Countdown to the FWT Finals in Austria

Following the inaugural Georgia Pro, the FWT by Peak Performance heads to Austria for the first event of the FWT Finals, a location that has been a tour mainstay since 2013. The remaining top-ranked riders will take on the ever-intimidating Wildseeloder, a mountain that needs little introduction in freeride circles, owing to its impressive – if not daunting – pitch, long vertical drop, and seemingly endless selection of gnarly lines.

Riders in all categories will enjoy a two-run format, with only the highest-scoring line counted. This gives them two chances to lay down a perfect run, promising to push the level even higher, a concept difficult to grasp given the insane skiing and snowboarding this season. Early weather models are forecasting snow next week, which should provide a fresh canvas for riders to hold nothing back. Weather window: March 12-18.

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World titles are on the line next week, so who will perform under added pressure?

snowboard men

The big question in the Snowboard Men’s category is if anyone can stop Victor de Le Rue, who has three wins from three events and could take the title in Fieberbrunn. It’s a huge ask, but maybe the experience of Jonathan Penfield or the raw talent of rookie Timm Schröder – currently in second and third, respectively – can challenge Victor.

Snowboard women

Núria Castán Barón leads the way in the Snowboard Women’s category, enjoying an incredible season with two wins, but Anna Martinez isn’t far behind after podium finishes in every event – including a win in Canada – and is surely eyeing off another huge performance in Austria.

Ski Women

Positions are a little tighter between the skiers and, with less than 3,000 points separating first and fifth place, the title is definitely up for grabs in the Ski Women’s category. Manon Loschi has nudged ahead in her first year on tour, but Hedvig Wessel is hot on her heels, and eager to add a crown to her treble of runner-up finishes.

ski men

Max Hitzig is a hard man to beat in the Ski Men’s, with two wins this year – and a throwaway third – and currently leads the field. Marcus Goguen's near-perfect run in Georgia rocketed the young Canadian up the rankings to second, while one can never count out two-time World Champion Kristofer Turdell, who is in third place.  

stay tuned!

How will these positions change after the first event of the FWT Finals? We’ll find out next week! The FWT invites you to watch the event live if you’re in the area, and to discover the village that will be buzzing with DJ sets and live bands and shows. Otherwise, remember that the Fieberbrunn Pro will be broadcast LIVE. Watch all the action as it happens exclusively at www.freerideworldtour.com, with incredible user-friendly replay options to make sure you don’t miss a trick. Until then, stay tuned to the FWT social media channels for updates and rider news, as competition day is only moments away.