WHAT IS FWT by Peak Performance?

FWT by Peak Performance is the world ​circuit of snowboarding and freeride skiing. ​It features some of the world's best riders, ​competing on the most legendary and ​challenging faces, in the most renowned ski ​resorts on the planet.

ABOUT

FWT by Peak Performance is the world ​circuit of snowboarding and freeride skiing. ​It features some of the world's best riders, ​competing on the most legendary and ​challenging faces, in the most renowned ski ​resorts on the planet.

WE ARE THE HOME OF FREERIDE

The Xtreme Verbier, an event that has attained iconic status in the world of freeride skiing and snowboarding, initially started as a single competition in 1996, but has then evolved into the highly coveted Freeride World Tour (FWT), a prestigious series of global events that attracts the best and most daring athletes from around the globe.


Since its introduction in 2008, the FWT has captivated the imaginations of freeride enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike. This awe-inspiring tour showcases the most legendary and challenging alpine faces at renowned ski resorts across the world, providing a platform for the world's top riders to showcase their skills and push the boundaries of what is possible in freeride sports.

The success of the FWT has led to the expansion of the FWT brand, encompassing multiple competition series that cater to different levels of skill and experience. These include the FWT Challenger, FWT Qualifier, and FWT Junior, each designed to nurture talent, foster growth, and provide opportunities for athletes at various stages of their freeride journey, across the Sport Pyramid.


Together with the riders' community and fans around the globe, we're building the Home of Freeride.

Once again this year, get ready to participate in an epic ride with us, where we will send it bigger and higher than ever before!

STOP 1

Baqueira Beret Pro, January 27 - February 1

The FWT by Peak Performance kicks off in ​the Spanish Pyrenees for the third ​consecutive year, a location that never ​disappoints with its epic terrain backed up ​by an incredible local crowd. Competition ​returns to the Bacivér face, where we’ll get ​the first glimpse of the new class of ​rookies, and see if they can hold their own ​against the established roster and ​returning champions.

STOP 2

Ordino Arcalís Pro, February 1 - 7

Back-to-back action in the Pyrenees as the ​FWT by Peak Performance moves to ​neighboring Andorra, where Ordino Arcalís ​will host the world’s best once again. ​Riders have been putting their mark on ​these mountains since 2015, and will be ​treated to the incredible venue of the Pic de ​les Planes, a creative big mountain haven ​with all the ingredients needed for playful, ​freeride action.

STOP 3

Kicking Horse Golden BC Pro, February 14 - 20

The tour then heads across the Atlantic to North America, returning to the ever-consistent snowpack of British Columbia, Canada. The competition is always intense at Kicking Horse Golden BC, which has hosted the world’s best since 2018. Action will likely be held on the formidable Ozone face, an extreme venue providing ample opportunities for riders to send it large.

STOP 4

Georgia Pro, March 1 - 7 NEW

Nestled at the intersection of Europe and ​Asia, Georgia will host the last stop before ​the Cut, and the ultimate chance for riders ​to qualify for the FWT by Peak Performance ​Finals. Georgia boasts a rich tapestry of ​traditions and a culture renowned for its ​hospitality, as well as the imposing ​Caucasus Mountains, which contain ​multiple peaks over 5,000 meters. Both ​Tetnuldi and Mestia have emerged as ​prominent freeride destinations, offering ​vast big mountain terrain that enjoys ​copious amounts of snowfall over the ​winter months.

STOP 5

Fieberbrunn Pro, March 12 - 18

After the inaugural event in Georgia, the ​best of the best will head to Austria for the ​first FWT by Peak Performance Final, a ​location that has been a tour mainstay ​since 2013. Competition returns to the ​ever-impressive Wildseeloder face, a truly ​intimidating big mountain venue, where ​riders will enjoy a two-run format to ​impress judges in their bid for the title.

STOP 6

YETI Xtreme Verbier, March 23 - 31

A freeride theater that needs no ​introduction, the Grand Finale – as always – ​will be held on the iconic Bec des Rosses in ​Verbier. Dangerous snow conditions forced ​the event to be canceled last season, but ​the FWT by Peak Performance is ready to ​return to a place it has called home since ​1996, and where the next four world ​champions will be crowned.

18 SKI MEN

8 SKI WOMEN

9 SNOWBOARD MEN

5 SNOWBOARD WOMEN

SEASON WILDCARDS

THE FWT

The FWT Pro is a worldwide circuit of freeride snowboarding and skiing.

It features the best riders competing on legendary and challenging alpine faces at renowned ski resorts across the globe.

THE FWT CHALLENGER

The FWT Challenger is the ultimate step towards qualifying for the FWT Pro circuit. The top riders from the FWT Qualifier compete against the bottom-ranked riders from the FWT tour in high-pressure events to earn a spot on the following year's FWT Pro circuit.

THE FWT QUALIFIER

The FWT Qualifier is a qualification circuit designed to develop the talent and skills of athletes. Riders accumulate points through events held worldwide. The scoring system is based on the star ranking of the events and the event regions. The top riders from each region are invited to compete in the FWT Challenger.

THE FWT JUNIOR

These circuits are dedicated to young athletes up to 18 years old, aiming to develop the talents of tomorrow and encourage youth participation in the sport. Emphasis is also placed on injury prevention, safety, and understanding the mountain environment.

THE JUDGING SYSTEM

The goal of our judging system is to ensure that any style of riding has the potential to ​win on any given day. Whether a rider excels in steep terrain, big airs, technical tricks, ​or speed, each style should have a chance to win based on the most impressive run ​that showcases the rider's strengths.

THE 5 JUDGING CRITERIA

LINE - CONTROL - TECHNIQUE - FLUIDITY - AIR AND STYLE

Find out how runs are judged on the FWT by Peak Performance with our Head Judge Lolo Besse.

FIS X FWT MERGER

In December 2022, the FWT announced that it was marking a historic moment by merging with the FIS, which is acquiring all FWT properties. The two organizations will join forces starting from the FWT23 season. By acquiring the FWT, FIS will further unite all disciplines in skiing and snowboarding, giving them more strength and power to develop on the global stage.

BY ACQUIRING THE FWT, FIS IS FURTHER UNITING ALL DISCIPLINES IN SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE

The FWT will continue to run the daily operations of the Tour, remaining committed to its core values of safety, performance, responsibility, inclusivity and fun. Moreover, the competition format, offering a fair path to every athlete, from grassroots to elite events, and the judging system, remain unchanged. FIS will place its focus on the marketing and governance of the FWT, instilling a structure that follows the guidelines of recognized Olympic sports.

Our Duty to the Mountains

Since the 2020 season, the FWT by Peak Performance has been implementing a continuous ​improvement process by committing to a yearly Sustainability program serving 3 long-term goals.

WORKING ON CARBON IMPACT

We are working towards minimizing our carbon impact and focusing on mobility.

PROMOTING A SAFER PRACTICE OF THE SPORT

Safety is our number priority here at the FWT. We are consistently working on promoting a safer practice of our sport.

PROMOTING A MORE EQUAL PRACTICE OF THE SPORT

The purpose of our gender equality program is to implement actions that boost the progress of women's freeriding and groups of discussions so we can all define the next steps together.

Press releases, high-resolution images, video footage, and news cuts will be available for ​editorial use through our email distribution lists during FWT events.

Please sign up here to be added to FWT by Peak Performance distribution lists.

HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES


High-resolution photos are available on ScorePlay.


  • The images may be used for editorial use only and are prohibited for commercial use.
  • When images are used, a credit mention must be present: © Freeride World Tour / Photographer's name (in the photo legend or metadata).
  • If the images are used online, there must be a link to www.freerideworldtour.com where the images are visible.


For any special requests, please fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

VIDEO FOOTAGE


Behind-the-scenes, teasers and winning runs are available directly on FWT Youtube channel and can be embedded in your website.


For any special request, please fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

NEWS CUTS


A generic news cut and script are available on the FWT website, here.


A 4-minute news cut including best actions and winning runs will be produced and available on competition day.


For any special request, please fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

UNILATERALS INTERVIEWS


A 30-second unilateral interview will be conducted for each rider in their mother language and in English for the winners. The interviews will be available on competition day.

TV FORMATS


The following TV Products are available for each event.


  • Livestream: available on FWT Player and FWT YouTube Channel
  • 100min Live Summary: Competition recap available on D+2
  • 52min Highlight Show: Competition best of available on D+3
  • 26min Magazine Show: Action and Lifestyle available on D+6


When it comes to showcasing the FWT by Peak Performance, there are numerous new angles to ​explore. With this multifaceted approach, we aim to engage a diverse audience and convey the ​essence of the tour from different perspectives, keeping the excitement alive in new and ​engaging ways.

Here are some examples to take inspiration from:

BEHIND THE SCENES


The Insider’s Point of View:

  • The complexity of organizing a FWT event in the most remote places in the world
  • The decision-making to kick off the competition depends on meteorological conditions
  • What requirements should a mountain face have in order to host a FWT event?


The Work of the FWT’s Staff:

  • Being part of the Mountains Operations Team
  • What are the challenges of being an FWT judge?
  • The complex work of photographers and camera operators during the Competition


FIS:

  • What changes can we expect after the merge with FIS?
  • The FWT on its path to the 2030 Olympic Games
  • How this merge will affect the future of young and upcoming riders?


SUSTAINABILITY


Actions for the future:

  • What actions is FWT taking to become more sustainable?
  • What is FWT doing to establish gender equality in the sport?
  • FWT's mobility has a big impact on carbon footprint, what initiatives will be developed in ​this regard?


SPORT DEVELOPMENT


Sports Pyramid:

  • What is the path to qualifying on the FWT?
  • The level of the Challengers series is increasing every year, why these competitions are so ​important?
  • Why are more and more young talents entering the freeride scene around the world?


RIDERS


3, 2, 1 Drop-In:

  • Go with a rider to the start gate and follow him during the preparation phase
  • What goes through the rider’s mind before dropping in?
  • The scope, analysis, and choice of the line


The Freeride Mindset:

  • The fear of the void, charging in steep conditions while pushing the limits
  • The ski background of the FWT riders
  • What it takes to become one of the world’s best Freeriders?


Safety:

  • How and how often do riders train for safety and avalanche rescue on the FWT?
  • Worst crashes and how to recover mentally and physically from them
  • What is the mandatory equipment needed to compete on the FWT?


WHAT THE FWT - THE UNTOLD STORY

What the FWT is a film presented by Alpina ​Watches that unveils the astonishing story of ​the FWT, including a behind-the-scenes look ​into the colossal effort it takes to run an event.


The film also focuses much of the story on the ​fabled Bec des Rosses, highlighting the ​importance each athlete places on conquering ​this mountain.

The Freeride World Tour thanks its Partners for helping the Freeride ​scene develop and grow.

“The renewed support of our sponsors fills me with great enthusiasm for this season ​and the following ones. Together we are taking FWT to the next level.”

− Nicolas Hale-Woods, FWT Founder and CEO

YOUR CONTACTS

GLOBAL

For global and international matters, please contact the FWT Press team:


Marianna Dallabetta Armani | +39 392 3254391 | marianna@freerideworldtour.com

Neels Augsburger | +41 78 889 30 62 | media@freerideworldtour.com



NEWS DISTRIBUTION

For News Distribution matters related to the FWT Pro Events, please contact:


Simone van Slingerland | +43 (0) 660 701 85 31 | simone@eye-sprint.com


REGIONAL

For images, interviews, and other local requests, please contact the relevant FWT regional PR Officer:


Switzerland — Francine Janet-Moreillon | +41 79 834 17 18 | francine@verbierebikefestival.com

Austria/Germany — Gerti Ring | +49 171 784 55 19 | gerti@ring-pr.de

Spain — Ander Ordoño | +34 647 269 282 | ander@marramedia.com