2011 Freeride World Qualifier Events announced

It’s that time of year again. The Freeride World Tour has some of the best skiers and snowboarders on the planet. Candide Thovex, Julien Lopez, Drew Tabke, Tim Dutton and Jeremy Jones to name a few. To get on the tour, first you must qualify and here is how and where you can do it….

The 2011 Freeride World Qualifier Events (FWQ)

There are 4 levels of events having different value in points. You can dowload the complete 2011 FWQ point system here. Beware, the point system is different between each gender and categories.

4* events:

January 2011:

15th to 20th: La Clusaz Radikal Mountain in La Clusaz France – Ski + Snowboard

February 2011:

3rd to 7th: Bigmountain Hochfügen in Hochfügen Austria – Ski + Snowboard

25th to March 1st: North Am Freeskiing Championships by Swatch in Kirkwood, California, USA – Ski Only

March 2011:

3rd to 6th: Salomon Extreme Freeride Championship in Taos, New Mexico, USA – Ski

5th to 9th: The North face Masters of Snowboarding by Swatch in Kirkwood, California, USA – Snowboard only

11th to 15th: Nendaz Freeride in Nendaz, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard

April 2011:

25th to May 1st: Röldal Freeride in Röldal Norway – Ski + Snowboard

3* events:

April 2010:

14th to 18th: Röldal Freeride Challenge in Röldal Norway – Ski + Snowboard

May 2010:

17th to 19th: Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships in Riksgränsen, Sweden – Ski + Snowboard

August 2010:

10th to 15th: The Northface Bigmountain New Zealand Freeski Open in The Remarkables and Treblecone, New Zealand – Ski + Snowboard

September 2010:

07th to 12th: Export 33 Xtreme Whakapapa at Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand – Ski + Snowboard

January 2011:

20th to 23rd: CGC JASNA Adrenalin in Jasna, Slovakia – Ski + Snowboard

27th to 31st: Stimorol Engadinsnow in Engadin St. Moritz, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard (TBC)

February 2011:

17th to 21st: Nissan Mystic Experience at Monte Rosa, Italia – Ski + Snowboard

23rd to 27th: El Dorado Freeride in Arcalis at Vallnord Andorra/Spain – Ski + Snowboard

March 2011:

3rd to 6th: Salomon Extreme Freeride Championship in Taos, New Mexico, USA – Snowboard

2* events:

March 2010:

23rd to 27th: Czech Open in Lenzerheide, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard

August 2010:

25th to 29th: K2 Bigmountain Chill Series Craigieburn & Mt Olympus New Zealand – Ski + Snowboard

January 2011:

22nd to 25th: The North Face Masters of Snowboarding in Snowbird, Utah, USA (Snowboard only)

February 2011:

9th to 12th: The North Face Masters of Snowboarding at Crystal Mt, Washigton, USA (Snowboard only)

10th to 16th: Alpindustria Cup Dombai 2011 in Dombai, Russia – Ski + Snowboard

19th to 21st: T-Bar Free-Session powered by DaKine in Morgins, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard

March 2011:

3rd to 6th: Freeride Battle in Kanin, Slovenia – Ski + Snowboard

10th to 16th: Snowweek 2011 in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia – Ski + Snowboard

20th to 27th: Alpindustria Cup – Elbrus 2011 in Elbrus, Russia – Ski + Snowboard

26th to 30th: Ride the Rock in La Tania, France – Ski + Snowboard

26th to 28th: First track freeride St-Luc Chandolin in Chandolin, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard

31st to April 3rd: Czech Ride in Lenzerheide, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard (TBC)

1* events:

February 2011:

17th to 20th: Sogndal Freeride in Sogndal, Norway – Ski + Snowboard

March 2011:

10th to 13th: Voss Freeride in Voss, Norway – Ski + Snowboard (TBC)

17th to 20th: Kick the Vik eco freeride contest in Oberalppass, Switzerland – Ski + Snowboard

23rd to 27th: Hemsedal Freeride in Hemsedal, Norway – Ski + Snowboard

Important :
The riders who are eligible for the FWT 11 will be personally invited to participate by e-mail.

All riders who are not eligible for the FWT but willing to participate in the FWQ have to announce themselves to each individual organizer of the FWQ event they are planning to take part in, this latest two months prior to the event. Each individual FWQ organiser will then confirm to the applicant rider whether he will be eligible or not.

How can I get a wild card for a FWQ event ?
The distribution of wild cards on FWQ events is an exclusive right of each individual FWQ organizer. Priority will be given to local talent and winners of sister Open events in the distribution of these.

What type of insurance do I need ?

All riders have the obligation to contract an insurance which will cover their costs in case of accident (including transportation/heli costs to hospital). Riders should carefully check that their insurance is effective in all the countries where they are competing and that they are covered in case of particpation in an extreme freeride contest. In the disclaimers that each rider will have to sign when entering a contest, it will be mentionned that he has checked the above.

What is the minimum age required to compete in a FWQ event ?

The minimum age is 18 for all FWT and FWQ events. No exception will be made.

Who should I ask if I did not understand the above explanations ?

All FWQ riders have to address their questions to the organizers of the FWQ events they are willing to participate in.