After several months on tour, the 2019 Freeride World Tour concludes in Verbier, Switzerland during a March 23rd to 31st weather window. The Verbier Extreme will determine the 2019 Freeride World Tour (FWT) Winners after a long point race. If you missed the recent competition in Andorra check out the results at Andorra Results. Only the top ranking riders qualify to compete on the legendary Bec De Rosses Face.

The Bec De Rosses is arguably the most technical and high consequence venue on the tour. Top big mountains skiers have been competing on the face for years. The face is timeless in its complexity.

Here at Snowbrains, we wrote an extensive piece about the Bec De Rosses Competition Face and why only the best competitors are invited to ski it.

https://snowbrains.com/are-you-good-enough-to-ride-the/

A video by famous Snowboarder Xavier De Le Rue puts the competition venue into perspective. The Line that De Le Rue rides, is far left in the “easier” area know as the Dog-Leg in the above diagram of Lines

Overall, the Verbier Extreme always makes for a hair-raising competition among the best Big Mountain athletes. As before, competitors will be judged on their fluidity, control, jumps, technique, and the difficulty of their line (more information at FWT-about-judging). On the Bec, control, technique, and difficulty will be especially important markers due to the high technical difficulty.

Riders to keep an eye on at Verbier Xtreme 2019:

Ski Men:  

• Markus Eder (FWT18 2nd, FWT19 Hakuba & Fieberbrunn Winner) – Currently #1 in 2019 rankings
• Andrew Pollard (FWT19 4th in current rankings)
• Leo Slemmet (FWT17 2nd)
• Kristofer Turdell (FWT18 Winner)

Ski Women: 

• Arianna Tricomi (FWT18 Winner) – Currently #1 in 2019 rankings
• Jacqueline Pollard (Kicking Horse 2019 Winner)
• Hedvig Vessel (FWT19 Fieberbrunn Winner)
• Elizabeth Gerritzen (FWT19 4th in current rankings)

Snowboard Men: 

• Victor De Le Rue (FWT19 Kicking Horse Winner) – Currently #1 in 2019 rankings
• Davey Baird (FWT18 3rd)
• Blake Hamm (FWT19 4th in current rankings)
• Sammy Luebke (FWT18 Winner)

Snowboard Women:

• Marion Haerty (FWT19 Kicking Horse Winner)- Currently #1 in 2019 rankings
• Manuela Mandl (FWT18 Winner)
• Anna Orlova (FWT19 Hakuba Winner)