FIEBERBRUNN FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2022: THE BEST FREERIDERS OF THE FOURTH PHASE
Welcome to the fourth stage of the world's most rider competition: the Freeride World Tour. In the last few days we have attended to all the jumps, qualifications and skiers that have left us freaking out on the Austrian slopes of Fieberbrunn. After touring Spain, Andorra and Canada, fewer and fewer riders remain in this competition. The competition has become more ambitious than ever in Feberbrunn, which welcomed them with impeccable weather conditions as well as the state of the snow.
THE MOST FUN CONDITIONS: THE WILDSEELODER ZONE
The truth is that, if we take a look at the rest of the stages, the temperature has always been lower than the average that usually exists in winter. On these Swedish slopes, it shades the left side more, so the snow becomes cold powder. The right side, which is more exposed to the sun, offers softer snow, and this is something that freeride experts will know how to use in the best way for their jumps.
These incredible conditions that the contestants have enjoyed are almost legendary as they belong to the famous Wildseeloder area of Fieberbrunn which has been holding an event every year almost since 2010. This terrain has been defined by many as one of the most fun in the world to freeride due to its alpine, vertical terrain and rocks. So much so, that it is the only area of the tour where the judges of the contest put into practice the scoring format of the best of two descents, which consists of the riders scoring two rounds in a single day, while which they have called “Best of Two Runs”. Another novelty of this station is that for the first time Fieberbrunn will be part of the FWT final together with Verbier, in Sweden which is the traditional venue for the FWT final.
NEW CLASSIFICATIONS AND NEWS
Let us remember that, in order to qualify for this round, the athletes would have to have been the best of the three previous international competitions among which we find five female skiers, twelve male skiers, four male snowboarders and five female snowboarders. Only they were able to access Austria and, later, Sweden.
In this round, the four athletes who lead the tour ranking have great advantages over those who are in the last positions. However, we must not forget that the events that add up the most are the finals, so much so that the score is multiplied by 1.25. This makes the competition even more intense and interesting, as well as giving hope of winning to the last ones and eliminating from the ranking those who now seem to be the winners of the Freeride World Tour.
It's impressive to see the descent of the 620 meter Wildseeloder mountain with a perfect design of deep bowls and powder snow that will generate natural obstacles, kickers and jumps. This area of the tour has the number one riders and ideal conditions, don't miss it!
Since 8:15 in the morning, when the competitions take place, we have seen the craziest jumps and a grandstand made of snow that has been the place where we have experienced exciting moments.
THE FWT 2022 OF AUSTRIA LIVE AND DIRECT
Austria not only welcomes riders in a spectacular way but also has space for all freeride fans like us. Spectators were able to be there to see the entire competition live and direct. This year the spectator area has been placed right at the finish area in the Wildalm so that they feel freeriding more live than ever.
In addition, the competition offers the famous Freeride World Tour package with 7 nights in the Tui Blue and a 6-day pass which includes participation in the welcome drink, a barbecue, as well as entry to the VIP area in the goal area.
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE FOURTH STAGE OF THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2022
The lucky ones who have made it to the final have experienced all kinds of emotions in the moments of greatest action and freeride of the competition. We have lived from unfortunate falls to the most impressive jumps that are now freeride history.
In men's skiing, the great winner is Maxime Chabloz with his two victories that have placed him in first place in the ranking. For the young Max Palm luck was not so much on his side as he had to withdraw due to an injury sustained on the second leg of the tour in Ordino Arcalis. However, he is a fantastic freerider who has impressed us with his performances and double backflips in early events. That is why it occupies the second absolute position. In third position, but not least, we have the American Andrew Pollard who has all his hopes of reaching the top of the ranking. There are more than 5,000 points that separate him from the Swiss Chabloz but as we have said before, what counts are these last competitions and his fluid style may allow him to reach this score.
In the women's ski category, this fourth stage of the Freeride World Tour leaves us impressed with performances such as that of Jess Hotter who brought freeride to the top of the competition, or the North American skiers Lily Bradley and Olivia McNeil.
Women's snowboarding continues to grow and we can see it with the veteran Erika Vikander who was at the top of the ranking. However, her years of experience won't make it that easy for her as she doesn't have much of an advantage over former world champion Manuel Mandl so we'll have to be careful.
Finally, in men's snowboarding the most outstanding was Camille Armand, a Frenchman like his teammate Victor De Le Rue who, however, failed to qualify for this final stage. Although according to freeride connoisseurs Armand has the talent to become the next Freeride World Tour snowboard champion, his four other opponents aren't going to make it easy for him.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE ANDORRAN ABEL MOGA?
Al Aranese Abel Moga came out very proud of his performance on the Canadian slopes and prepared for this first stage of the final. His position has been in seventh in this event in which he has benefited greatly from the new regulations of the two descents. On the first descent, Moga made a brutal jump on the impressive Wildseeloder mountain. Everything was complicated by the fall that made him roll several meters down the mountain. However, it did not hit the rock and got up on its own foot. In the second he did not play it and made a descent that gave him this seventh position.
Finally, we would like to remind the Spaniard Aymar Navarro who, despite his incredible fourth position in the first competitions, could not opt for more because of his positive for Covid.
Everything indicates that the grand finale will be between March 26 and April 3 in Verbier, Switzerland where we will finally see who becomes the next freeride world champion. Good luck to all the athletes who have reached the last stages of the tour based on their effort and daily training. The sporting spirit in its purest form!
RESULTS OF THE FIEBERBRUNN FREERIDE WORLD TOUR AUSTRIA 2022
MEN'S SKIING
- Max Hitzig
- Carl Regner Eriksson
- Leo Slemett
- Kristo Turdell
WOMEN'S SKIING
- Jessica Hotter
- Hedvig Wessel
- Elisabeth Gerritzen
- Lily Bradley
MALE SNOWBOARDING
- Blake Moller
- Cody Bramwell
- Ludovic Guillot-Diat
- Michael Mawn
WOMEN'S SNOWBOARDING
- Tiphanie Perrotin
- Erika Vikander
- Manuela Mandl
- Celia Petrig
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- WHERE WILL THE NEXT STAGE OF THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BE?
The next stage of the Freeride World Tour will be in Switzerland, specifically in Verbier where the grand final has traditionally been held.
- WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE LAST STAGE?
What is expected from the last stage of the Freeride World Tour are good snow conditions and the highest level concentrated between March 26 and April 3.
- WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES OF THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR?
The Freeride World Tour categories are women's and men's skiing and men's and women's snowboarding.
- CAN YOU SEE THE PERFORMANCES OF THE RIDERS LIVE?
Yes, in Austria there is an area near the finish where all the spectators can come to see their favorite riders in their most exciting moments.
- HOW MANY YEARS HAS THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BEEN HELD?
The Freeride World Tour has been organizing for 25 years
- WHAT ARE THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR PRIZES?
Regardless of the category, the winner receives $5,000, the second $3,000 and the third $2,000.
- WHERE TO SEE THIS EVENT?
The event can be followed live on the official website of the Freeride World Tour, on Teledeporte and RTVE Play, as well as a deferred summary on Esport3.
- WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE FOURTH STAGE OF THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR?
The two novelties of this fourth stage in Austria are that there will be two rounds in a single day, the so-called “best of Two Runs”. Another novelty of this station is that for the first time Fieberbrunn will be part of the FWT final along with Verbier, in Sweden, which is the traditional venue for the FWT final.
