Final results

Ski Men:

1. Silas Chickering-Ayers USA
2. Wille Lindberg SWE
3. Reine Barkered SWE

Snowboard Men:

1. Sammy Luebke USA
2. Jonathan Charlet FRA
3. Aurélien Routens FRA

Ski Women:

1. Nadine Wallner AUT
2. Matilda Rapaport SWE
3. Jacklyn Paaso USA

Snowboard Women:

1. Elodie Mouthon FRA
2. Anouck Mouthon FRA
3. Casey Lucas USA 

Click here to see the full results
Click here to see overall ranking & qualified riders for the finals in Verbier
Click here to view the runs on video 

Watch the highlights video:

Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal, Austria – March 16, 2013 – In front of the cheering crowd Silas Chickering-Ayers (USA), Sammy Luebke (USA), Nadine Wallner (AUT) and Elodie Mouthon (FRA) scored the highest points in their respective disciplines at the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® (FWT) at Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal, Austria. The fifth and last event prior to the grande finale in Verbier (SUI), saw intense competition at the highest level. The event was decisive for athletes to score enough points to earn a spot for the finals and qualify for next year. The top ranked riders needed to place well to stay or break into the competition for the overall World Champion title. The fierce battle continues to win the first ever, unified Freeride World Tour Champion titles after a sensational season.

After a week’s waiting period, due to difficult snow and weather conditions, the sun finally came out at Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal. With blue bird skies and a 20 cm cover of fresh snow on the 600-metre Wildseeloder north face an action-packed contest went down on the long and demanding face. Riders had to negotiate a mix of deep powder, wind affected snow and hard layers. A fluid and fast choice, executed with creativity and perfection, was key. Austrian freeride fans came out to the venue to cheer on their favourite athletes at front row, proving that in Austria there has always been Kitzbuhel for Alpine lovers but now there is Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal for freeride aficionados!

The battle has been tough all season as more than 80 competing athletes have had one thing in mind: to make it to the finals in Verbier! The spots are few. Only the top 12 men skiers, five men snowboarders, five women skiers and four women snowboarders qualify to the last and final competition. The competition at Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal was their last chance.

Ski Men

 Impressive speed and solid riding on the difficult venue was significant among the men skiers. A new name finished on top of the podium in Silas Chickering-Ayers, only 20 years old! He took an impressive lead and his first podium of the season, scoring 81.33 points with an outstanding run. The execution was complete when he perfectly landed two huge cliff jumps and skiing fast in full control from top to bottom. Silas Chickering-Ayers took over the top step from his brother Lars, who won the previous stage in Kirkwood! Silas Chickering-Ayers was overwhelmed by his victory: “It’s amazing. I would never have imagined winning among all these incredible athletes. After Lars’ victory in Kirkwood this is pretty special. I’m glad we waited this week. We got some fun snow and got to ski a week in Fieberbrunn! The top of the venue was definitely variable and wind affected but once you got out of that the snow was great. It feels good to get your line just right and stomp it.”

Swedes Wille Lindberg and Reine Barkered once again made it to the podium with a very similar approach to the mountain, well known as Barkered’s signature style of high speed, no hesitation, solid skiing and big air. Lindberg managed to knock his country mate off the second place with 80.67 points over Barkered’s 79.0 points.

Drew Tabke (USA), seventh at Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal, has been leading the overall standings more or less all season and is in the hot seat for the World Champion title. He still needs to perform in Verbier to stay in front of fellow competitors like Julien Lopez (FRA) and Reine Barkered (SWE), currently third and fourth on the overall standings. One of the season favourites, Jérémie Heitz of Switzerland, is sitting in second position overall but had a very unfortunate fall today, leading to a bad leg injury. Our thoughts are with him at this moment.

Snowboard Men

American Sammy Luebke is having a good season with constantly progressing results at each event, taking 10th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and finally a win today in Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal! A well-earned victory of 81.67 points for Luebke, who rode an impressive fall line approach, involving a serious cliff jump off the edge of a steep spine. His win today puts him on the desirable top spot overall and is in a good position to battle for the World Champion title. “From the top I went riders left with a double drop and fresh snow. I came down very fast and did a couple of jumps at the bottom.It’s my first win of the year and it’s pretty cool to have climbed the ladder from comp to comp! It makes me confident and motivated for Verbier.”

Frenchman Jonathan Charlet took second, scoring 80.0 points by executing a dynamic run, combining big mountain skills at the top section and clean freestyle riding at the bottom. With today’s result Charlet just makes the cut to Verbier, taking the last fifth place. Charlet’s fellow countryman, Aurélien Routens, took his third podium of the season, once again proving confident of his typical style, fast, committed, big mountain riding, which today included an impressive straight line through a steep chute. Scoring 76.67 points and a third place, Routens, climbs to a second place on the overall standings. One of the season favourites Ralph Backstrom (USA), did not quite make it today with a 13th place, but is still hanging on to the overall standings, sitting on third coming in to Verbier.

Ski Women

Austrian Nadine Wallner has been riding consistently all season and leading the overall standings prior to Fieberbrunn. She certainly was on fire in front of her home crowd taking the first win of the year at home turf! Skiing a strong line with explosive style and good air, she placed herself on top, scoring 75.0 points. With the win today, Wallner has widened the gap to second placed rider overall and sits in a very good position for the World Champion title. “It was a perfect day for me in great conditions. I’m always satisfied when I can fulfil the line I have planned. The victory here in Fieberbrunn means a lot to me as I can hold on to the ‘golden bib’! It’s my first year on the FWT and I’m leading overall now, which is very motivating for Verbier,” said Wallner.

Matilda Rapaport of Sweden had a sensational start on her first ever FWT competition. She skied an aggressive and clean line all the way to the finish line, with a score of 64,33 points and a second place. Currently standing second on the Freeride World Qualifiers, she received a wild card invitation to the event. Jacklyn Paaso (USA) was the first rider out of the gate today and skied a fast, dynamic line on the untouched face, taking third place with 64.0 points.

Despite a 7th place today, Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR) is still second on the overall standings. Reigning Freeride World Champion, Christine Hargin of Sweden was absent at Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal, after hurting her knee a few days prior to the event. She is still holding on to third place overall and hopes to make it to the finals in Verbier.

Snowboard Women

The snowboard women put on a great show with the top riders pushing the envelope on the Austrian venue. The Mouthon sisters of France had the two most impressive runs putting them on the top spots of the podium. First placed Elodie Mouthon executed a stand out run, riding very confidently with an aggressive and high-speed approach, directly in the fall line and taking big air, giving her the score of 70.0 points. Her sister Anouck Mouthon had a complete different line choice but also rode powerful, fast turns down the venue, scoring 62.67 points. In third place and a score of 60.0 points, American Casey Lucas rode a smooth line including a big jump.

Elodie Mouthon comments: “I was determined to go very fast and managed to stay well on my feet. It’s my first win on the tour and I’m really happy to be on top with my sister in second! It is going to be a tight battle in Verbier but I do have a good chance to place well.”

Current tour leader Margot Rozies of France took sixth place today, keeping the suspense alive in the race for the World Champion title. Elodie Mouthon (FRA) and Shannan Yates (USA), sitting in second and third position overall, will give Rozies a run for her money in Verbier.

For more riders’ quotes click here

Next stop: Freeride World Champions to be crowned in Verbier, Switzerland

All the excitement comes to a head at the sixth and final stage, the Swatch Xtreme Verbier 2013 by The North Face®, March 23, 2013. The four Freeride World Tour Champions will be crowned at the 18th edition of the “Xtreme” when the athletes take on the legendary and notorious Bec des Rosses, considered the pinnacle of freeride competitions.

Who will take home the first ever “true” World Champion title? With the season’s unification of the Freeskiing World Tour, Freeride World Tour, and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding the one and only Freeride World Tour Champions will for the first time be crowned in Verbier. Drew Tabke (USA) - Ski Men, Sammy Leubke (USA) -  Snowboard Men, Nadine Wallner (AUT) - Ski Women, and Margot Rozies (FRA) -Snowboard Women are all favourites going in to the finals but athletes like Julien Lopez (FRA), Aurélien Routens (FRA), Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR), and Elodie Mouthon (FRA) could just as well grab the title in their respective discipline.

The SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® has touched down at Revelstoke, (CAN), Courmayeur Mont Blanc, (ITA), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (FRA), Kirkwood (USA), Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal (AUT) and concludes in Verbier (SUI) on March 23rd. Don’t miss it! Come to Verbier or watch it live on www.freerideworldtour.com

Follow the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 BY THE NORTH FACE® on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freerideworldtour, on Instagram (@freerideworldtour) and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FreerideWTour (@FreerideWTour), and #FWT13.

Jonathan Charlet (FRA) 2nd Men Snowboard:

“It was a very nice day, I’m happy I took second on this face. The conditions were not easy for me, with some sluff coming down. I needed a good result for Verbier and I succeeded. So pow, pow!”

Aurélien Routens (FRA) 3rd Men Snowboard:

“I’m very happy. I’ve had a very good season so far. It’s my third time on the podium and I am very confident for Verbier now.”

Drew Tabke (USA), 7th Men Ski, current leader overall

"So for Verbier the points will be very close with Julien and me. Ideally I would like to have finished today, but I think it's better for the sport to keep it exciting till the end of the season.“

Thursday 7 March

”Half day in school and then out of there! If I just do my homework the teachers are ok with me being out of school for a couple of days. My mom picked me up with all my gear and we drove three hours to somewhere close to Geneva where I meet up with Per and his family. Per is from Norway but lives in France. He’s competing in the 16-17 year ski category. His dad was going to drive us to Fieberbrunn early Friday morning.“

Friday 8 March

“With an 8 am start we drove all day. It’s a long drive but time passed pretty quickly as we talked all the way. We talked about skiing, vacations and a bit more skiing!

Late afternoon we arrived to Fieberbrunn, just in time for the accreditation. It was great to catch up with all our friends. Everyone was stoked to be there! On the riders’ meeting the organiser Cyril Néri showed us the face, talked about the conditions and the weather. He announced some pretty bad weather for Saturday but still hoped to run the competition.

We got our bib number by picking our bibs randomly out of a box. For the boys’ skiers the bib moment was a bit stressful. As they were starting first and snow conditions were predicted to be pretty hard in the morning most of the guys hoped for a late number for softer snow.

For me it wasn’t a big deal as I knew I would start last of the girls as I took out the last bib.

My travelling partners stayed in a hotel but I shared an apartment with three other guys I got to know last year on the Junior tour and met again this year in Chamonix. Three Swiss boys competing in the 16-17 years old category, joking around all weekend that I was the only French person in the apartment!

At night we talked, looked at the photos of the face, discussed possible lines and stayed pretty cool to be ready for the next day. We were all a little worried about the weather and snow conditions but not stressed. Talking and hanging out with your friends helps ease the pressure.

We did not stay with any coaches or parents. Many riders do travel to the events with parents or a big sister or brother and some even with a coach. I met an English speaking coach who had skied with his “junior team” of 5-6 guys in La Grave. They really liked La Grave and were happy to meet someone who lived there! It was cool and a really nice crew.“

Saturday 9 March

“5 am wake up call! Our meeting was at 6:30 but we wanted to have a nice and relaxed breakfast and wake up properly. There was a bit of tension rising. But we discovered it was raining and were a little disappointed. We all left the apartment in silence, dragging our feet to the meeting at the Dakine tent by the cable car. It really did rain and it was too bad. If it just hadn’t rained. The organisers told us to meet again at 07:30.

The competition was cancelled but we were going skiing. Of course we were all a bit disappointed but we were stoked to go skiing.

I teamed up with my roommates and some other Swiss riders. We got to ski with a really nice Austrian guide. We skied under the rain and had so much fun. A friend from last year’s events, who now does the qualifier events, joined us for a few runs. It was great!

A world tour pro rider was going to ski with each group. Leo Slemett joined our group, a young guy on the world tour who did the qualifiers last year and juniors the year before. It was cool to ski with him. He’s a really nice guy. And a nice reminder for us to see how quickly you actually could become a pro!

The Austrians are so friendly. A lot was going on in the resort during the weekend and we got a great welcoming. After quite some time skiing we were so wet we just had to go down!

All our meetings were at the hotel where the pro riders stayed so we met them quite a bit. I got to discuss with Eva Walkner, who is Salewa sponsored as myself. I already met her in Italy last autumn for a Salewa shoot. She gave me great encouragements. She even sms:d me asking about my line and gave me the advice to “Go fast and strong!”

In the afternoon Berti Denervaud (head judge Snowboard on the Freeride World Tour) explained the judging method. We got to judge a few pro runs. It really made things clearer. How to choose your line and how jumps are judged. Of course you score high if you jump but only if you land it properly. If you backslap you lose a lot of points.

The weather did not look so good for Sunday but the organisers were still positive to throw the competition. They now had two plans. Either Plan A; the same face as last year or Plan B; at the bottom of the Pro face WIldseeloder.

So we had to start thinking of two different lines. But we would also have some time to check it out properly the next day. The line preparation was most stressful for the first starters who only would have half an hour before they hike up to the start gate on competition day.

At night we went out to the restaurant some friends and their parents that I got to know last year in Verbier. It’s so nice to meet all these new friends. One of the coolest parts of the sport.

Just a little bit of party after dinner and then bedtime at around midnight…”

Sunday 10 March

“Later wake up than Saturday. 6 am this time... Meeting at 7.30. We woke up and when we looked out the window it rained!.No, no, no! Why! Honestly, it definitely took us down a little.

We met up at the Dakine tent again with not too much hope. Cyril was really disappointed. No competition for the juniors. So we started off with the safety workshops. We practiced things like how to use the transceiver, what to have in your backpack. All the most important stuff. It’s really good to get reminded each time. These things are essential to know.

Suddenly skies cleared. Cyril told us all, “Lets go!”. When we went up the mountain it got foggy again. We weren’t really convinced. It felt just like Chamonix last year when the competition had to cancel after a few riders had gone down.

We still scoped our lines. The first starters hiked up. I watched the first boys go down. I didn’t want to hike up to the start too early, I usually get more nervous by the start. It’s nicer to be down with the others, relax and discuss the face.

Suddenly skies cleared. It was amazing! We were so lucky. I hiked up to the start, a 15 minute hike but took my time. I wanted to take it easy. Stop and watch the other competitors come down. I met Leo Slemmet again. He asked about our lines, if we felt ready. It was really nice.

A lot of the world tour guys saw the competition. Very cool. It’s the first time that so many pros came out to see us. We all really appreciated it! As I am half Swedish I talked to the world champions Christine Hargin and Reine Barkered.

A lot of pro riders came up and talked to us. It really impressed me, we just didn’t expect it. They have a lot of pressure on. But you could see that there is a great ambiance even among them. Just like the juniors!

I wasn’t too nervous before start. When I put my skis on and the first girl went down, I started to get nervous but as you get going all the pressure goes away. I try not to forget that we are there to ski and that is what we love to do! That’s all!

It was pretty hard to pick a line. I always try to find a line where I will enjoy the skiing the most. Of course we all think of scoring well but I wouldn’t do anything that I wouldn’t like.

Last year in Fieberbrunn I skied fluidly but did not take any big jumps. This year I wanted to go a bit bigger. I was really sure of my line and thought it was original. Most of the riders went skiers right. I went left as only a few other guys. But I got lost in the couloir where I wanted to jump and did not find my take off! I missed my air and on the flat before the finish line I turned around to see where I went wrong and bam! my ski got caught in the snow and I fell! A really stupid fall! There went all my points! But it’s not a big deal. Maud Besse who won in Chamonix hit a big air but got stuck in the snow with her skis. She fell big time! Luckily she wasn’t hurt but she didn’t get any score. However, she won the Sick Bird award for best action!

My fall was really stupid but there is no use crying! May the best one win! I really mean it, The atmosphere is so good you are just happy to be there!

Two friends from Chamonix, Pierre Colonge and Jérémy Baude, were strangely enough quite disappointed with their runs. I was sure they would have a podium result. It turned out they were first and second in the boys 16-17 years old category! They are such good skiers and really funny guys!

When the 14-15 year old boys came down, wow, it was such a good level as well! What a show.

What truly impressed me the most though was the high spirits throughout the whole weekend. Everyone was contributing to the good atmosphere. Of course there is some pressure to compete well but we’re still smiling, having fun and encouraging each other. Pressure drops.

The event was awesome and I can’t wait to go to Verbier!”

Maya Bonsignore

Age: 16

Nationality: French/Swedish

Lives: La Grave, France

Sponsors: Salewa and Scott. 

Watch it LIVE here from 8:30am CET (0:30am PST) onward !

His resulting no-pressure run in Andorra won him the victory, widening his lead on the field even further. Although it was only his first FWQ victory, Webhofer had been on the podium an incredible six events in a row.

“I’ve done very little park skiing. Freeride and ski mountaineering have really always been my focus,” said Webhofer. “Guys like Hauni (Matthias Haunholder) and Stefan (Hausl) are proof that Austria produces and supports those big mountain-focused, classic freeriders.”

His strong performance resulted in him being awarded a wild card to this week’s Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal Freeride World Tour event in Austria. At 18 years old, he will be the youngest of the riders taking on the impressive Wildseeloder venue this week.

On the women’s side, currently in second place overall on the FWQ, Sweden’s Matilda Rapaport was tapped for the wild card. Rapaport is also already confirmed as a rider on next years FWT. 

The event is now on hold, pending the promise of improving conditions with a storm affecting the area during the weather window. Within a week, we’ll know how these fresh additions to the FWT family handle themselves on the top tier of the sport.

Winner: MacCrewOfficial

They win a weekend in Verbier weekend for two including accommodation from 21 – 24th March with 3-day lift tickets + one GoPro Hero3 Black Edition + two FWT VIP Welcome Packs with VIP access.

2nd: Loïc Hutchinson

Loïc wins a GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

3rd: Christoph Oberschneider

Christoph wins a GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition

Also we would like to congrats these other participants who made it in the top 6. Those were nice edits and maybe next time!

4th equal: BenvanGool85

4th equal: L Pauli

5th: noe pore

6th equal: dopy

6th equal: Markus Koch

Complete Results // Photo Gallery

"The level is amazing." says current FWT leader Drew Tabke after watching the 82 riders from eleven countries descending the east face of the Wildseeloder today. “Some of these junior riders are going to be our sport’s future champions.”

With the clear path from the Freeride Juniors, through the Freeride World Qualifier, to the Freeride World Tour, these young athletes already have their eye on the top of the sport. And the top riders in the world have their eye on the Juniors as well.

“Look at that double they were hitting! So good!” Exclaimed Reine Barkered, one of the 20 Freeride World Tour athletes to attend the event. The FWT riders were an added source of support for the Juniors, who already benefit from the assistance of their coaches who typically travel with them. Made up of four divisions - ski men 14-15, ski men 16-17, ski women, and snowboard men, the Freeride Juniors events showcase the best young big mountain athletes in the world.

"What impresses me most is the mountain awareness these young riders have," praised Tabke. "They can do all the obviously impressive stuff like big airs, tricks, and aggressive skiing. But they're also experienced beyond their years when it comes to line selection and riding big mountains."

Taking top honors for snowboard men was Laurenz Haunschmidt (AUT) and for ski women it was Elisabeth Gerritzen (SUI). For 14-15 ski men Carl Renvall (SUI) took the win, and in the highly competitive 16-17 ski men, Pierre Colonge's (FRA) flawless run secured him the victory.

The European Freeride Juniors will meet again at the final event of the year in Verbier, Switzerland the last weekend of March (Sunday 24th of March).

The high-flying 4-star Freeride World Qualifier event at Taos went down on Monday March 4^th under sunny skies on the high-altitude desert peaks of New Mexico.  Athletes battled their way through two days of qualifying competition on the difficult West Basin venue, charging big lines in variable conditions. Those who made the cut advanced to the finals held on Kachina Peak.

In addition to three demanding days of competition, the venue presents the added difficulty of dealing with high-alittude, as the competitors all make an arduous hike to the 12,481’ summit before their run. “When you see the athletes its obvious they are training hard to compete here in Taos and be at their best,” said event founder and photographer Tom Winter. “And that professional approach is reflected in the high performance of their riding.”

Winning the ski division was Arapaho Basin’s Ian Borgeson and Crested Butte’s Francesca Pavillard-Cain. Taking the top spots for snowboard was Taos local Justin Bobb and Snowbird rider Kaitlin Elliot. (View full results in PDF)

The competition marks the start of four consecutive 4-star FWQ events in the United States. Next up is Moonlight Basin, MT, Crested Butte, CO, and Snowbird, UT. The 4-star events are especially important for those athletes hoping to win a spot on the 2014 Freeride World Tour.

Borgeson’s rise in the rankings shows just how effective the integration of the junior, qualifying, and world tours has become. As a junior competitor, Borgeson won the 2012 JFT event at Snowbird, UT. If he can follow his win at Taos with more solid performances in the remaining 4-star events he may end up on the Freeride World Tour at only 19 years old.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS ARE:
- The FREERIDE JUNIORS by Dakine event is confirmed on the east face of Wildseeloder starting at 9 am on Sunday
- The Juniors competition is accessible to the public
- The event village at the bottom of the slopes is open all weekend long with live concert, giant screen, FWT EXPO, ski test and many other sweet animations!

Almost 85 of freeriding’s up and coming ski and snowboard stars are taking part in the event at Fieberbrunn. From 13 different nations! The Freeride Juniors by Dakine is on its third consecutive year and this year more than ever the juniors are stepping it up and showing they are a force to recon with. Around 50 of the ambitious 14 to 17 year olds from all over Europe, and even from Canada and Russia, are taking on all three events in Europe. A great experience of meeting new friends, handling competition nerves, scoping lines and riding them, learning mountain safety, and getting the chance to travel to three great resorts; Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France, Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal in Austria, and Verbier in Switzerland.

“It’s really cool to see that so many of the riders are doing all the stops. They have big ambitions and can see a career in the sport. It creates a great atmosphere and a true competitive spirit”, said head organiser and pro snowboarder Cyril Néri.

The most popular discipline among the juniors is by far Ski Boys, where the demand and level is so high that two categories were created this year: 14-15 year olds and 16-17 year olds. Already in Chamonix in January we witnessed an awesome level of riding by some of the guys and Cyril recons there are at least 10-15 of these young athletes that undoubtedly have a bright future in the world of freeriding.

Pierre Colonge of France was for sure standing out in Chamonix, earning the highest score of the day. But the biggest buzz was probably the two top finishers in the 14-15 year old category, Carl Renvall and Luke Smith, both residing in Switzerland. With their impressive runs they managed to score the second and fourth highest points of the day overall!

Even among the girls there are almost ten great riders taking part in all three events. Keep the name Maud Besse from Switzerland in mind, it wont be the last time you hear about her. She won in Chamonix and she is killing it!

“She skied like the guys. I’m sure she would have scored top ten in the boys discipline in Chamonix and it wouldn’t surprise me if you’ll see her on the FWT circuit in a couple of years!”, exclaimed Cyril Néri.

Maud Besse would not be the first junior rider to rise from the Freeride Junior by Dakine competitions to the highest league, the Swatch Freeride World Tour by the North Face. It took the talented Chamoniard Leo Slemmet (FRA) one year on the junior comps and one year on the Freeride World Qualifier events to climb to the top level, the world tour 2013! A great example on how the juniors, qualifiers and world tour are closely linked together.

For the coming weekend the young riders have a packed weekend programme, starting off with accreditation and riders’ meeting on Friday. An early morning on Saturday, with a 09:00 am start, switched on for competition on the east face of Wildseeloder.

The Junior competition will be held on the same face as the two previous years, the Seenieder face, a 250 vertical metre face with a variety of drops, bowls, and natural features for the young guns to play on.

Sunday is reserved for security workshops and getting some good advice from the pros.

You bet there will be some tired but happy faces at school on Monday…

Check out the full program for Freeride Juniors by Dakine Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal here.

Editors note: Parallel to the European events, young North American riders are competing at the Junior Freeride Tour events in North America, including Crystal Mountain, WA (January 25-27), Squaw Valley, CA (March 8-10), and the New Mexico Junior Freeride Championships at Taos Ski Valley (March 29-30). 

The Junior events are divided into two separate ranking systems; one for Europe and one for the U.S. The best juniors from Europe will join their North American friends to compete at the Junior Freeride World Championships by The North Face at the end of the season. The championships will alternate each season between North America and Europe with this season's event taking place on the prolific steeps of Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah, USA.

Last season was a breakout year for Natalie Segal, the women’s ski competitor from Mount Buller, Australia.  After a few seasons competing on the Freeskiing World Tour, she finally placed herself on the top of the podium at the FWT qualifier at Moonlight Basin, Montana. That first place along with some other respectable finishes throughout the year earned her the invite to compete in the 2013 Swatch Freeride World Tour by the North Face.

Losing no ground from her successful competition season last year, Nat placed herself on the podium with a respectable 3^rd place finish in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada to start off the 2013 FWT.  The momentum seemed to be building for her going into Chamonix, France where she took an unfortunate fall towards the bottom of her run.  The fall did not discourage her, yet helped her build some more confidence to ride stronger at the next stop in Kirkwood, California.

Days before the event at Kirkwood, while training and filming in the Sierra Mountains, Nat took a fall sustaining a knee injury ending her 2013 competition season. Although her season might be over, Nat is staying positive and looking forward to the “down time” to have reconstructive surgery, rehab her knee, enjoy the warm weather in her home country of Australia, and to prepare herself to be stronger than ever for the 2014 season.

Interview with Nat below.

Interview with Nat Segal

FWT: Last year was really a break out year with you posting some results on the Freesking World Tour qualifying yourself for the 2013 Swatch FWT by The North Face. Tell me what it was like to make it to this year.

NS: After finding out in June that I had qualified for the FWT I was in shock. For all of 2012 I couldn’t believe that I had qualified and it wasn’t until I arrived in Revelstoke that reality hit home. To say that I was stoked to be on the FWT is a massive understatement. I felt so lucky to be given the opportunity to compete on an international level with some of the best big mountain skiers out there.

FWT: After many years of two different tours happening, they have finally merged into one global platform.  How does this motivate you as an athlete being one of the few athletes from Australia?

NS: Having one international tour makes our sport a lot more credible. In some ways, I’m no more motivated than I was before because I still want to ski well and challenge myself in every competition. In saying that, the merged FWT can offer the sport and athletes a lot more exposure. Being from Australia where big mountain skiing is fairly obscure, it’s great to be on a tour that helps promote it.

FWT: The first stop of the 2013 FWT at Revelstoke you placed yourself on the podium with a third place finish.  Talk me through your excitement at Revelstoke and if it built some momentum for you going into Chamonix.

NS: Revelstoke was a tricky competition, the conditions were less than prime so my main strategy was to stay on my feet and ski as fast as possible. Strategic planning paid off. I was ecstatic that I didn’t crash and while it wasn’t my best skiing, putting down that run gave me a lot of confidence for the next stop in Chamonix. I had some bad luck in Chamonix, I got a little too friendly with a wind lip, but I stomped the first part of my line and once again it made me much more assured in my skiing.

FWT: You were absent at the last stop of the FWT in Kirkwood, CA. From my understanding you sustained an injury in training a few days before the event. What happened?

NS: I was in Tahoe for the week before the comp filming with an Australian film crew. Despite the bad snow conditions in the area we pushed on with filming, which in hindsight wasn’t the best decision. I was exhausted and should have been resting up for the Kirkwood stop. On our second last day, I took a mini air too fast and found myself heading straight for a sapling, I swerved and the funky snow caught my ski. ACL, MCL and meniscus were torn.  Now I’m back in Australia awaiting my surgery next week. It wasn’t my best moment, a stupid air finished my season and all the work I’d put in on the tour.

FWT: With this injury sidelining you for the remainder of the season, what is the plan and mindset now?  I know this is NOT the last time we will be hearing from and seeing the powerful freeriding of Nat Segal right?!

NS: Definitely not the last time. As frustrating as it can be, I’m pretty positive about it all, injuries are part of the game. I’m taking this as an extended holiday where I can finally work on my tan, hang out with my friends and family and become as strong as possible. Everything happens for a reason, so maybe I just needed to slow down for a few months. But I still miss snow.

FWT: Any final thoughts for the FWT audience?

NS: See you next winter.

FWT: Thanks Nat! Heal up and we will see you next winter

Freeride is blowing up, from the advancement of ski technology, to the merging of the sport’s previously separate world tours, and the refinement of snow safety forecasting and equipment. Freeride, once a fringe sport followed mainly by its practitioners, has made the breakthrough into mainstream awareness. What type of technology equipment made that media rise possible? Let’s have a look at some high-tech gear used on the SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BY THE NORTH FACE^® (FWT).

At the forefront of this push is the media production team of the Freeride World Tour. Cutting-edge video and photo production tools, once reserved for the controlled climate of indoor production studios have become a mainstay on the FWT when it comes to documenting the competitions. Through years of experience the tour’s production experts have learned how to bring these technologies into the harsh, unpredictable environment of the freeride competitions venues. And export these products to the world.

David Arnaud, head of production, explains. “On the Freeride World Tour we have the very best riders in the world, bring them to the top venues around, with fresh snow and bluebird skies. So we really try to give it justice in terms of pictures and video footage.”

That means documenting the event with a variety of video angles and tools, including GoPro “on board” cameras on every rider, ultra slow-motion Phantom cameras, and aerial footage from a helicopter-mounted giro-stabilized camera called the Cineflex. All of this content comes together instantly and the live edit is made onsite and sent via satellite to the World Wide Web. An elite team including the director, editors, and the graphics all work under the shelter of a Mount Everest base camp-style installation at the bottom of the competition face. Satellite dishes and solar panels are there to secure power and transmissions.

To give you a peek behind the scenes of this incredible undertaking, FWT produced three videos highlighting these technologies and the challenges behind implementing them in tough high-mountain environments where the events take place.

Regardless of the difficulties, the FWT continues to up the level of the production. “We have a responsibility towards the sport to picture it in the best possible way,” says Arnaud, “and I think this is just the beginning.”

This coming weekend, the full communication setup will be built for the 5^th time this season in the lovely alpine resort of Fieberbrunn-PillerseeTal, Austria. This is the occasion to watch the competition live on www.freerideworldtour.com as of 9 am (CET) on Saturday, March 9, 2013.

Daily updates on www.freerideworldtour.com and www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour