MEN SNOWBOARD

2015 FWT champion Jonathan “Douds” Charlet (FRA) is one of the most decorated snowboarders on the tour who is also a professional mountain guide and father in Chamonix, France. After a long and successful career on the FWT, will anyone have the skills and experience to dethrone Charlet? At almost 40, family man and snowboard legend Flo Orley (AUT) shows no signs of slowing down. Orley will ride alongside American Sam Luebke who witnessed the FWT title slip away after a devastating knee injury in 2013. After regaining momentum with a victory in Chamonix in 2014, Luebke has the skills to the take the top spot on the podium this year if he can keep his riding consistent. Maybe it will be Sasha Hamm (UK) who is like any average Brit except that he commutes from his London real estate job to the towering peaks of Chamonix to maintain his reputation of one of Britain’s top riders. With such an eclectic group of riders going head-to-head, 2016 will be a showcase of talents from all walks of life including former FWT13 champion Ralph Backstrom (USA) whose forte is riding lines that just look incredibly fun. FWT14 Swiss champion Emilien Badoux is going to get another chance to show everyone why he’s been present on so many podiums over the years after receiving a coveted wildcard for the 2016 season.

 

Emerging from the FWQ, American young gun Harrison Fitch at only 20 years of age will compete against compatriotJonathan Penfield (USA) (1st place overall FWQ15). With so much snowboard talent concentrated in Region 1 (Europe, Asia, Oceana), can Region 2 (The Americas) get it together to produce some qualifying athletes for the FWT?

 

WOMEN SNOWBOARD

Nothing demonstrates the ability of the FWQ to produce champions like FWT15 overall winner Estelle Balet’s (SUI)story. In just four short years, she went from junior teenage phenom to FWT15 champion. Time will tell if Balet can keep the bar raised and compete with established talents such as former world champion and Franco-Swiss rider Anne- Flore Marxer (FWT11), who has proven time and again that she can ride like a top-level pro.

 

Finnish rider Mikaela Hollsten makes another appearance this year, having represented her home country of Finland for over five years on the FWQ. Hollsten finally gets a chance to compete on the FWT this season and is sitting strong after her top finish in the FWQ15. With such a strong European showing, Canadian Michelle Locke is the only female snowboarder to quality for the FWT16 from the Americas after her top-placing finishes in the FWQ15 season.

 

One of the most inspiring stories for the 2016 season is that of German Olympic Gold Medalist Nicola Thost who receives a deserved wildcard to compete on the FWT after her stunning victory at the Xtreme Verbier last year. Thost proves that despite being a world champion in freestyle half-pipe, an athlete of her caliber can take her skills to the big mountains and win.

 

DEPARTING LEGENDS OPEN THE DOOR TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF RIDERS

The FWT has witnessed some of the best riders in the world develop their skills and advance freeriding to new frontiers over the years. These personalities have demonstrated what it is like to push the limits of their discipline as well as achieve their own personal dreams by becoming the best riders in the world. These athletes will be remembered for redefining the sport and for bringing freeriding to where it is today.

 

Snowboarder Shannan Yates (USA) will be departing after over 10 years of competitive snowboarding and memorable victories including the 2010 Xtreme Verbier. “I like to think that I have been a part in raising the level of women's big mountain snowboarding. I worked hard competing to make it to the FWT and I will always be grateful for the valued friendships, incredible venues, and mountain communities! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”

 

2013 Xtreme Verbier champion and hard charger Kevin Guri (FRA) will be departing the tour this year to pursue his skiing passion in a different style. “After two seasons on the FWQ and four more on the FWT, my notion of skiing has evolved from competition to a more artistic vision such as filming. I will never forget what I’ve experienced on the FWT, especially my victory in Verbier in 2013. It was a dream come true!”

 

While it will be sad to see these riders go, their legacy has set the stage for a higher level of competition and will open the door to a new wave of fresh riders this season and in the future.

 

TUNE INTO THE FWT SEASON OPENER JANUARY 22nd, 2016 in VALLNORD- ARCALIS, ANDORRA

Stay tuned to the action and FOLLOW the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR to see who will prevail when the best riders ever assembled hit the greatest mountains in the world to take home part of the $467,000 cash purse and earn their spot in history as FWT champions! 

 

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SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2016

Event Calendar and Cut

 

1. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR VALLNORD ARCALIS - ANDORRA

Date: January. 22, 2016; Location: Vallnord Arcalis, AND

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

 

2. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC

Date: February 6, 2016; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

 

3. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR FIEBERBRUNN KITZBÜHELER ALPEN

Date: March 6, 2016; Location: Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, AUT

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

 

The following cut takes place after event NO. 3:

- Top 14 Men Ski (from 26)

- Top 7 Women Ski (from 14)

- Top 7 Men Snowboard (from 14)

- Top 5 Women Snowboard (from 8)

Are qualified for FWT Alaska and for FWT17

 

4. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR HAINES - ALASKA

Date: March 17, 2016; Location: Haines

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

 

The following cut takes place after event NO. 4:

- Top 12 Men Ski (from 14)

- Top 6 Women Ski (from 7)

- Top 6 Men Snowboard (from 7)

- Top 4 Women Snowboard (from 5)

Are qualified for FWT Verbier

 

5. SWATCH XTREME VERBIER

Date: April 2, 2016; Location: Verbier, SUI

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

 

 

Stay tuned to www.freerideworldtour.com to stay up on the latest news.

 

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