TARAVANA FREESTYLE: FIRST ROUND

The 2 Alpes ski lodge held on april 21-23rd, assembly of freestyle riders in an event with true Tahitian ambiance. Thirty European pro-riders were invited by Gary Tamatoa Zebrowski, ambassador of Perles de Tahiti, 2 Alpes, Rossignol snowboards, and Taravana's primary co-producer. The winners (of the men's snowboarding competiion, men's freestyle skiiing competition, women's freestyle skiing competition, and professional photography competition) received a surf trip to Tahiti. They will be introduced to wakeboarding, swim with sharks and Manta rays, and surf the undiscovered coasts of Tahiti and its islands.

Winners of the Taravana Freestyle:

Men's snowboarding: Bryuild Vulin, winner of the boarderline Cup.
Men's freestyle skiiing: Mathias Wecxsteen, Ski Freestyle Half Pipe World Champion 2005
Women's freestyle skiing: Caroline Béliard, Ski Freestyle Champion of France 2005

Participants

Gary Tamatoa Zebrowski, 2004 Junior Half-Pipe World Snowboard Champion. Mathias Wecxsteen, Ski Freestyle Half Pipe World Champion. The 2 Aples Freestyle Dream Team: Alexandre Doumergue, Lucas Benacchio, David Livet, Emeric Front, and Arthur Longo. Ten International Snowboarders including: Joël Streker (Switzerland), Christian Moillen (Switzerland), and Mathieu Crepel (France) Gabriel Bessy, Bryuild Vulin, Jeremie Bonnemaison, Samuel Zartarian. Ten Skiiers including: Laurent Favre (France), JL Ratchel (France), Woodie Bouma (Australia), and Andrea Haatveit (Norway).

TAHITIAN SNOWBOARDER TO BE FIRST POLYNESIAN IN X GAMES

(Tahitipresse) - Originally from Tahiti, Gary Zebrowski, 22, now lives in France and is soon making his first X Games appearance in the snowboard halfpipe event in Aspen, Colorado, the Post Independent, a US newspaper reports on its website.
Zebrowski is going to Aspen where the men's SuperPipe practices is scheduled to begin Thursday, the Post Independent adds.
He will have to survive the elimination round on Saturday night at 6 p.m. to further his hopes of riding the pipe in the finals on Sunday night.
Having proven he is as rare as the pearl he wears around his neck, this weekend Zebrowski will go against the best in the world, including his idol Shaun White.
The 22-year-old took part in the last Winter Olympics, in Torino, Italy, in 2006.