It's getting Canadian - and really Canadian. You can barely fit so many layers under your jacket, but that's exactly what makes it so charming. Our recommendation: definitely drive to Golden via Revelstoke and the Rogers Pass - especially in the afternoon light, when the city lives up to its name.
"Filmlines are easier and more fun to choose - the Freeride World Tour is another story." - Parkin Costain sums it up. Whoever starts at Kicking Horse in Golden, BC, has no second chance, no rewind button and no perfectly shaped kicker. The only thing that counts here is reality: big mountain freeride in its rawest form. And that's exactly what the FWT stop in Canada impressively proved.
The location - Golden, BC
The town has rightly earned its name, especially when the last rays of sunshine of the day bathe the snow-covered peaks in a warm, golden light. Typically Canadian, with wide streets and a relaxed charm that is immediately welcoming. From here, it's just a short, winding pass road up to Kicking Horse, and in just 15 minutes you're at the long gondola to the summit. The Canadians themselves are an incredibly open people. Even in the gondolas, you immediately strike up a conversation - they simply have a friendly manner that makes it easy to connect with them. And even hitchhiking to the lift is no problem here. Both times, the first car stopped as soon as I stuck out my thump. This hospitality and helpfulness are simply part of life here, and you immediately realise that the people in Golden are just as welcoming as their impressive nature.
The Freeride World Tour family
It was exciting to be there for the opening dinner, especially before the fans, mainly local children, were finally allowed to participate on that evening. The atmosphere was relaxed, almost informal. At the table with us were Valentin, Lena, Timmi and Ari, but what really surprised me was that Abel and Tenra were also seated at the German-speaking table.
Tenra proved to be incredibly likeable and immediately invited us to come to Niseko, Japan, where he grew up. He enthusiastically showed us the forecasts, which promised lots of fresh snow for the coming days. Hard to ride or hard to resist? Tenra is enjoying the tour to the full and also has exciting plans in Canada - more on that later.
The conversations were relaxed and there were pasta variations and salad, another recharge before the upcoming competition. An interesting detail: the riders also have to take part in the ceremonies, otherwise they could be fined by the management - something that has never been enforced before.
At another table, the Swiss and French sat together and shared their own stories. Then there was a colourful table with the riders, media, planning and lots of mingling. You could sense a large, well-connected family that was always chatting. When they weren't sitting in front of their mobile phones and thinking hard about lines, the athletes were out and about exchanging ideas with others - and there was always room for a smile.
Excursion: Line Scoping with Valentin Rainer
On Thursday, we all stood on the ridge and looked at the face. Three forerunners gave first impressions of the conditions, and there were also drone shots to make the perspectives even clearer. Everyone approaches scoping in their own way, says Valentin. Some riders focus on their own, while others speculate amongst themselves with humour. Then there are a few laps, and finally it's off to the high hike on the face, this time without skis, to view the terrain from all angles - including, of course, from the finish-line perspective at the end.
I was amazed at how different the cliffs looked from the different perspectives. From the ridge, you thought to yourself: "Easy, they're not that big." But from the top, the shock came: "Oh God, it's blind - how do they find their way around?" And from below, the face just looked short, steep and scary.
Valentin's method is to remain flexible. "In the end, you know what the others want and orientate yourself on that. But you only actually see it in the competition and can then change your mind depending on how things went with the others."
The line has to be set at the start gate, and it seems that Valle wasn't quite sure at dinner. But after the competition, he said the decision came to him in a dream - the pyramid gap was swapped for another feature. This is part of his strategy to stay in the hot seat with several hits instead of a "one hit wonder" and thus better manage the risk.
The drivers - heroes and surprises
Wildcard riders often find it difficult to hold their own against the seeded tour riders - unless their name is Parkin Costain. The man who actually comes from the film game immortalised himself with the "Line of the Comp" at the FWT in Kicking Horse. No wonder, because he's no stranger to big mountain freeriding: Kings & Queens of Corbet's won, film projects with TGR, currently working on his own project - and now a wildcard for Kicking Horse.
After his run, I was standing in the finish area and overheard a conversation between a judge and Parkin in which it became clear: He can join the tour whenever he wants. A rare invitation that shows that he has definitely earned respect in the competition world.
"Film lines are easier and more fun to choose - the Freeride World Tour is a whole different ball game", he says while scoping out his line. But has he tasted blood now?
"I'm thinking about it for next year. Could be fun", he says with a grin. And if he does, then hopefully he'll be back in full pink kit - his trademark, with which many recognise him as the face of the new Scott Freeride models.
Fun fact: His clothing sponsor Backcountry had cancelled the colour after a brand sale, but next year it is set to return as his own pro model. "Maybe then in wine red," he spoils in the dinner queue.
Judging & Scores - Fair or controversial?
Being a judge in a sport where individualism and style take centre stage is an impossible task, so hats off to you! There are five judges and a video judge who shows special moments on demand, as the judges watch the action from the ridge with binoculars. Even at -24 degrees for four hours - this brings them very close to the riders' emotional state.
New to the team is Jaqueline Pollard, who has already taken part in the Tour with her brother Andrew Pollard and is therefore able to empathise perfectly with the riders. It doesn't get any better than that, I would say.
In a conversation with Timm Schröder, I asked him what he thought of a ridge judging event like the Nandaz Backcountry Invitational or the Jib League. He says that it would make sense for more freestyle-orientated events, but for the Freeride World Tour it would be out of the question for him. "I couldn't decide," he says, "and I'm glad we have the judges." Timm adds that if you really think about it or ask the judges about it, he always sees that their decisions are well founded. A clear statement - so everything is fair!
