FREERIDE WORLD TOUR FIEBERBRUNN PRO PREVIEW

Following three successful events, the 2023 Freeride World Tour (FWT) season enters its final stage, as the remaining top-ranked riders prepare to showdown in the FWT Finals. The first stop will see riders take on the epic Wildseeloder face in Fieberbrunn, Austria, which is forecasted to receive some fresh snow next week, just in time after an incredibly dry winter in Europe. This event will again showcase a best-of-two-runs format, giving riders double the chance to show the world their full bag of tricks and big mountain skills. 

 The race for world titles remains tight, especially in the ski categories, where Addison Rafford (USA) has a narrow lead over Molly Armanino (USA), with the rest of the field hot on their heels. Valentin Rainer (AUT) surely goes into the event a firm favourite, looking comfortable both on the mountain and in the gold bib, and at home in his backyard in Fieberbrunn. But he will have to get past Max Hitzig (GER), who won this event last year and is only 720 points behind in the overall rankings. In the snowboard men category, Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA) is leading the way, but rookie Liam Rivera (MEX) is not far behind. In snowboard women, Katie Anderson (CAN) has breathing space with a lead of more than 5,000 points, but the rest of the field remains within striking distance.
Ross Tester. Photo by Dom Daher / Freeride World Tour

Spicing up proceedings is the news of two seasoned FWT pros returning to the action with event wildcards: Arianna Tricomi (ITA) and Manuela Mandl (AUT). Tricomi is a three-time FWT World Champion—2018, 2019 and 2020—which will surely send shockwaves through the ski women category. Mandi also has an FWT World Crown to her name, as well as numerous podium finishes and, in her home mountains, she will again be one of the riders to beat. Ryan Wachendorfer (USA) will also be joining the snowboard men’s roster for the event but, unfortunately, Dennis Ranalter (AUT) will not be competing due to personal reasons.

Photo by Jeremy Bernard / Freeride World Tour

The Fieberbrunn Pro will be broadcasted live, so be sure to watch all the action as it happens exclusively at freerideworldtour.com, with incredible user-friendly replay options available to make sure you don’t miss a trick. Until then, stay tuned to the FWT’s social media channels (@freerideworldtour) for updates and rider news, as competition day is only moments away.

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