Industry News
The FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance is back in Austria for the fifth and final stop before the FWT Finals. This is the last opportunity for freeriders to secure their spot in the FWT Finals, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
Recent strong winds affected the snowpack on the Wildseeloder face and the Freeride World Tour has made adjustments to ensure athlete safety. Only part of the venue meets competition standards, leading organizers to modify the event format. Friday’s competition will proceed with three categories and 30 riders, instead of the originally scheduled four categories and 50 riders. The Ski Men category has been postponed, with plans to reschedule it during the waiting period following expected snowfall on Monday/Tuesday.
“We always prioritize the safety of our athletes, and after assessing the conditions, this was the best decision to ensure a fair and secure competition,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods. “We are optimistic about rescheduling the Ski Men category and will continue to monitor conditions closely.”
The weather window originally spanning from March 8 to 13, was expanded to March 7, now competition day for three categories, to ensure that organizers can select the best possible day to guarantee safe and competition-standard freeride conditions.
Fieberbrunn: A Classic Freeride Battleground
Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Fieberbrunn has been a staple of the Freeride World Tour since 2011, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and world-class freeriding. This year, fans can once again experience the excitement firsthand at the event village, a lively hub featuring live broadcasts, athlete meet-and-greets, and interactive activities.
Among Fieberbrunn’s most famous peaks is the legendary Wildseeloder, a mountain that has cemented its status as an FWT classic since 2013. The Wildseeloder face in Fieberbrunn stands at 2,119 meters (6,952 feet) and features a vertical drop of 583 meters (1,913 feet). With steep slopes reaching up to 48 degrees, this face challenges freeriders with its narrow couloirs, cliff drops, and technical lines. With its deep freeride heritage and terrain, Wildseeloder is one of the most demanding stops on the Freeride World Tour and thrilling to watch.
Event Wildcard: The Return of FWT Champion Nadine Wallner
The FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance is thrilled to welcome Nadine Wallner (AUT) as an Event Wildcard for the Fieberbrunn Pro. A two-time FWT Ski Women Champion (2013 and 2014) last competed on Tour in 2017 before stepping away to become a mountain guide and mentor for the next generation of freeriders. She continues to share her passion for freeriding through filmmaking, most recently showcasing her skills by tackling five of the most challenging big mountain lines at Arlberg in a single day.
Current Standings:
Current Rankings for U.S. Athletes
This season, each rider’s best three results from five events will count—offering more opportunities to secure a spot while keeping the pressure high to perform when it matters most. The results from the Fieberbrunn Pro will set the rankings and decide who makes it through The Cut and on to The Finals at the Xtreme Verbier. One event can change the rankings drastically. View here for the points awarded for each place.
Ski Men (13 skiers will make The Cut):
This season, each rider’s best three results from five events will count—offering more opportunities to secure a spot while keeping the pressure high to perform when it matters most. The results from the Fieberbrunn Pro will set the rankings and decide who makes it through The Cut and on to The Finals at the Xtreme Verbier. One event can change the rankings drastically. View here for the points awarded for each place.
Current Overall Season Rankings of the 11 U.S. FWT Athletes
Ski Men (13 skiers will make The Cut):
- 6th; Current Points 19,520
Toby Rafford (Sun Valley, ID) (podiumed second at Spain’s Baqueira Beret Pro) - 8th; Current Points 17,320
Ross Tester (Truckee, CA) (podiumed first at Spain’s Baqueira Beret Pro) - 19th; Current Points 9,320
Finn Griffith (Vail, CO)
Ski Women (seven skiers will make The Cut):
- 3rd; Current Points 18,395
Molly Armanino (South Lake Tahoe, CA) (podiumed first at Kicking Horse Golden BC Pro) - 8th; Current Points 11,640
Taylor Dobyns (Boston, MA) (podiumed third at Georgia Pro) - 9th; Current Points 9,735
Chloe Hehir (Ophir, CO) (fourth at Spain’s Baqueira Beret Pro) - 11th; Current Points 7,865
Lily Bradley (Tahoe City, CA) - 12th; Current Points 6,285
Britta Winans (Truckee, CA)
Snowboard Men (seven snowboarders will make The Cut):
- 8th; Current Points 13,615
Michael Mawn (Denver, CO) (podiumed third at France’s Val Thorens Pro) - 9th; Current Points 12,715
Holden Samuels (Big Sky, MT) (podiumed second at Kicking Horse Golden BC Pro) - 11th; Current Points 7,530
Tilden Wooley (Truckee, CA)
See the Full Current Overall Rankings here.
