Freeride World Tour Qualifier Events Announced
Competitors waiting for the start, Chaminox 2010. Image:: C Margot/Freeride World Tour
Freeride World Tour
The Freeride World Qualifier Events (FWQ) is a series of qualifying competitions in which highly-skilled skiers and snowboarders compete with the ultimate goal of grabbing a spot on the Freeride World Tour (FWT).
With the high interest and much at stake, the FWQ 2011 will feature some of the most exciting competitive freeriding going, in 30 ski resorts around the world. In addition, the Freeride World Tour is launching its first ever Junior Competitions to further promote grassroots freeriding and fuel young talent.
Freeride World Qualifier Events 2011
The Freeride World Qualifier events are open-entry and have both men’s and women’s disciplines where riders build points towards qualifying for the Freeride World Tour. Events are classified as 1*, 2*, 3* and 4*, with the number of points awarded based on the star value of the event. Star values are based on a number of criteria including the quality of the competition face, field of riders and prize-money.
Riders with the most points at the end of the season will earn a spot on the prestigious Freeride World Tour.
Junior Competitions
In an effort to ensure young riders learn the best skills and progress in the safest environment possible, the Freeride World Tour in partnership with Dakine, has introduced a new concept featuring three Junior Competitions. They will be held parallel to the FWT events in Chamonix Mont-Blanc (FRA), Fieberbrunn (AUT), and Verbier (CH). If bad weather or time restrictions interfere, the Junior competition will be replaced by freeride and safety clinics taught by mountain guides and professional freeride skiers and snowboarders. The same judging criteria used for the FWT will be used for the Junior Competitions. Each event will be a distinct, unconnected event with no overall champion in 2011.
The Junior events will emphasise security and accident prevention. Venues for these competitions are carefully chosen to be challenging but not dangerous.
Dates:
23 Jan* Chamonix-Mont-Blanc FWT Juniors by Dakine
13 Mar* Big Mountain Fieberbrunn FWT Juniors by Dakine
20 Mar* Xtreme Verbier FWT Juniors by Dakine
Categories: ski / snowboard / boys / girls / 12-14 years or 15 -17 years
More for the Public
In addition to the elite level and junior competition, the Freeride World Tour 2011 will include a range of freeriding activities for the public. The most recent freeride films will be shown during TGR Film Nights – www.tetongravity.com and everyone can take part in the Freeride Week, which features mountain safety workshops with certified mountain guides and opportunities to ski or snowboard with professional riders.
