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Freeride World Tour

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Freeride World Tour
Current season2024 Freeride World Tour
SportFreeride skiing, Freeride snowboarding
Founded2008
FounderNicolas Hale-Woods
CeoNicolas Hale-Woods
ChampionSki Men: Maxime Chabloz, Ski Women: Jessie Anderson, Snowboard Men: Victor de Le Rue, Snowboard Women: Molly Armanino
Most champsSki Men: Aurélien Ducroz (2), Ski Women: Jessie Anderson (2), Snowboard Men: Ralph Backstrom (2), Snowboard Women: Marion Haerty (3)
TvRed Bull TV, Outside TV, Eurosport
Related compsFreeride World Qualifier, Junior Freeride Tour
Websitehttps://www.freerideworldtour.com

Freeride World Tour. It is the premier competitive circuit for big mountain skiing and snowboarding, showcasing elite athletes descending steep, unmarked, natural terrain. Founded in 2008, the series has grown into a globally recognized championship, with events held across iconic mountain ranges in Europe, North America, and Japan. The tour crowns annual world champions in four categories, significantly influencing the progression and popularity of freeride culture worldwide.

History

The concept originated from the Verbier Xtreme, a prestigious freeride contest held since 1996 as part of the Swiss Freeride Series. In 2008, entrepreneur Nicolas Hale-Woods unified several major independent events, including the Xtreme Verbier, to create a cohesive global tour under the Swatch Freeride World Tour title, with Swatch as the founding title sponsor. Early seasons solidified the tour's reputation, attracting top riders from the competitive freeskiing and snowboarding scenes. Key organizational milestones include the 2012 integration of a qualifying series, the Freeride World Qualifier, and the 2016 transition to an athlete-owned model following the departure of Swatch.

Competition format

The season typically comprises five to six stops, with athletes accumulating points based on their best results. At each event, riders are judged on a holistic criteria including line choice, fluidity, control, technique, and air and style. A panel of judges, often including former champions like Dylan Siggers, scores each run out of 100 points. The format is a one-run, winner-takes-all competition, though weather can lead to cancellations or adjustments. The overall champions are determined by their top two results, plus mandatory finals points, a system designed to reward consistency and peak performance under high stakes.

Disciplines and categories

Competition is divided into four distinct categories: Ski Men, Ski Women, Snowboard Men, and Snowboard Women. Each category competes on the same venue but is judged separately, allowing for discipline-specific progression. The tour exclusively features freeride skiing and freeride snowboarding, distinct from the groomed slopes of Alpine skiing or the terrain parks of slopestyle. This focus on natural, ungroomed mountain faces demands a unique skill set combining big mountain awareness, powder riding, and cliff-hucking prowess.

Notable athletes

The tour has been a platform for legendary figures who have defined modern freeriding. Multiple-time champions include skiers Aurélien Ducroz and Kristofer Turdell, and snowboarders Ralph Backstrom and Marion Haerty. Iconic personalities like Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Jeremy Jones have also competed, bridging the gap between backcountry exploration and competition. Recent dominant forces include skiers Maxime Chabloz and Jessie Anderson, and snowboarders Victor de Le Rue and Molly Armanino. The tour has also launched the careers of younger stars such as Tracy Chollet and Ben Richards.

Tour locations and venues

Events are held at renowned big mountain venues across the globe. European stops frequently include Bec des Rosses in Verbier, Switzerland, and the Pyrenees of Andorra at Ordino-Arcalís. The tour regularly visits North America, with historic events at Alaska's Tordrillo Mountains and British Columbia's Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The Japan stop, often in Hokkaido at Niseko United, adds a deep powder element. Other past venues include Fieberbrunn in Austria and Chamonix in the French Alps.

Impact and recognition

It has profoundly elevated freeriding from a niche pursuit to a mainstream Extreme sport, receiving awards like the Best Action Sport Property at the SportsPro OTT Awards. Its media distribution through partners like Red Bull TV and Eurosport has brought big mountain action to a global audience. The tour's structure, with the Freeride World Qualifier and Junior Freeride Tour, has created a clear pathway for aspiring athletes. Furthermore, it has driven technical innovation in ski equipment and snowboard design, while promoting mountain safety and avalanche education within the core community.

Category:Freeride skiing competitions Category:Snowboarding competitions Category:International sports competitions