FRANCE: THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS GATHER IN LA CLUSAZ FOR 17TH RUNNING OF CRAZY SNOW AND WATER SKIING SLIDE CHALLENGE THE "DEFI FOLY"

Record ID: 648678

  • Title: FRANCE: THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS GATHER IN LA CLUSAZ FOR 17TH RUNNING OF CRAZY SNOW AND WATER SKIING SLIDE CHALLENGE THE "DEFI FOLY"
  • Date: 27th April 2003
  • Summary: LA CLUSAZ, FRANCE (APRIL 27, 2003) 1. TOP SHOT OF CONFINS LAKE FROM THE TOP OF THE 150 METER SNOW-COVERED MOGUL RUN 2. A RACER GOING DOWN THE SNOW-COVERED SLOPE AND FALLING INTO LAKE 3. A RACER DOWNHILL AND FALLING 4. A RACER GOING DOWNHILL AND FALLING 5. SPECTATORS SITTING ON GRASS AND WATCHING THE RACE 6. SPECTATORS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) A RACER GETTING OUT OF WATER AND SAYING - "It was superb. We can't loose the balance but once we get into the water, the skis go alone. It's great!" 8. TOP SHOT OF WINNER LIONEL FAVRET STARTING THE RACE, GOING DOWNHILL AND CROSSING THE LAKE 9. PEOPLE IN A BATMOBILE GOING DOWNHILL INTO CONFIN LAKE 10. TWO PEOPLE ON A COW GOING DOWNHILL AND FALLING BEFORE THEY HIT THE WATER 11. VARIOUS OF RACERS IN AN TRAIN GOING DOWNHILL AND INTO THE WATER 12. STAGE COACH DOWNHILL AND INTO THE LAKE 13. RACERS IN PAIR OF GIANT SKI BOOTS GOING DOWNHILL 14. GROUP OF RACERS ON A GIANT ELECTRIC GUITAR GOING DOWNHILL 15. GUITAR FLOATING ON THE WATER Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LA CLUSAZ, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA8EK48OO959UY961WZIFIMWWUL
  • Story Text: On Sunday (April 27), the French ski resort of La
    Clusaz hosted the Defi Foly - a crazy snow and water skiing
    slide challenge.


    For the 17th running of the popular event, around five
    thousand of spectators gathered in the resort to watch some
    154 racers and more than 20 unidentified sliding objects take
    part, in what organisers call the Defi Foly - a crazy snow and water
    skiing slide challenges.

    The challenge involves gathering maximum speed down a
    bumpy snow-covered slope in an attempt to get as far across
    the unfrozen Confins Lake as possible on anything that doesn't
    float - skis, monoskis, snowboards, bodyboards or other
    unidentified sliding objects built just for the occasion.

    Some racers were lucky enough to traverse the lake
    smoothly while others took the spectacular tumbles into the
    8-degree water.

    Frenchman Lionel Favret put in a stunning performance down
    La Clusazs 150 meter mogul run and across the freezing lake.

    He comfortably beat the rest of the field with a score of 121
    metres.

    Compatriot Laurent Niol finished second with 118 metres.

    Freddy Quenet, another Frenchman, was third, staying
    afloat for a metre less than Favret. Quenet holds the Defi
    Foly record with 140 metres.

    But the show really started when the U.S.Os (Unidentified
    Sliding Objects) got on the slope. All manner of objects - a
    batmobile, an electric guitar, a giant ski boot - took their
    chances at this unique and mad adventure.




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