What Is the Freeride World Tour?
FWT Management SA, a company based out of Verbier, Switzerland, has facilitated sporting events in mountain resorts and regions since 1996. The company’s first iconic skiing and snowboarding event was the Xtreme Verbier.
In 2008, FWT Management SA transformed the stand-alone Xtreme Verbier Event into an on-the-road circuit-style event series. Since then, FWT Management SA has grown exponentially. They have successfully carried out 160 events around the globe, with over 5,000 professional, amateur, and junior licensed riders competing in Junior, Qualifier, and Challenger events. The crown jewel of these events is the Freeride World Tour.
The Philosophy of Freeriding
The FWT Judging System
To evaluate the line a rider takes, Freeride World Tour judges use a point system ranging from 0 to 100. There are four judges; one head judge, two judges, and one video judge. Two of the judges come from a skin background, and two come from a snowboarding background.
The riders get one run and are judged according to five criteria– the difficulty of the line, control, fluidity, jumps, and technique– and “the overall impression” of the ride. At the end of the day, the rider with the highest score out of 100 takes home the victory.
Difficulty and Choice of Line
To consider the difficulty and choice of line, judges examine the danger factor, how the different sections in the line link up, how imaginative the line is, and lastly, how unique the line is when compared to other riders’ lines.
Control
In freeriding, control is everything. It’s a matter of life and death. That’s why the judges are strict about this category. If the rider shows control, they will be judged kindly. On the other hand, if the rider descends their line with reckless abandonment, they will not score well.
Fluidity
Fluidity is all about rewarding riders who can shred their line from start to finish without stopping. The judges are looking for riders who do not hesitate before hitting features and do not get lost on their way down the mountain.
Jumps and Tricks
The jumps and tricks during the competition are what make the Freeride World Tour so exciting. Even more impressive is that the trial acrobatics are performed on 100% natural features. To judge the jumps and tricks, judges examine how riders hit features, what they do in the air, and how they land.
Technique
The technique category is all about returning to the sport’s basics. Good body positioning and expert manipulation of the rider’s equipment are the most important. Judges look for control issues due to a lack of technique. For example, riders can lose points if they side-slip down a section where other competitors are carving turns.
The Freeride World Tour’s Investment in the Future of Skiing and Snowboarding
The FWT is not only interested in putting on fantastic ski and snowboard events for us to spectate. The tour organizers, along with the competitors, are interested in developing a long-term strategy so that the Tour can sustainably grow and positively impact the planet and future generations of freeriders. The FWT’s strategy builds upon three important pillars.
Carbon Neutrality by 2030
By 2020, the Freeride World Tour intends to offset 100% of its carbon emissions, drastically shrinking its carbon footprint. Every year the FWT offsets carbon emissions for travel for staff, media personnel, competitors, equipment operators, helicopters, and more. To do so, they use an organization called My Climate.
Mountain Safety Education
There can be no FWT without the riders. That’s why the FWT considers safety a top priority.
“Safety is the number one priority for Freeride World Tour. Education is the first and most important aspect of mountain safety.”
Nicolas Hale-Woods, CEO FWT
To demonstrate its commitment to safety, the FWT focuses on educating its athletes. Every season the riders participate in avalanche safety courses with WEMountain. In addition, riders participate in safety-related workshops for the continued safe practice of freeriding and ski touring activities.
The FWT also focuses on safety by equipping them with top-of-the-line safety equipment. Every piece of safety equipment is inspected before each competition.
- Helmet
- Neck and spine protection
- Avalanche transceiver and probe
- Shovel
- Harness
- Avalanche airbag
Equality and Inclusion
The third pillar of the FWT plan for sustainability focuses on gender inclusivity.
In 2020, the FWT announced that women and men competitors will be awarded equal prize money across all categories.
In 2022, the FWT created committees to discuss gender equality topics. The committees included athletes, coaches, judges, speakers, event organizers, and staff members.
In 2023, we can look forward to the first women-exclusive event during the Xtreme Verbier in Switzerland.
The 2023 Freeride World Tour
There is much to look forward to for the 2023 Freeride World Tour. There will be five entertaining events from all over the globe.
- Baqueira Beret, Spain
- Ordino Arcalís, Andorra
- Golden, British Columbia
- Fieberbrunn, Austria
- Verbier, Switzerland
To follow along, subscribe to the Freeride World Tour email newsletter. And watch the events on the FWT live streams.
I am a rock climbing guide & freelance writer. I enjoy combining the physicality of my work as a guide during the climbing season with the more cerebral and reflective practices of writing during the winter months. I am originally from California but currently reside in Albany, NY, with my partner and dog.