PRESSKIT 2017 LIVE WEBCAST ON FREERIDEWORLDTOUR.COM .

For the past ten years the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR has assembled the greatest ski and snowboard freeriders on the planet for a five-stop world tour. In 2017, 50 athletes will compete on the most stunning competition venues in the world. These top riders travel world in an effort to qualify for the 22nd edition of the legendary Xtreme esh ers. Verbier – the iconic grand finale to the 2017 season. At the end of the first three European stops in , Andorra, and , a first selection of riders is made to determine which riders will advance to the eagerly anticipated fourth stop in Haines, Alaska – a freerider’s dream destination. After Haines, a second cut is made, eliminating all but the very top athletes in each category, and advancing them to the world championships in Verbier, . ood. THE 2017 CALENDAR

JANUARY 28, 2017 – -MONT-BLANC, FRANCE THE CUTS WINTER BEGINS The following selection will be implemented after the 3rd stop (Fieberbunn, Austria): FEBRUARY 11, 2017 – VALLNORD-ARCALÍS, ANDORRA STAY ON TRACK - SKI MEN: Top 12 (out of 22) - SKI WOMEN: Top 6 (out of 11) MARCH 6, 2017 – FIEBERBRUNN, AUSTRIA DOUBLE OR NOTHING - SNOWBOARD MEN: Top 6 (out of 9) - SNOWBOARD WOMEN: Top 4 (out of 8) MARCH 18, 2017 – HAINES, ALASKA, USA FACING THE LEGEND Riders making this cut will be qualified for the Haines, Alaska stop and automatically re-qualified for the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2018. APRIL 1, 2017 – VERBIER, SWITZERLAND THE GRAND FINALE

10 years of FWT! 2017 marks the tenth edition of the FWT, an opportunity to celebrate 10 years of TOP 3 FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2016 champions and legends that shaped this sport: Seb Michaud, Candide Thovex, SKI MEN SNOWBOARD MEN Xavier de le Rue... and many more! 1- Loic Collomb-Patton (FRA) 1- Sammy Luebke (USA) 2- Logan Pehota (CAN) 2- Flo Orley (AUT) 3- Fabio Studer (AUT) 3- Jonathan Penfield (USA)

SKI WOMEN SNOWBOARD WOMEN 1- Eva Walkner (AUT) 1- Estelle Balet (SUI) 2- Jaclyn Paaso (USA) 2- Anne Flore Marxer (FRA) 3- Arianna Tricomi (ITA) 3- Marion Haerty (FRA) THE PYRAMID – FROM FWT CLUB TO FWT

// Freeride World Quali er (FWQ) With more than 60 events held around the world, this quali cation Freeride circuit develops a path for up-and-coming athletes to score World Tour points and eventually qualify for the FWT. 5 Events 50 Riders // Freeride Junior Tour (FJT) This circuit is dedicated to young athletes from 14 to 17 years old to Freeride World Quali er develop the talents of tomorrow and encourage youth participation Over 60 Events / 2700 Riders in the sport. Emphasis is also placed on injury prevention, safety, and understanding the mountain environment. Freeride Junior Tour & World Championships // FWT Club Over 70 Events / 1800 Riders The FWT cooperates with ski schools to provide expertise and share the sport of freeride with riders of all ages. Freeride World Tour Club Structured by the FWT organization, these schools oer 13 Ski Schools / 300 Riders programs lasting from one day to a week.

REGION 1

Events FWT/FWQ/ FJT

REGION 2 REGION 2 REGION 1

THE JUDGING SYSTEM A universal scoring system is shared among all three tours (FWT, FWQ, FJT) Criteria FLUIDITY - CHOICE OF LINE - CONTROL - TRICKS – TECHNIQUE – STYLE

ONE UNIQUE SCORE based on the "general impression" ranging from 1.0 to 10.0

Number of judges: 4 judges + 1 head judge + 1 video judge (3 from a ski background + 3 from a snowboard background )

FREERIDE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS GRANDVALIRA 2017 For the 3rd consecutive year, the resort of Grandvalira, Andorra, with its magni cent freeride terrain, will welcome 60 young champions coming from from all over the world for the 5th edition of the Freeride Junior World Championships (FJWC) on February 5th, 2017. Initially held in Snowbird, Utah (USA) in 2013, and in 2014 in Big Sky, Montana (USA), the Old Continent now welcomes the biggest international event in junior freeride. In 2016, the next generation of riders were living proof that the level of freeride is constantly evolving and that many juniors will have an opportunity to launch their careers as professional freeriders at this prestigious event.

THE ATHLETES

DREW TABKE JACLYN PAASO SHANNAN YATES

THE LINE WIZARD THE RISK-TAKER THE UTAHN 1st FWT Overall Ranking 2013, Creative, brave, and powerful; Originally from Utah, USA, Drew Tabke from Seattle, all these words describe Jaclyn where she has Washington, USA has proven Paaso (USA), who has what been her entire time and again he can send it takes to make the male skiers life, Shannan is a true veteran it huge with backflips and 360s. fall into line. After an incredible of competitions. Finishing 2nd In 2016 he earned 3rd place on 2016 season that earned overall on the FWT 2015, the podium at Haines, Alaska her a 2nd place overall finish, Shannan is back in 2017 to and finished with a respectable fans are wondering what she recover her top spot on the 12th position,qualifying for has in store for 2017. podium. FWT 2017.

CONOR PELTON CHRISTOPHER GALVIN SAMMY LUEBKE JONATHAN PENFIELD

THE COMPLETE SKIER THE AMERICAN SNOWBOARDERS Conor grew up in Northern Michigan and started skiing at American snowboard culture praises talent that knows how to shred powder. the age of 2. Judges consider Sammy Luebke (1st position overall on the FWT2016), Jonathan Penfield him a complete skier able to (3rd overall on the FWT16), and Christopher Galvin (4th overall on the mix original lines, big mountain FWT2016) proved to be outstanding American riders last season. skiing and a freestyle touch Will the USA continue to prevail in 2017? in his unique style.

IDEA FOR A IDEA FOR A IDEA FOR A REPORT REPORT REPORT

HAPPY B-DAY FWT! AN ATHLETE’S LIFE TRAINING What has changed over the ON THE FWT Take a look at how FWT last 10 years? Who are the What is it really like to athletes prepare for their characters that are responsible be a part of the FWT season – whether it’s for the massive evolution of the family on tour? Describe life on physical and mental training sport? Examine history through the road during the winter – or yoga and nutrition. Like the eyes of the most season with the athletes any other sport, every rider memorable names in freeride and event organizers as develops a personal technique (Candide Thovex, they experience moments of- to ensure success on - Xavier de le Rue, glory and disappointment competition day. Discover how Seb Michaud...). as well as festivities and riders get ready for freeride, competition days. from fall training to the moment they drop in. SWATCH PEAK PERFORMANCE Launched in 1983 by Nicolas G. 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For the 20th annual Freeride production of the Audi Q5 will start in San José Chiapa www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on World Tour Mons Royale will be helping keep athletes fresh (Mexico). 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn. for the long haul by creating a unique set of FWT base layers. quattro GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini www.gopro.com Athletes will travel in comfort between the world class S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, ) and Ducati Motor resort stops thanks to the soft merino fabric; keep warm Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy). while waiting for those perfect freeride conditions; cherish In 2015, the Audi Group delivered to customers the temperature regulating qualities of merino when they approximately 1.8 million automobiles of the Audi hike their way to the best freeride terrain in the world and brand, 3,245 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand SCOTT head out to the après celebrations confident that after the and about 54,800 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. SCOTT SPORTS SA, based in Givisiez, Switzerland, event their Mons royale garments will still feel and look good. In the 2015 financial year, AUDI AG achieved total www.monsroyale.com revenue of €58.4 billion and an operating profit of is a leading international manufacturer of premium €4.8 billion. At present, approximately 85,000 people bike accessories/equipment, wintersport, running and motorsport products. 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CONTACTS Media Relations UK Nadine Carle [email protected] +44 790 525 24 60 Betony Garner [email protected] +44 7779 801691

Media Relations (USA, Canada) Tom Winter [email protected] +1 303 525 7767

Media Relations Other Countries FWT Communication Manager Federica Castelli [email protected]

+41 (0)78 852 77 56 Distribution TV Quattro Media [email protected] +49 (0)8093 572 20 Website- www.freerideworldtour.com www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour https://twitter.com/FreerideWTour https://instagram.com/freerideworldtour/ www.youtube.com/FreerideWorldTourTV Live-webcast auf - www.freerideworldtour.com