be placed at the usual place, close to the arrival in Sorebois: in the center of the first picture.

Whoever can come, see you there this winter or next ones!

The Swoard team

[Swoard team]

Here are other pictures shot in the village of Zinal a few days ago.
We hope we could welcome you to the 18th ExtremeCarving Session with this new gondola.

Let's stay positive regarding the Covid-19 situation. Some vaccines are coming.

New-gondola-Zinal-4.jpg (81.15 KiB) Viewed 15526 times

New-gondola-Zinal-5.jpg (94.15 KiB) Viewed 15526 times

New-gondola-Zinal-6.jpg (79.68 KiB) Viewed 15526 times

The Swoard team

[joemzl]

Looking at the first picture, it seems, that there is still enough to do. Will they finish till mid of January?

The new gondola cable car promises much more comfort.
Although … it was always the aim to catch the first gondola in the morning...
This will be much more difficuilt now.

[pokkis]

Each of them carry now max 10 person, so it does not matter if you are on first or second, they go now nonstop Capacity is 1800 person per hour.

[fivat]

It also means more crowded slopes. And the gondola won't open at 8:30 am like in the past.

They are indeed a bit late for the construction and they won't open before 19th December.

I will keep you informed.

Patrice Fivat

[Swoard team]

La Grande Première

• 21-22 November 2020: Val Thorens (France) > info here and on Facebook (only Dual2 model)

Rock On Snow

• 11-12-13 December 2020: Avoriaz (France) > info here and on Facebook (only Dual2 model)

We are very sad to announce that
these two big events in France are CANCELLED because of the pandemic.

For now all resorts in France are closed. Eventually they will open in December, but the events with many people will be forbidden.

We hope to see you in another event of the Swoard Demo Tour this winter.
Stay tuned!

The Swoard team

[Swoard team]

Swoard Demo Tour

• 12-13 December 2020: Hintertux (Austria, very close to Germany and Italy)

We are very sad to announce that
the event in Austria is CANCELLED because the resort will be kept closed till 24 December.

The resorts in Switzerland are not closed, but there will be some restrictions (we are waiting for info).
Mid-January all resorts in Europe should reopen.
Thus we are quite optimistic for the 18th ExtremeCarving Session (23-24-25 January) in Zinal.
Stay tuned!

The Swoard team

[Swoard team]

The new gondola in Zinal has been opened yesterday on 12th December! Finished in time.

Here are some pictures we have shot. The first one is at the very top ("Espace Weisshorn"), and the two others at the intermediate station ("Sorebois").

New-gondola-Zinal-7.jpg (55.92 KiB) Viewed 14583 times

New-gondola-Zinal-8.jpg (98.83 KiB) Viewed 14583 times

New-gondola-Zinal-9.jpg (73.06 KiB) Viewed 14583 times

Everything is ready to welcome you to the 18th ExtremeCarving Session with this gondola.

The Swoard team

[fivat]

It also means more crowded slopes. And the gondola won't open at 8:30 am like in the past.

I confirm that from now, both resorts Zinal and Grimentz (well, it's officially one resort) are opening :
- at 09:00 during the week in low season,
- at 08:45 during the weekends and the high season.

The small lift "La Combe" won't open this season and it will be suppressed next summer.
Good news are often coming with bad news.

Stay tuned for info about the 18th ExtremeCarving Session.

Patrice Fivat