After four days of snowy weather, and a promising weather forecast in store, the Freeride World Tour is set to run on Friday, Jan 11, organizers announced on Thursday.
The competition will see 67 skiers and snowboarders tackle Mac Daddy face, on the east side of Mount Mackenzie, outside the boundaries of Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
The competition is set to start at 9 p.m. and will begin with the men’s snowboarding, and then men’s skiing runs. The competition day will continue with women’s snowboarding and finally women’s skiing. The full start list is available here.
"We anticipated Revelstoke would likely provide snowy weather and prepared ourselves for the storms and challenges they bring to the competition. After recent heavy snowfall, this year in particular is setting up to be some of the best conditions we have ever experienced on the FWT,” stated FWT Americas competition director Bryan Barlow. “Going to the end of our weather window is not a surprise, but is going to be well worth the wait for this first competition of the 2013 Freeride World Tour.”
RMR has received 68 centimetres of snow since Saturday. A cold, dry, high-pressure system has been forecasted for the Revelstoke area starting today, which will make for optimal safe snow conditions and ideal visibility for the day of competition.
The excitement for the first stop of the 2013 FWT is also felt among the athletes.
“I’m really looking forward to this season. With lots of new riders and great events, I’m sure it will be bigger than ever. The kick-off in Revelstoke is going to be great. A mountain like that is the perfect place for a freeride competition. I’m just glad to be a part of it and no matter what, I’m going to enjoy the show,” said defending FWT 2012 men’s freesking champion, Reine Barkered of Sweden.
In its first year of a truly globalized competition structure, The Freeride World Tour is designed to allow the world’s best big mountain freeride athletes to advance their competition careers and achievements. RMR and the Mac Daddy venue are being considered ideal locations by organizers for the first stop of the 2013 tour due remote, steep, and exposed backcountry terrain, allowing for an exciting and unique North American freeriding venue.
The competition can be watched from the top of Montana Bowl, to the south of RMR's resort boundary, or you can stream it online at www.freerideworldtour.com.