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SAVE THE DATE FWT STARTS IN ONE MONTH!

Wed 17 Dec 14
Freeride World Tour 2013

This year’s tour starts in the cradle of freeriding, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc on January 24th and ends with the 20th edition of Xtreme Verbier on March 28th.

An exciting season is on the horizon with three legendary events in the Alps and the two new FWT stops sandwiched in between. With a complete website make-over launched within the next couple of days and a new mobile application available from January and a high tech on-site video production team, the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE® (FWT) has made sure that there should be no reason to miss out on anything, even from the remote mountains of Haines, Alaska.


Freeride World Tour 2015 Teaser by FreerideWorldTourTV

 

Highest freeride competition standards
FWT 2015 will be the 8th season that the top freeride skiers and snowboarders on the planet will be competing in a complete Freeride World Tour of the highest competition standards.
 
A total of 28 male skiers, 14 male snowboarders, 14 female skiers and 7 female snowboarders will start in the respective categories. After the first three events, the field starts to narrow down to only the riders with the best results and the Grande Finale in Verbier is limited to only the very top of the field.
 
The tour stops are carefully selected at outstanding destinations around the world each offering excellent big mountain terrain to ensure the best conditions for riders and top entertainment value for fans and media. The total prize money for this season is a record high just above 400,000 USD.
 
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France (January 24)
The tour starts off with a giant season opening freeride festival in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Besides it’s impressive mountains that provide the stage for the riders to show the world how they have stepped it up from last year, the village transforms into a freeride fair, exhibiting the newest gear and ski and snowboard movies and offering plenty of chances to interact with the pro’s.
 
Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, Austria (January 31)
The Fieberbrunn event really confirms that Austria knows how to welcome spectators to the mountains! A complete snow arena including a bar made of snow, entertainment and a festive atmosphere. This FWT stop has the live spectators in mind and dedicated fans come from near and far to be part of the party and watch this classic.
 
Vallnord Arcalis, Andorra (February 14)
Andorra has been one of the best kept secrets in terms of freeriding that up until now only locals and a few insiders have known about. With the FWT coming to town, the secret will be out, and the world’s best riders will be leaving their mark. The new terrain will be a challenge for all the riders and is a great opportunity for the rookies to break through. Not to be missed!
 
Haines, Alaska (March 14)
Haines, Alaska is the epitome of freeriding. No lifts, no pistes and this makes the event unique in the FWT calendar. It’s a mythical and dream destination for riders, tourists and the FWT alike. The Alaska stop also marks the first cut in the field and the lower placed riders will have to watch their peers compete from back home (the exact cuts can be seen in the calendar below).
 
With these two facts in mind this stop is of the upmost importance to the riders. When the stop was first announced, the female snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer (FRA/SUI) didn't hide her determination to qualify: “I'm thrilled to compete in Alaska, having a FWT stop in Alaska is essential as it is the mecca of freeriding. The terrain is challenging yet very exciting... I definitely want to take part in it!”
 
Verbier, Switzerland (March 28)
The season ends with a special anniversary: the 20th edition of the Xtreme Verbier. Only the top riders in each category will have a chance to ski in this prestigious FWT final event. This stop with its intimidating competition face, the Bec des Rosses, is the ultimate challenge and honor of any freerider.
 
Two-time winner at the Bec des Rosses, the solid Swede, Reine Barkered (SWE) is happy to be part of the history of the “Bec”: “I'm excited to have the chance to compete at the 20th anniversary of Verbier Xtreme. Verbier is the crowning point for a freerider and I will do my very best to step up to the top of the podium here a third time!”
 
Event packages
For those who wish to come and experience the events live on the spot, advantageous event packages can be purchased in the online shop on www.freerideworldtour.com

Related Pages

Chamonix

Grands-Montets panorama, Chamonix

Chamonix offers some truly excellent freeriding and great natural freestyle terrain. It's not great for beginners and can suffer if there's not much snow. It's rough round the edges - but therein lies its charm. If you can, wait until there's fresh snow then jump in your car.