Our duty to the mountains

Sustainability

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

FWT • Home of freeride • 

The fwt sustainability program

At the Freeride World Tour, we are aware that our activities have an impact, and we are committed to a better future.

working on carbon impact

We are working towards minimizing our carbon impact and focusing on mobility. What we have done so far in 2023:

  • Calculate FWT's carbon footprint (scope 1, 2, and 3).
  • Reduce FWT's emissions in every department.
  • Cover 100% of FWT riders' train tickets for the Fieberbunn & Verbier stops.
  • 10% off on the skipass price for anyone who would go to Xtreme Verbier by train.
  • Survey at Xtreme Verbier to understand which transportation means the public is using to come to the event.

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. Here is what we have done so far in 2023:

  • Work with WeMountain on a safety education program.
  • Provide free mountain safety e-workshops for riders, staffs and volunteers
  • Safety workshop for media
  • Workshops on mental health & concussion with The Ellie Soutter Foundation to FWT Pro, Qualifier and Junior riders.
  • Baseline ImPACT tests offered to all FWT riders

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. Here is what we have done so far in 2023:

  • Year 2 of the Gender Equality Commission (GEC). The commission of FWT and IFSA staff, judges, coaches, organizers and riders. The GEC has been founded to continue the conversation and find solutions with regard to Sport development, communication and governance.
  • Women only freeride clinics at all FWT stops and at the Verbier Freeride Week.
  • Introducing a women only competition at the Verbier Freeride Week.
  • Give women more space and better visibility through media and content.
  • Integrate gender equality matters in the Riders Handbook at the FWT Pro, Qualifier and Junior levels.

Visit our Gender Equality webpage for more information about our actions in that field.

Gender equality

BUT IT DOESN't stop there

Our involvement doesn't stop there. Here are some more tangible actions we have taken in 2023:

  • One tree planted per order placed on the FWT webshop.
  • Efficient waste management system implemented on all stops.
  • Investment in recycling station.
  • Reduce single-use plastic at the Xtreme Verbier by making it mandatory for F&B suppliers to use reusable or compostable cutlery and containers.
  • Donation to Protect Our Winters Switzerland

About sustainability at the FWT

Freeride World Tour is proud to initiate tangible actions to fight climate change such as flights carbon emissions off-setting, promoting public transports and car-sharing. FWT will also aim at reducing the amount of single-use plastics at events and organizing clean-up actions at FWT Destinations. There is still a lot of work to carbon neutral status, but it is our responsibility to act and aim at this objective and communicate about the actions which can be undertaken today

Nicolas Hales-Woods, FWT CEO & Founder
FWT • Home of freeride • 

Frequently asked question

Why do you keep on filming competitions with a helicopter?

Drone filming has made huge progress in recent years, but a camera mounted on a helicopter still produces images of a higher quality when it comes to filming riders at high speed. Drone technology continues to improve and the results from the FWT Japan event, that was filmed solely using drones, were very good! 

Replacing a helicopter camera with drones does not always mean less carbon emissions. For example, filming an FWT event with drones requires 2 pilots and a technical assistant, as drone battery autonomy is still limited. This means 3 people need to fly to Japan or Alaska instead of just 1 camera operator (working with 1 local helicopter pilot). This leads to a higher carbon impact than the helicopter camera solution. 

<strong>Why are you not offsetting your carbon emissions anymore?</strong>

After a few years offsetting the carbon emissions linked to all the transports we chose to stop until we find reliable offsetting projects that make sense for FWT.

If you have any suggestion please email sustainability@freerideworldtour.com.

How can a “world tour” be sustainable?

We do not know the answer to that question yet but we are hoping to reach a carbon neutral status as fast as possible. In this sense, we are launching an impact study to help us make the best possible decisions.

Contact us

If you have any suggestions or questions about sustainability at the Freeride World Tour, we invite you to use the form below to contact us.