P: freerideworldtour.com

The 2015 Freeride World Tour schedule has just been announced and it has a few surprising twists. With the exception of a men’s-only Alaskan stop, the tour will be held completely in Europe. Full details in the press release below.

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 8, 2014

The SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE® (FWT) is entering a new exciting phase in 2015, with a comprehensive calendar including two great new venues officially announced. The tour will consist of five venues in total for the men and four venues for the women. The Pyrenean resort of Vallnord Arcalis, in Andorra, will host both men and women skiers and snowboarders, and the notorious mountains of Alaska, USA, will see a smaller group of men skiers and snowboarders just before the finals and the 20th anniversary of the “Xtreme Verbier” in Switzerland.

“We are very proud to announce the two new venues added to three already existing and exceptional FWT events. The local organizer at the Pyrenean resort Vallnord Arcalis of Andorra has organized a very successful freeride event since 1998, the El Dorado Freeride, one of the most popular 4-star Freeride World Qualifier events. The terrain is spectacular and there are some great faces for an all-star FWT competition. Regarding Alaska, it’s the epicentre of big mountain riding and every freerider’s dream to go there. The first extreme skiing competitions were organized in Alaska back in the early nineties and that is where the whole freeriding competition scene started. Since we launched the Freeride World Tour in 2008, we have desired to organize a competition there. We are so excited to finally make it happen,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, Freeride World Tour General Manager and Founder.

The Freeride World Tour season 2015 will start off at the mecca of freeriding, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France, January 24, 2015, then head to Austria and Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, January 31. One week later, the athletes will take on Vallnord Arcalis in Andorra for the first time, February 14. After the event at Vallnord Arcalis, there will be a cut for Alaska, USA, with 60 per cent of the men skiers and snowboarders qualifying. In Alaska, there will be a longer weather window to ensure the best possible conditions, March 14-22. The exact location in Alaska is yet to be confirmed. Again 60 per cent of the riders after Alaska will qualify to the grande finale and the 20th anniversary of the Xtreme Verbier, March 28. The women qualify directly to Verbier after Vallnord Arcalis.

Marco Vaccari, Head of Marketing International with Swatch, commented: “We’re delighted to see the Freeride World Tour developing and exploring new territories that will challenge and push the riders to even greater performance levels. The new stop in Andorra promises to be an excellent addition to the Tour after several very successful years hosting Freeride World Qualifier events. Alaska brings another step up – it’s awesome sports territory and is bound to jack up excitement to new heights. And of course we’re very happy and proud to see the Tour wind up the 2015 season in Verbier, Switzerland – home country for Swatch.”

The 2014 season saw some interesting changes in the leader board with the greatest example of rookie Loïc Collomb-Patton of France crowned Freeride World Champion in Men’s Ski his first time on the tour. 16 male skiers, 8 male snowboarders, 7 female skiers and 4 female snowboarders are qualified to 2015. Invited wild cards to the full season and to single events will be announced at a later stage.

Eric Pansier, VP Marketing The North Face® EMEA, said: “The North Face® is very supportive of the decision of the Freeride World Tour organizers to continuously strive for the highest standards possible for the sport and maintain a tour of events that will embody what Big Mountain freeriding means for the community and will inspire the global wider audience. In particular, a new stop in the demanding and stunning terrain of Alaska will give us a very strong opportunity to lead the sport to a new level and show the world what the essence of this event is all about.”

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Event calendar

1. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC BY THE NORTH FACE®

Date: Jan. 24, 2015; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

2. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR FIEBERBRUNN KITZBÜHELER ALPEN BY THE NORTH FACE®

Date: Jan. 31, 2015; Location: Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, AUT

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

3. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR VALLNORD ARCALIS / ANDORRA BY THE NORTH FACE®

Date: Feb 14, 2015; Location: Vallnord Arcalis, AND

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard

4. SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR ALASKA BY THE NORTH FACE®

Date: March 14, 2015; Location: TBD

Disciplines: Men’s Ski and Snowboard

5. SWATCH XTREME VERBIER BY THE NORTH FACE®

Date: March 28, 2015; Location: Verbier, SUI

Disciplines: Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard