NEW WILD CARDS FOR FREERIDE WORLD TOUR

Two familiar male skier faces of the Freeride World Tour (FWT), Japan’s Taisuke Kusunoki and Canada’s very own Logan Pehota, will join the first two events of the season as wildcards.
 

Taisuke Kusunoki. Photo by Jason Halayko / Freeride World Tour

With the first stop of 2019 Freeride World Tour ready to drop in just under nine days in Hakuba, Japan, two new local wild cards have been announced for the debut events of the season: Japan’s Taisuke Kusunoki is in for stop number one in Hakuba, and Canada’s very own Logan Pehota for stop number two at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C.

Taisuke Kusunoki. Photo by Dom Daher / Freeride World Tour

Hailing from one of Japan’s powder capitals, Hokkaido, Kusunoki showed the world his smooth style in bottomless snow during a sensational breakout performance at the 2017 Freeride World Qualifier in Hakuba, where he placed first. After a disappointing 2018 season on the FWT as a season wild card, Kusunoki is hoping to impress both the judges and his local fans and prove that he belongs amongst the world’s best.

Logan Pehota. Photo by Mia Knoll / Freeride World Tour

Pemberton local and three year FWT veteran, Logan Pehota will return to Kicking Horse for stop number two of the 2019 FWT, looking to defend his 2018 victory. Son of steep skiing pioneer and big mountain legend Eric Pehota, Logan’s strong career on the FWT has included event wins in Haines in 2016 and Kicking Horse in 2018, along with podium finishes in Chamonix in 2016 and Fieberbrunn in 2017.

Logan Pehota. Photo by Dom Daher / Freeride World Tour

With this exciting news, freeride athletes and fans are looking forward to the kick off of the 2019 season in the bottomless powder of the Japanese Alps. Be sure to follow the latest competition and rider news at freerideworldtour.com and on FWT's social media channels at @freerideworldtour.