FREERIDE WORLD TOUR HAKUBA BEGINS

Snow has been piling up in the Japanese Alps as top riders from all over the world prepare for the first stop of the five-stop international freeride competitive tour. This year’s competition, scheduled to take place during a weather window from January 20-27, is guaranteed to deliver a show with three wild card riders from the annals of snowboarding history: Terje Haakonsen, Gigi Rüf, and Tadashi Fuse.

Photo by Jeremy Bernard / Freeride World Tour

Four competitive categories, ski men, ski women, snowboard men, snowboard women, will compete on the snow-stacked pillows and spines found among the area’s stunning legendary freeride terrain.

Photo by Jeremy Bernard / Freeride World Tour

In addition to the elite event, a 3* competition on the Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ) will take place on January 17-19 at the Japanese resort. FWQ riders will attempt to qualify for the elite FWT tour, whereas current FWT athletes will fight to take the 2018 title and keep their spot on the FWT next year.

Don’t miss a moment of the action and catch the live webcast of the event featuring the most exciting action of the day below, or at freerideworldtour.com and FWT’s social media channels.