Press Release from Freeride World Tour:

Revelstoke, BC, Canada: (Jan.10, 2013) — After four days of very snowy British Columbia, Canada weather, the SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face 2013 (FWT) officially announces the competition day on Mackenzie Peak’s “Mac Daddy” face Friday, January 11, 2013.

Athletes will tackle this face beginning tomorrow, January 11

The exciting first stop of the global big mountain freeriding competition can be witnessed from anywhere in the world via the live webcast available at www.freerideworldtour.com. Friday’s competition day will start at 9:00am PST and will begin with the men’s snowboarding, and then men’s freeskiing runs. The competition day will continue with women’s snowboarding and finally women’s freeskiing.

“We anticipated Revelstoke would likely provide snowy weather and prepared ourselves for the storms and challenges they bring to the competition. After recent heavy snowfall, this year in particular is setting up to be some of the best conditions we have ever experienced on the FWT,” stated FWT Americas Competition Director Bryan Barlow. “Going to the end of our weather window is not a surprise, but is going to be well worth the wait for this first competition of the 2013 Freeride World Tour.”

Revelstoke Mountain Resort has received nearly three feet of snow in the past seven days and the snow continues to fall. A cold, dry, high-pressure system has been forecasted for the Revelstoke area starting today (Thurs. Jan. 10), which will make for optimal safe snow conditions and ideal visibility for the day of competition.

The Venue: Mac Daddy

The excitement for the first stop of the 2013 FWT is also felt among the athletes.

“I’m really looking forward to this season. With lots of new riders and great events, I’m sure it will be bigger than ever. The kick-off in Revelstoke is going to be great. A mountain like that is the perfect place for a freeride competition. I’m just glad to be a part of it and no matter what, I’m going to enjoy the show,” remarked defending FWT 2012 Men’s Freesking Champion, Reine Barkered of Sweden.

In its first year of a truly globalized competition structure, The Freeride World Tour is designed to allow the world’s best big mountain freeride athletes to advance their competition careers and achievements. Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the “Mac Daddy” are ideal locations for the first stop of the 2013 FWT with remote, steep, and exposed backcountry terrain, allowing for an exciting and unique North American freeriding venue.

The Freeride World Tour is the premier big mountain freeskiing and snowboarding tour in the world, featuring the sport’s top athletes competing on the biggest mountain resort venues. Riders compete one at a time and receive an overall score from a judging panel based on numerous categories including line difficulty, control, fluidity, technique and style. The event features natural terrain features found on the most exciting format possible. A start gate is positioned at the summit with a finish gate at the bottom. The best complete runs win. The sport is similar in context to big-wave surfing with skiers and snowboarders choosing impossible-looking lines through cornices and cliff-faces and couloirs. Competition runs are enhanced with progressive big jumps and mach-speed turns at an aggressive pace.

Men’s Start List:

– Leo Slemett (FRA)
– Charlie Lyons (NZL)
– Ryan Kappler (CAN)
– Adrien Coirier (FRA)
– Jeremie Heitz (SUI)
– Laurent Gauthier (CAN)
– Colter Hinchliffe (USA)
– Nicolas Salencon (ARG)
– Kevin Guri (FRA)
– Willie Lindberg (SWE)
– Griffin Post (USA)
– Aurelien Ducroz (FRA)
– Silas Chickering-Ayers (USA)
– Markus Eder (ITA)
– Sam Smoothy (NZL)
– Julien Lopez (FRA)
– Drew Tabke (USA)
– Reine Barkered (SWE)
– Stefan Hausl (AUT)
– Seb Michaud (FRA)
– John Collinson (USA)
– Dani Fornell (AND)
– Luke Nelson (CAN)
– Benjamin Ogilvie (CAN)
– Matthias Haunholder (AUT)
– Josh Daiek (USA)
– Mathieu Bijasson (FRA)
– Sean Collin (USA)
– Kevin O’Meara (USA)

Women’s Start List:

– Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR)
– Natalie Segal (AUS)
– Anne May Slinning (NOR)
– Crystal Wright (USA)
– Eva Walkner (AUT)
– Sonja Lercher (CAN)
– Jackie Paaso (USA)
– Ashely Maxfield (USA)
– Christine Hargin (SWE)
– Nadine Wallner (AUT)