Freeride World Tour is announcing the third season

on Thursday 1 October 2009
by Francesco Macchi
photo by Freeride World Tour

FOTO: Edizione 2009 - Free Ride World Tour

Henrik Windsted's run at the Nissan Xtreme - Verbier 09

The Freeride World Tour announces its third season. The world's best skiers and snowboarders will yet again be battling it out in four of the world's most prestigious ski resorts. It will all start on the Russian slopes of Sochi in January followed closely by the next stage in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France. The Tour will then journey to the United States to “ride” the mythical Tram Face, that has not yet officially been cleared for a freeriding competition. Finally, those riders with the top ratings will compete in the Tour's grand final in Verbier during the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch which celebrates its 15th year. Get ready for the ride…or breathtaking action guaranteed!

"It is with great satisfaction that we announce the Freeride World Tour's third season. This year the Tour will be staged in some of the world's most renowned ski resorts. Our partner, Nissan, co-founder of the Tour, continues its unwavering support. Swatch, among other partners is reinforcing its involvement by presenting two of the Freeride World Tour's stages this year. Ensured by the participation of the world's top freeriders, we are very keen for the FWT's third season to kick off" comments Nicolas Hale-Woods, founder of the Freeride World Tour.

Who is going to follow in the steps of Aurélien Ducroz - FRA (ski/men), Xavier de Le Rue – FRA (snowboard/men), Ane Enderud – NOR (ski/women) and Susan Mol – USA (snowboard/women)? The pressure is already on. Most riders have already begun their physical and mental pre-season work outs.

"The level among the riders has increased constantly since the first edition of the Tour. It is no longer enough to be a great skier to take part of the Tour. Physical and mental preparation, thorough inspection of the competition face, and top gear, are all important elements that has helped develop freeriding to a professional sport, becomming more and more known by the broad public," says Freeride World Champion 2009 Aurélien Ducroz of France.

Jean-Pierre Diernaz, General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Nissan Europe: "Being a partner since the first day, Nissan confirms its involvement into the discipline and is pleased to contribute to the development of this sport. 2010 represents a major step ahead, making the Freeride World Tour a first class worldwide sport event".

Swiss watch maker Swatch is also supporting the Freeride World Tour. "Swatch has always been looking for exciting partnerships in the field of lifestyle sports. The Freeride World Tour and its new ways of defining modern snowboarding and skiing fits well to our brand's core values such as constant innovation. We are very happy to partner with the third edition of the Freeride World Tour" states Arlette-Elsa Emch, President of Swatch.

The 2010 Freeride World Tour's four stages:
1. NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENTURE BY SWATCH - SOCHI, RUSSIA
Date : January 21st 2010
2. NISSAN FREERIDE OF CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC - FRANCE
Date : January 30th 2010
3. NISSAN TRAM FACE - SQUAW VALLEY USA – UNITED STATES
Date : February 27th 2010
4. NISSAN XTREME BY SWATCH - VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
Date : March 20th 2010

About the Freeride World Tour:
The Freeride World Tour was initiated in 2008 and consecrated by the participation of the world's elite freeriders: men, women, skiers and snowboarders alike. They tour the planet's most radical faces in pursuit of the world freeride title. The Freeride World Tour has achieved full recognition by the world's most accomplished athletes, the prestigious ski resorts hosting its events, and by the media, thanks to FWT's quality organization and choice of locations. Particular care and emphasis is put on security, contest format, and judging. Independent qualification events certified "Freeride World Qualifier" are also on the calendar. This allows large numbers of riders to appear in the Nissan Freeride World Ranking, the world's unique freeriding rating authority, in order to qualify for the Freeride World Tour.