The Freeride World Tour continues this week with an important stop in Ordino Arcalís, Andorra during a March 2nd – 8th weather window. Andorra will be the last stop before the season Finale in Verbier, Switzerland. As a result, the points race to qualify is heating up. If you missed out on the competition in Fieberbrunn check out the results at Fieberbrunn Results.

Andorra is a small mountainous country nestled between France and Spain. Featuring mountains of the eastern Pyrenees, the competition venue is another benchmark big mountain face. With aroun 500m of elevation change and a multitude of airs of different sizes, Andorra rewards both aggressive and creative styles. One of the most memorable runs in Andorra to date was skied by Sam Smoothy in 2015.

With temperatures above freezing (weather) the competition venue will have soft corn-like snow. Although, not powder, the athletes may be able to go bigger and ski more technical lines with the slower skiing snow. Conditions combined with athlete’s ambition to gain a spot for the Final as well as qualify for 2020 should yield an exciting competition. As usual, competitors will be judged on their fluidity, control, jumps, technique, and the difficulty of their line (more information at FWT-about-judging).

Riders to keep an eye on at Ordino Arcalís 2019:

Ski Men:  

• Markus Eder (FWT18 2nd, FWT19 Hakuba & Fieberbrunn Winner) – Currently #1 in 2019 rankings with podium spots at all FWT events this season
• Tanner Hall (Wildcard)
• Reine Barkered (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)
• Hazel Birnbaum (FWT18 4th)

Snowboard Men: 

• Victor De Le Rue (FWT19 Kicking Horse Winner) – Currently #1 in 2019 rankings
• Gigi Rüf (FWT17 Fieberbrunn Winner)
• Davey Baird (FWT18 3rd)
• 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)