AFP Press Release: The 2012 AFP World Tour is comprised of over 100 competitions held at 66 events worldwide, from X Games to regional grassroots events, the AFP currently ranks over 1,500 freeskiing competitors.  The AFP World Ranking provides our sport with a valuable and unparalleled asset; a glimpse into the landscape of our sport with a true world ranking not specific to any tour, series or group.

For the second season the AFP has teamed up with the World Skiing Invitational to create the WSI/AFP World Championships, the culmination of a year of competition.  After climbing the rankings throughout the 11/12 season, top ranked athletes are invited to Whistler for the grand finale, the last opportunity to earn valuable Platinum Level AFP points and the opportunity to be crowned world champion. 

"World Champs is possibly the most exciting event of the season.  Everyone has worked hard all year long to make it to this event and have this final opportunity to top the world rankings." says Steele Spence, AFP General Manager and professional judge.  Spence adds "Through the AFP World Tour athletes have a clear pathway to reach their goals.  Compete, earn points and climb the rankings.  Once you break into that top 30 an athlete can expect to start seeing invitations to the big events, national teams, sponsorships and so on."

AFP World Rankings are calculated by a competitors top 5 best results in his or her discipline.  World Championships is a Platinum Level event, one of eight this season, with 1,100 points for 1st place in halfpipe, slopestyle and big air up for grabs.  There is still plenty of opportunity for advancement in the rankings, as the worlds best freeskiing athletes compete for the honor of 2012 AFP World Champion.  Here is a breakdown of how the rankings stand going into Whistler.

WOMEN'S HALFPIPE WORLD CHAMPION

For women's halfpipe, the World Champion trophy is up for grabs.  Canadian Roz Groenewoud currently sits in first after winning gold at both X Games and X Games Europe.  Nipping at her heels is 19 year old Devin Logan from the US, trailing Roz by only 173 points.  In third position is U.S. Freeskiing's Maddie Bowman who has had a break out season while still attending classes for her senior year of high school.  If Roz places first, second or third at World Champs she will hold onto her first place ranking and the 2012 Halfpipe World Champion Crown.  For Logan to overtake first place she will need a gold at World Champs, with Roz placing below the podium.  For Maddie Bowman to jump up to first from her current seat in third she would need gold at World Champs with Devin and Roz both placing below 10th.

MEN'S HALFPIPE WORLD CHAMPION

For men's halfpipe the two young Americans Torin Yater-Wallace and David Wise have been duking it out all season for first place position.  Torin currently sits on top after winning gold and 1200 points at X Games Europe.  Wise earned 1200 points of his own at X Games Aspen and trails Torin by only 28 points!  The title race for World Champion all comes down to these two competitors at the World Champs.  If Torin finishes above Wise at WC's, he'll take the title.  If Wise places above Torin, the title will be his!  The young Canadian Noah Bowman made waves this season with his spectacular switch ally-oop dub flat 10, grabbing podiums at both X Games Aspen and U.S. Grand Prix Mammoth.  Bowman will remain in third position even with a win at World Champs, numerically unable to cover the 600pt spread between third and second.  However, Bowman is not in the clear yet for the bronze.  Only 20 points behind him in fourth is Thomas Krief from France, coming into Whistler with a lot of confidence after his second place finish at X Games Europe.  If Krief lands on the podium at WC's and Bowman places below fifth place, Kreif will overtake the third place rank!

WOMEN'S SLOPESTYLE WORLD CHAMPION

Women's slopestyle has been dominated by one name the past four winters and 2012 has been no different.  Three time AFP women's slopestyle World Champion, Canadian Kaya Turski is undefeated on the season with five wins in a row!  She sits confidently in first place with 5300 points.  Devin Logan sits in second and Dara Howell currently occupies third.  Even with a win at WC's, neither of these ladies will be able to overtake Kaya, who will be able to consider Whistler a victory lap.  Second and third place trophies are another story as Logan, Howell and fourth ranked Emilia Wint will battle it out for the honors.  For Emilia Wint to overtake third position from Howell, she will need to find her way to the podium and Howell will need to place below seventh.  If Dara Howell places above seventh she will hold onto her third place ranking.

MENS SLOPESTYLE WORLD CHAMPION
Men's slopestyle is without question the most competitive discipline on the AFP World Tour.  2012 has seen over 1000 men ranked in slopestyle worldwide and, a level of progression not even imagined in the past.  Tom Wallisch is the complete package with some of the most difficult tricks, amazing style, and technical rails.  It should come as no surprise that Tom currently sits on top of the AFP World Ranking with 5273.04 points.  In a strong second place is 17 year old Nick Goepper who has blown minds this winter, giving Tom a run for his money at every contest.  Colorado native Bobby Brown holds third place with Norway's Andreas Hatveit in fourth.  Bobby has the opportunity to overtake Goepper's second place ranking with a top five at World Champs, as long as he places higher than Nick.  Likewise, Goepper will hold onto second if he beats out Bobby in the slope comp.  However none of these competitors will  be able to earn enough points to overtake Wallisch, who will be heading home from Whistler with the 2012 Men's Slopestyle World Champion trophy.

MEN'S BIG AIR WORLD CHAMPION

For Big Air, it's too soon to tell.  Things stand to be shaken up this week at Nine Knights in Livigno Italy.  It's an all out battle for the champion between Elias Ambühl, Kai Mahler, Gus Kenworthy and Jossi Wells.  With gold points at Nine Knights and platinum points at World Champs we will simply have to wait and see how it plays out between these fierce competitors.

THE SARAH BURKE OVERALL WORLD CHAMPION

The overall world champion, recently renamed the Sarah Burke Trophy, awards the competitors competing in all three disciplines: halfpipe, slopestyle and big air.  For the men, a competitors top four best results in halfpipe are added to their top four best results in slopestyle and top two big air results; for the women, the top 3 results in both halfpipe and slopestyle count toward their overall point total.  On the men's side, 2011 Overall World Champion Gus Kenworthy finds himself on top once again this season.  With a staggering 23 top five placements this year, Gus is looking strong to win the Sarah Burke Trophy.  Likewise, Devin Logan has displayed her skills in both pipe and slope and is currently sitting second in both disciplines.  Logan and Kenworthy will both be tough to dislodge from the top, but the likes of Dara Howell, Jossi Wells, Joss Christensen, Keri Herman and Torin Yater-Wallace will do all they can to fight for the honor of being Overall World Champion.  All will be decided April 18-22nd in Whistler/Blackcomb at the Second Annual AFP World Championships! For more information visit www.afpworldtour.com.