FWT 2022 Calendar Is Here. New Stop & New Format
With summer winding down and winter on the horizon that can only mean one thing; the return of the Freeride World Tour for its 15th season! The world’s best freeriders will be back charging hard for the world title with world-class destinations spanning five countries, an exciting new Tour stop, plus progressive Tour format updates, FWT 2022 promises to reach new heights of Freeride action, with the best riders on the best mountains.
Check out the teaser for the FWT2022 below:
And without further delay, here is the FWT22 calendar:
(NEW) BAQUEIRA BERET, SPAIN I 22 - 28 JANUARY
Freeride finds a fantastic new home in 2022, with Baqueira Beret, Spain hosting the first event of the season. Located in the spectacular Val d’Aran in the Spanish Pyrenees, Baqueira Beret boasts a world-class resort, vast alpine terrain, and copious snowfall, making it an ideal destination for the Freeride World Tour.
Rising Freeride star Aymar Navarro (ESP) shared his excitement at having an FWT event at his home mountain: “If you had told me ten years ago it was possible for a skier from Spain to podium at the Xtreme Verbier, I would have said you were crazy. And now there’s going to be an FWT competition at my home mountain, Baqueira Beret!”
ORDINO ARCALIS, ANDORRA I 30 JANUARY - 5 FEBRUARY
Following the inaugural event at Baqueira Beret, the Tour returns to the perennial Pyrenean freeride mecca of Ordino Arcalís, Andorra! The playful terrain, Ordino Arcalis always delivers some explosive action, showcasing a mix of freestyle and pure freeride!
KICKING HORSE GOLDEN BC, CANADA I 12 - 17 FEBRUARY
The third stop of the FWT22 will see the athletes cross the Atlantic for a triumphant return to Kicking Horse Golden BC, Canada. The new competition format means the Cut will happen here and it will be the last chance for the athletes to earn their place for the FWT22 Finals! The playful terrain packed with natural features makes Kicking Horse Golden BC the ideal destination for riders looking to get creative and advance to the new finals format of the Tour!
SAALBACH FIEBERBRUNN, AUSTRIA I 15 - 20 MARCH
The first Finals event at Saalbach Fieberbrunn will feature a revolutionary best-of-two-runs format. Each rider will have two runs, with only their top score counting towards the final results. Freeride is traditionally a one-run sport, and this format update is certain to push the riding to stratospheric, never-before-seen heights ahead of the all-important showdown at the Xtreme Verbier!
VERBIER, SWITZERLAND I 26 MARCH - 3 APRIL
The Grand and illustrious Finale of the Tour, the Xtreme Verbier, where the athletes will ride down the mythical and incredibly steep Bec des Rosses to compete for the World Championship title. Who will conquer the Bec and be crowned FWT22 Champion!?
A REVOLUTIONARY NEW FORMAT
Key changes have been made to the 2022 Tour format designed to push athletic performance and enhance the overall viewing experience. First, The Cut will now follow the third stop of the Tour (instead of the fourth). After Kicking Horse, a cut will be made to the field based on riders’ top two results, with the top 26 riders (12 ski men, 5 ski women, 5 snowboard men, 4 snowboard women) qualified for the final two events of the year: The FWT Finals.
Freeride World Tour 2022 Calendar and FormatThe first Finals event at Fieberbrunn will feature a revolutionary best-of-two-runs format. Each rider will have two runs, with only their top score counting towards the final results.
Also fueling performance is the redesigned Tour point system, with both FWT Finals events awarding increased points towards the overall Tour ranking (12,500 points for 1st place instead of 10,000). Expect riders to deliver even bolder performances during the Finals, in particular when they face off on the most legendary venue of all, Verbier’s Bec des Rosses.
The FWT organisers ensure that the health of all people involved in the events is the number one priority and are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the safe and successful completion of the FWT22 events.
Summer is winding down and a promising winter season is just around the corner. With extensive media libraries and competition replays to get you through Autumn, and new content and live event coverage streaming all winter long, www.freerideworldtour.com is your online home for Freeride!
