Outdoormix Winter Festival

5th edition of the Outdoormix Winter Festival

Plunge into the heart of winter adventure

From pro-riders defying the laws of gravity on a slopestyle mountain bike, to kayakers venturing out in a snowkayak, and vertiginous ski and snowboard descents during the Derby, every moment of the festival has been designed to elevate the spirit of adventure and sharing. Add to this an electrifying musical ambience with renowned artists, and you’ve got an explosive cocktail of fun and discovery.

MTB SLOPESTYLE: Acrobatics to the rhythm of the pro-riders

On the morning of Saturday January 20, 2024, “guest” pro-riders performed impressive acrobatics on a course dotted with modules. This discipline requires a combination of technical skill, agility and creativity. Riders defied gravity to execute impressive tricks: backflip, 360°, superman, condor… Participants were judged on the quality of their tricks, their control of the trajectory, their style and their overall execution. Spectators were able to admire the athletes’ sporting and technical prowess. Nicolas Terrier, the talented 29-year-old pro-rider from Lyon, France, shone in the competition, taking first place ahead of fellow riders Louis Reboul and Elie Robert.

Snowkayak, the star sport!

Alongside the slopestyle events, some 30 kayakers raced down an ephemeral border cross, specially shampooed for the occasion by the resort’s teams: 10 hours of work for a 400 m long course with 7 banked turns. The kayakers took to the 4×4 course, smiling from ear to ear. The banked turns brought a dose of adrenalin to this unprecedented competition. Balance was the key, as participants had to constantly adapt to the slippery, unpredictable terrain.

Tom Dollé, the world freestyle kayak champion, defended his title brilliantly and won the competition for the second time running, closely followed by Cyril Mennesson and Paul Aubertin. “Super happy to win again. It was fun, different from the river, but just as exciting. Controlling a fast kayak on snow is not easy, but I loved it”. The winner, who hails from Lyon, is still delighted to be taking on this course, and looks forward to returning next year.

Combined: BORDERCROSS and MASS START DESCENTE

Bordercross event

On Saturday January 20, 2024, the Vars snow front came alive with the arrival of over 40 mountain bikers ready to take on the border cross. These riders, eager to get back into action, put on an impressive show on their mountain bikes. The competition was marked by fast, technical descents. The results then defined the starting order for the downhill event.

Mass Start Downhill

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the festival, the MTB Downhill race set the slopes alight with a healthy dose of adrenalin. From the summit of the Télémix de Chabrières, participants set off at 5pm, running towards their mountain bikes placed 20m away to face the technical challenges and slopes that awaited them. This start was crucial for taking the lead and tackling the descent in the best possible conditions. The speed was impressive, with Kévin Mayeur crossing the finish arch in just under 1 minute 57 seconds.

The Outdoormix Winter Festival Derby

The Derby de l’Outdoormix Winter Festival was the must-attend event for ski and snowboard enthusiasts who like to compete with friends. New for 2024 was the location of the start, at the highest point in Vars, level with the finish of the Speed Master chairlift and the summit of Chabrières.

More than fifty participants lined up, ready for a 6 km long descent with a negative vertical drop of 800 meters. At 5.15pm, the start was given, and the piste was entirely dedicated to the participants, free of the day’s skiers. The fastest skier was down the slope in under 4 minutes 20, greeted at the bottom by enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

Jam Freestyle: An Explosion of Creativity

Saturday and Sunday were marked by the overflowing creativity of the Jam Freestyle on skis and snowboard. From 1pm to 4pm, participants transformed Vars Park into a playground for freestyle enthusiasts.

Skiers shone on the specially designed modules. Impressive tricks were performed with style and precision. Aerial rotations, flips and slides were the order of the day, creating an electric atmosphere in the Vars Park.

Saturday 20 January 2024: the festival vibrates to the rhythm of La Caravane Passe and Pochatt’ Crew

On Saturday evening, La Caravane Passe captivated the audience with their unique blend of gypsy rhythms, creating a festive and dynamic atmosphere. Pochatt’ Crew then took over until 11pm, playing a series of electronic sets. The atmosphere was electric, with festival-goers of all ages united by music and dance.

L’Outdoormix Winter Festival à Vars got off to a great start on its first day, January 19, 2024, offering visitors total immersion in the world of board sports.

TRIAL mountain bike demonstrations

The festivities kicked off with trial mountain bike demonstrations on the snow front. Pro-riders pushed the limits of balance and precision, putting on a show for all festival-goers present.

Snowskatedemonstrations

At 4 p.m., the announcer announced the snowskate demonstrations in an atmosphere blending the urban style of skateboarding with the culture of sliding. Snowriders gathered in the spirit of riding, sharing and fun, and stormed the specially shampooed track, ready to tame their skateboards. Without bindings to keep their feet on the board, they demonstrated their mastery of this hybrid discipline between skateboarding and snowboarding. The tricks followed one another with precision, drawing cheers from the festival-goers in attendance.

Introduction to snow sports

For those looking for an introduction to snow sports, the day had something for everyone. Initiations were offered for activities such as Air Bag, Splitboard, Snowskate, Handiski and Snowboard. More unusual, festival-goers were able to try their hand at pétanque on ice, while wooden games added a touch of conviviality.