press kit in english

PRESSKIT 2016
www.freerideworldtour.com - photographe : David Carlier - rider : Nicola Thost - © FWT 2015
LIVE WEBCAST ON
FREERIDEWORLDTOUR.COM
Facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour
- SKI MEN 1. GEORGE RODNEY (USA)
2. Jérémie Heitz (SUI)
3. Reine Barkered (SWE)
- SNOWBOARD MEN -
Since 2008, the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR has hosted the best
freeriders in the world on its 5-stop world-cup competition tour. In 2016, 62
athletes will compete on the most legendary venues on the planet, culminating
with the Xtreme Verbier. 27 male skiers, 14 male snowboarders, 14 female
skiers and seven female snowboarders will participate in three European events
in Andorra, France, and Austria.
At the end of the first three competitions, only select riders (men and women)
will qualify for the highly-anticipated Haines, Alaska event.
A second selection determining the start list for the historic Verbier Xtreme, in
Switzerland, will be made directly after the Haines event. The world champion
for each discipline will be crowned based on the the combined results of all
competition stops. Fans can follow the FWT and view the live webcast on:
www.freerideworldtour.com
> W atch the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j52imKMa9Pk
Idea for a special report
Throwback on the origins of the Freeride World Tour. In 2015, Verbier Xtreme celebrated
20 years. How has the sport of freeride evolved over the years? How have the sponsors
and organizations supporting these events changed? Meet and greet with the board
sports enthusiast and founder of the FWT: Nicolas Hale-Woods.
2
1. JONATHAN CHARLET (FRA)
2. Sammy Luebke (USA)
3. Flo Orley (AUT)
www.freerideworldtour.com - photographe : J-Bernard - rider : Aurélien Ducroz - © FWT 2015
FWT15
GENERAL
RANKING
- SKI WOMAN 1. EVA WALKNER (AUT)
2. Silvia Moser (ITA)
3. Hazel Josie Birnbaum (USA)
- SNOWBOARD WOMAN 1. ESTELLE BALET (SUI)
2. Shannan Yates (USA)
3. Elodie Mouthon (FRA)
www.freerideworldtour.com - photographer: J-Bernard - rider : Estelle Balet © FWT 2015
SWATCH
FREERIDE
WORLD TOUR
2016
THE
SWATCH FREERIDE
WORLD TOUR 2016
CALENDAR
1. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR VALLNORD ARCALÍS
Date: January 23, 2016 // Location: Vallnord Arcalis, AND
Disciplines: Ski and Snowboard - Men and Women
2. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANCDate :
Date: February 6, 2016 // Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA
Disciplines : Ski and Snowboard - Men and Women
3. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR FIEBERBRUNN KITZBÜHELER ALPEN
Date: March 6, 2016 // Location: Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, AUT
Disciplines: Ski and Snowboard - Men and Women
4. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR HAINES
Date: March 17, 2016 // Location: Haines, AK
Disciplines: Ski and Snowboard - Men and Women
5. SWATCH XTREME VERBIER
Date: April 2, 2016 // Location: Verbier, SUI
Disciplines : Ski and Snowboard - Men and Women
With the support of partners and to support the athletes, the Freeride World Tour 2016
money prize is set at 468,000 US dollars.
3
THE FREERIDE PYRAMID
Freeriding is a sport that has experienced tremendous growth during the last few years and is supported by
a “pyramid” of development programs. Under the leadership of the Freeride World Tour, the Freeride World
Qualifier and the Freeride Junior Tour are designed to support grassroots growth in the sport. In addition, the
FWT Club is implemented in cooperation with ski schools throughout Europe.
// The Freeride World Tour (FWT)
The FWT is the worldwide circuit of freeride snowboarding and skiing with the best riders in the world
competing on the most legendary and challenging alpine faces and the most renowned ski resorts across
the world.
// The Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ)
The world qualification circuit is designed to develop the talent and skills of up-and-coming athletes. Riders
accumulate points via 60 events held around the world (including forty in Europe).The score system is based
on the star ranking of the qualifying events (1-4 stars) and the event region: region 1 (Europe, Asia, and
Oceania) and region 2 (USA, Canada, Chile, and Argentina).http://freerideworldqualifier.com
// The National Freeride Events
France, Austria, Norway, and Switzerland have created a national circuit enabling athletes to evaluate their
ranking and become national champions of their respective countries.
// The Freeride Junior Tour (FJT)
The FJT was founded in 2011 in order to develop a platform for young athletes (boys and girls) aged 14-17
to develop their skills and become future world champions. Beyond the coaching to develop their riding
skills, these events teach young athletes how to safely pursue their passion for freeriding by emphasizing
prevention, safety, and responsibility in mountain environments.
http://freeridejuniortour.com
Idea for a special report
3 European stops classified three stars:
• FREERIDE JUNIOR TOUR BY DAKINE IN CHAMONIX (FRA)
Date: February 6, 2016; Location: Chamonix (FRA)
• FREERIDE JUNIOR TOUR BY DAKINE IN FIEBERBRUNN (AUT)
Date: March 5, 2016; Location: Fieberbrunn, (AUT)
• FREERIDE JUNIOR TOUR BY DAKINE IN VERBIER (SUI)
Date: April 2, 2016; Location: Verbier, (SUI)
Who are these young and enthusiastic powderaddicts joining the freeride clubs? How did these
young athletes first get involved in the sport
and how do they prepare and train for the
competitions? Meet them at the Freeride Junior
Tour by Dakine in 2016.
// The FWT Club
Since 2012 the FWT has collaborated with European ski schools to develop the skills of youth and adult
skiers and snowboarders. These outings are sanctioned by the FWT and are offered throughout the season
as day to weeklong courses. http://club.freerideworldtour.com/
A COMMON RATING SYSTEM TO ALL CIRCUITS ( FWT - FWQ - FJT )
THE JUDGING CRITERIA: fluidity - line choice - control - tricks - technique - style,
As well as a single score based on the general impression of the run. The scores range from 1-10. Each circuit has
four judges plus one head judge and one video judge making six total judges. Three judges are from a snowboard
background and three judges are from a ski background.
4
ENGLISH SPEAKING RIDERS
// WOMEN’S SKI 8TH FWT OVERALL RANKING 2015
// 5TH FWT OVERALL RANKING 2015
Jackie Paaso (USA)
Jackie Passo hails from Lake Tahoe, California but is originally
from the East Coast of the United States. She comes from a
freestyle background but is known on the FWT for often taking
bigger airs then her male counterparts.
Paaso his consistently ranked well in FWT events and brings
an incredibly powerful riding style and line selection to girls’
rankings.
Sam Smoothy (New Zealand)
Heavy hitting Kiwi phenomenon Sam Smoothy never
disappoints with a plethora of victories and memorable lines in
his decade-long career. Smoothy saw another impressive year
in 2015 with incredible runs in Vallnord and a 2nd place overall
finish in 2014. There’s no doubt that Smoothy will deliver a
fantastic show to spectators for the 2016 season.
“I couldn’t help but get interested in freeriding with all the
terrain around me at Squaw Valley. I had a few friends that
recognized my skiing ability and pushed me to enter some
contests. The first few freeride comps I did on borrowed touring
skis or demo skis. Unfortunately I had a few technical issues,
walking out of bindings etc... but before those moments it was
a blast. Immediately I was hooked. I always knew I wanted to
be a skier. At first, my mind was set on freestyle but as I was
introduced to more of what skiing had to offer, I knew I wanted
to be able to explore more of the mountains. Freeride skiing
opened those doors for me and I’ve been exploring mountains
all over the world ever since.”
// MEN’S SKI 4TH FWT OVERALL RANKING 2015
Drew Tabke (USA)
1st FWT Overall Ranking 2013. Drew Tabke from Seattle,
Washington, USA has been claiming podiums for the better
part of a decade. Tabke is known for his huge backflips and
360s as well as always taking the most original and creative line
down the mountain. Tabke is always a pleasure to watch as he
continuously graces podiums across the world.
// MEN’S SNOWBOARD 5TH FWT OVERALL RANKING 2015
Sammy Leubke (USA)
Family man Sammy Leubke is a FWT veteran from Squaw Valley, CA, USA. Sammy has been racking up podium finishes for years on
the FWT. Leubke has been charging film segments as well as taking home victories, including a 2013 victory in Fieberbrunn, Austria,
and a third place overall finish for the 2013 FWT season.
“Freeriding is not like racing where the person through the finish lines first wins. It’s perception and everyone has a different view
on what looks good and what should score. But what I have found is to do a run which you enjoy yourself. When you are riding
with friends and watch your friend shred a gnarly line, you really feel that energy. So send it and enjoy what you’re doing. What
will be will be.”
5
FREERIDE JUNIOR
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
2016 GRANDVALIRA
Idea for a Special report
For the second consecutive year, the Grandvalira resort will be hosting over 60 young
champions from 16 countries worldwide on its spectacular terrain in the Pyrenees mountains.
The 4th edition of the Freeride Junior World Championships will take place in Grandvalira on
January 28th, 2016. First organized in 2013 in Snowbird, Utah (USA), and in 2014 in Big Sky
in Montana (USA), the 2016 edition will be the second year that this competition returns to
the Old Continent.
The latest generation of freeriders have shown a constant commitment to raising the bar, yearafter-year. The juniors continue to impress with their incredibly high level of riding that will
undoubtedly give any riders on the FWQ a run for their money.
6
Grandvalira, the celebrated Andorran
resort in the Pyrenees known worldwide
for its superb freeride terrain, is hosting
the FWJC for the second consecutive year.
What are the challenges for a hosting
resort to execute an event of this caliber?
Freeriding is becoming more and more
popular in the Pyrenees mountains–
what is the scene like and how is it
growing?
www.freerideworldtour.com - photographer : T.Lloyd. - rider : FJWC riders © FWT 2015
Date: January 28, 2016 // Location: Grandvalira (AND)
Discipline : Skiing & Snowboarding - Men and Women
PARTNERS
SWATCH
Launched in 1983 by Nicolas G. Hayek, is a leading
Swiss watch maker and one of the world’s most
popular brands. The first Swatch watches surprised
everyone with their revolutionary concept, creative
design and provocative spirit. Today Swatch continues
to innovate and surprise with new models, collections
and special editions. The brand maintains a strong
presence in the world of sports with its commitment
to snowboarding, freeskiing, surfing, beach volleyball
and Mountainbike Dirt Jump. Right from the start,
Swatch connected with art and artists, and Swatch
watches remain a prominent canvas for artists from a
broad range of disciplines.
www.swatch.com AUDI
In 2014, the Audi Group delivered approximately
1,741,100 cars of the Audi brand to its customers.
The company achieved revenue of €53.8 billion and
an operating profit of €5.15 billion in 2014. Audi
operates globally in more than 100 markets and has
production facilities in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm
(Germany), Györ (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium),
Bratislava (Slovakia), Martorell (Spain), Kaluga (Russia),
Aurangabad (India), Changchun and Foshan (China) as
well as Jakarta (Indonesia). The brand with the Four
Rings will start producing cars in Curitiba (Brazil) this
year and in San José Chiapa (Mexico) in 2016. Wholly
owned subsidiaries of AUDI AG include quattro
GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
(Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and sports motorcycle
manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna,
Italy). The company currently employs approximately
80,000 people worldwide, thereof around 58,000
in Germany. Total investment of about €24 billion
is planned from 2015 to 2019 – primarily in new
products and sustainable technologies. Audi is
committed to its corporate responsibility and
has anchored the principle of sustainability for its
products and processes in its strategy. The long-term
goal is CO2-neutral mobility.
www.audi.com
SCOTT
SCOTT SPORTS SA, based in Givisiez, Switzerland, is
a leading international manufacturer of premium bike
accessories/ equipment, wintersport, running and
motorsport products. Since 1958 founder Ed Scott`s
initial version of technical innovation has served
as the cornerstone for the company`s philosophy:
innovation, technology, design. The longterm
partnership with the Freeride World Tour underlines
the commitment of SCOTT for the Freeride Sport
and fits perfectly to our brand image and - positioning.
SCOTT is the official Tour Supplier for Skis, Poles,
Eyewear, Body Protection and Helmets. For more
information please visit: www.scott-sports.com
MARKER
For more than 60 years now, Marker has been a driving
force of skiing innovations and solutions. As a pioneer
and premium manufacturer of bindings systems
and protective snow equipment, the Marker name
is synonymous around the globe with performance
and safety in winter sports. Marker’s Royal Family of
freeski bindings have attained legendary status, as can
be seen in the roster of pro riders who put their trust
in Marker even in the toughest arenas, including the
Freeride World Tour. More information:
www.marker.net
VÖLKL
As the sole ski maker developing and producing in
Germany, Völkl is proud of its 90 years of «Made
in Germany» quality. The brand with the famous
double V has been the origin of many of the greatest
innovations in the history of skiing. The firm from
the Bavarian town of Straubing is today among the
most famous and successful global brands in winter
sports, serving up world-class gear for classic alpine
as well as freeride and freestyle adventures. Völkl’s
international freeski team brings together some of
the best riders on the planet, who lay it all on the line
atop Völkl ski models like the SHIRO and TWO. More
information www.voelkl.com
GO PRO
GoPro, Inc. is transforming the way consumers
capture, manage, share and enjoy meaningful life
experiences. We do this by enabling people to
capture compelling, immersive photo and video
content of themselves participating in their favorite
activities. Our customers include some of the world’s
most active and passionate people. The volume and
quality of their shared GoPro content, coupled with
their enthusiasm for our brand, are virally driving
awareness and demand for our products. What began
as an idea to help athletes document themselves
engaged in their sport has become a widely adopted
solution for people to document themselves engaged
in their interests, whatever they may be. From
extreme to mainstream, professional to consumer,
GoPro has enabled the world to capture and share
its passions, and the world, in turn, is enabling GoPro
to become one of the most exciting and aspirational
companies of our time. For more information, visit
www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on YouTube,
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn.
PEAK PERFORMANCE
Where mountains touch the sky and water reaches
land is where we live, create and dream. Our love for
the great outdoors and leading an active life has been
our main inspiration since 1986. Peak Performance,
established with a passion in Åre, Sweden.
www.peakperformance.com
DAKINE
Based in Hood River, Oregon, DAKINE was founded
in Maui, Hawai’i in 1979 by a long-time surfer, Rob
Kaplan. DAKINE’S first product, a revolutionary new
surf leash, quickly gained worldwide popularity. In
Hawaiian slang, “Dak ine” means “the best” and the
company has lived up to this standard through attention
to detail, focus on accessories and a notoriously
through design process. With its reputation for top
quality, DAKINE quickly grew beyond its surfing
roots and has become the standard in board
sports accessories for top athletes in the worlds of
snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking,
windsurfing and kite boarding, in addition to surfing.
Today, DAKINE offers a complete range of innovative
products, including sport-specific and street-savy
backpacks, bags, travel gear and accessories, plus a
fashionable girl’s bag collection. The company remains
focused on building durable, innovative products of
the best quality for the most demanding athletes. For
32 years, this passion has given DAKINE its longevity
in the action sports industry and has personified its
reputation for excellence.
www.dakine.com
7
ABS
The hundred times tried and proven TwinBag system
benefits from many years of experience and quality
made in Germany. In an emergency, the TwinBag
system can be effortlessly activated in a matter of
seconds. The dual airbags have a volume of 170L,
forming an effective, wide surface area together with
the body. The side-mounted, flexible airbags stabilize
the entire body and the airbags are designed to
prevent any snow gathering between the back of the
head and the airbag itself. Two airbags offer double
safety. If one is damaged during the descent, the other
will remain inflated. The shape and position of the
ABS® TwinBags increase the chances of staying on
the surface of the avalanche significantly and reduce
the risk of injury. www.abs-airbag.com
MONS ROYALE
Mons Royale creates versatile merino clothing that
blends performance with style to be worn on and off
the mountain. Launched in 2009, the brand has grown
from its hometown of Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
– a southern hemisphere mecca for skiers and
boarders from ‘ski bum’ seasonaire to elite athletes
who come here to train and compete in the pristine
Southern Alps. It’s the enthusiasm and love for the
brand of these riders that has helped Mons Royale
spread through the action sports scene and led it to
be stocked in 400 stores across the globe. For the
20th annual Freeride World Tour Mons Royale will
be helping keep athletes fresh for the long haul by
creating a unique set of FWT base layers. Athletes
will travel in comfort between the world class resort
stops thanks to the soft merino fabric; keep warm
while waiting for those perfect freeride conditions;
cherish the temperature regulating qualities of merino
when they hike their way to the best freeride terrain
in the world and head out to the après celebrations
confident that after the event their Mons Royale
garments will still feel and look good.
www.monsroyale.com
KASK
KASK is a riders own brand, introduced to the
freeride world by skiing legends Kaj Zackrisson and
Sverre Liliequist, both from Sweden. It all started with
hand crochet beanies that they made themselves.
Today, more than ten years later, the brand still stands
for «unique stuff to wear with pride», and now carries
a wide range of high quality beanies, ski goggles, 100%
merino base layers and socks. For more info and
webshop, visit www.kaskofsweden.com - Live a little!
TEKO
Ever since TEKO, the eco-performance sock brand, was
launched ten years ago it has combined performance,
comfort and fit with strong ethical and environmentally
friendly values.TEKO is a Scottish company owned and run
by a team of passionate freeriders and foot experts.They are
passionate about caring for the environment and looking at
a sustainable supply chain where they know precisely where
all of their raw materials originate from and how they are
selected and processed. They ensure that the production
process has further minimal impact on the planet by using
natural energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro, to
power the factories that manufacture TEKO socks. TEKO
has been a licensed partner of the Freeride World Tour for
three years and has just signed a new three year deal. The
TEKO FWT range launching this Autumn is made from
chlorine-free merino, recycled polyester and incorporates
their latest technology, the WRAP SYSTEM, designed to
ensure the snuggest, most stable and comfortable fit ever.
Our goal is to be the best socks for the planet. Now we can
truly be the best freeride sock on the planet!
www.tekoforlife.com
Idea for a Special report
- Website www.freerideworldtour.com
Security, priority # 1 on the FWT events:
how to manage it, how to implement it
and what is the backup system engaged
in an accident during the competition?
Discover all the “behind the scenes” of a
competition.
- Facebook www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour
- Twitter https://twitter.com/FreerideWTour
- Instagram https://instagram.com/freerideworldtour/
- Youtube Regarder le meilleur du FWT en vidéos sur :
www.youtube.com/FreerideWorldTourTV
- Live on www.freerideworldtour.com
www.dailymotion.com
www.youtube.com
- Photographers Jeremy Bernard • Dom Daher
CONTACTS
MEDIA RELATIONS UK
Nadine Carle
nadine@montagnes.uk.com
+44 790 525 24 60
MEDIA RELATIONS AMERICAS
(USA, CANADA)
FWT Americas Manager
Tom Winter
tom@freerideworldtour.com
+1 303 525 7767
MEDIA RELATIONS
OTHER COUNTRIES
FWT Media Relations Manager
Federica Castelli
federica@freerideworldtour.com
+41 (0)78 852 77 56
www.freerideworldtour.com - photographer: J. Bernard - rider: Anne-Flore Marxer and Estelle Balet © FWT 2015
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