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ContestHappening 4 2019 | FWQ and more

What has happened so far in the qualifiers and Juniors in German-speaking countries

by Tobias Huber • 01/31/2019
Klaus Listl
Klaus Listl
The FJT starts the new season with up to 3000 young athletes who want to gain experience in contest freeriding. The young U-14 riders are now also taking part in some events. In addition, the participants will be divided into the U-16 and U-18 categories for the first time. New venues are on the agenda in Iceland and Japan and efforts are being made to make contest freeriding more popular in these locations too. The season finale returns to Verbier.

FJT

Last weekend, a 2* FJT stop for the U16 and U18 categories took place together with the 3* FWQ in Kappl. The youngsters battled for important points on a side slope of the Quellspitze. The most prestigious FJT event of the season will take place in Kappl this year: from March 13-15, 2019, a total of 60 riders from all categories will compete for the FJT Youth World Championship title. As in the previous season, this contest will take place on the well-known, now 3*-rated slope on the Quellspitze. For example, the young FWT athletes Craig Murray (NZL) and Grifen Moller (USA), who qualified for the FWT in their first FWQ season as adults, have emerged from the FJT.

The Allgäu region also does a lot for young talent: the Youngstarschallenge organized by mountain-action.de is now an FJT event. For the 13th time, over 70 young freeskiers and snowboarders hungry for deep snow gathered on the Nebelhorn and in Nesselwang on 19 and 20.01.19 to celebrate their freeride and slopestyle sport and have a great time together in the snow.

At the freeride contest on Saturday on the Nebelhorn, the young participants enjoyed sunshine and powder snow galore on the so-called green slope below the summit station of the Nebelhorn. The participants and supervisors from eight nations were visibly impressed by the snow-covered summit panorama of the Allgäu Alps. With 76 riders, there was a new record number of participants. The following day, the participants' slopestyle skills were assessed at the Alpsitzpark in Nesselwang. You can find the results of the 2* FJT Youngstarschallenge here.

Andreas Vigl
Andreas Vigl

FWQ

Eleven 4* FWQ events worldwide will decide who qualifies for the FWT 2020: The best three male skiers, the best female skier, the best male snowboarder and the best female snowboarder from each of the two regions will then take part in the FWT next winter. The first 4* FWQ event has already taken place in New Zealand. There are now four more 4* FWQ events to come in Europe and six in North America.

In Austria, the Open Faces event in Silvretta-Montafon, which has been upgraded to four stars, will replace the long-standing 4* FWQ event Bigmountain Hochfügen. The classic event on the east face unfortunately took place last year under conditions that were not entirely fair from a snowboarder's point of view (we reported). We can only speculate whether this annoyance is connected to the end of the contest series in the Zillertal. The Jasna Adrenalin in Slovakia will be back in 2020 after a one-year break.

Some exciting new events will also take place in Iceland, Lebanon and Japan as part of the FWQ 2019. FWQ newcomers will have several opportunities to collect points at 1* FWQ events, including the new 1* event at Verbier Freeride Week, the 1* FWQ Alpbachtal (AUT) and the 1* Ride & Style in Bergen (GER).

The last 4* FWQ events in both regions will take place at the beginning of April on the same weekend in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (AUT) and Kirkwood (USA). This is where the final decision on who qualifies for the FWT 2020 will be made.

The FWQ season in the German-speaking region initially started with too much snow, which is why the inaugural 2* Grossglockner Freeride Open was postponed from mid-January to March 23, 2019. From Friday, February 1st, contest beginners will have the opportunity to get a taste of competition at two 1* FWQs at Hochfelln in Chiemgau. The organizers have learned from last year's mistakes and have extended the weather window this time. FWT veteran and Hochfelln local Tom Leitner will also be there to help with the organization.

Andreas Vigl
Andreas Vigl

FWQ/FJT Kappl

The main attraction for Tyrolean freeriders last weekend was Kappl in the Paznaun Valley. As mentioned, the combined 2*FJT/3*FWQ event took place there. With very good snow conditions and not too much sunshine on the south-east facing slope on the Quellspitze, there were some points up for grabs. The results of both competitions can be found in the gallery. Those interested can click through the livestream of the event at the end of the article.

The ContestHappening is eagerly awaiting the competitions to be held next weekend, first and foremost of course the FWT stop in Kicking Horse. Apparently, the snow conditions in the Canadian Rockies are comparatively bad at the moment, which could either lead to a long waiting period or really bad snow conditions at the contest. However, we are also hoping for successful 1* Ride & Style competitions at Hochfelln and will report back next week with the results and impressions, ideally from both events.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Klaus Listl
Klaus Listl

Photo gallery

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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