62 athletes from four continents, including all four reigning freeride champions in skiing and snowboarding, are taking part in the Freeride World Tour 2015. The interesting field of participants includes not only the qualifiers from the last FWT and the promoted athletes from the FWQ, but also some participants with wildcards. These were awarded, among others, to those top riders who were injured last season and are now making their comeback. Other wildcards go to the Olympic participants.
Ski - Men
In addition to the FWQ winners of Regions 1 and 2, Leo Slemett (FRA) and Kyle Taylor (USA), Fabian Lentsch from Völs near Innsbruck (AUT) can be looked forward to in the men's skiing, who secured his ticket for the tour with a winning run in Obergurgel that was not unjustifiably hyped on the internet. Wildcards went to Ivan Malakhov (RUS) (he took part in FWQ events in both regions and attracted attention with his spectacular second place at the 4* FWQ in Vallnord-Arcalis) and Felix Wiemers from Biedenkopf (GER), the only participant from Germany on the entire tour. Other wildcards were awarded to 2013 FWT champion Drew Tabke (USA), 2014 Olympic slopestyle participant Markus Eder (ITA) and Wille Lindberg (SWE), who finished on the podium twice last season. Charlie Lyons (NZL) returns to the FWT after an injury break. He not only claimed victory with a creative run at the NZ Open, but also proved that he has already found his 2015 form. The top 16 from the previous season are automatically qualified, including Fabio Studer from Koblach (AUT) and Stefan Häusl (AUT), who will be contesting his sixth season on the FWT. Ski - Women
Janina Kuzma has already won the NZ Open in both the halfpipe and bigmountain competitions this season and will be the second Olympian to compete with a wildcard alongside Stefan Eder. Her smart run in the Remarkables gives reason to expect a lot from her on the tour. The top eight riders from the 2014 FWT are automatically qualified and will all be competing again, including last year's first and second-placed riders, Nadine Wallner from Klösterle am Arlberg (AUT) and Lorraine Huber from Lech am Arlberg (AUT). Pia Nic Gundersen (NOR) will not be at the start, unfortunately due to injury. Among others, the winners of the two regions, Lotten Rapp (SWE) and Ashley Maxfield (USA), will be joining the FWT community from the FWQ.
Snowboard - Men
In addition to Alexander Hoffmann from Innsbruck (AUT), Armand Camille (FRA), Boyd Colin (USA) and Galvin Christopher (USA) are joining the FWT from the FWQ. The 2013 and 2012 FWT champions Ralph Backstrom (USA) and Jonathan Charlet (FRA) received wildcards. The top 8 of the 2014 FWT season are automatically qualified. The lists are headed by Anouck Mouthon and defending champion Emilien Badoux (SUI). After seventh place last year, the experienced Innsbrucker Flo Orley (AUT) is also back. Snowboard - Women
One of the most interesting newcomers to the 2015 tour is certainly Anne-Flore Marxer (FRA/SUI), who won the FWT in 2011. The top four women from last season (including the reigning overall winner Shannan Yates (USA)) are also back at the start, as are the riders who qualified from the FWQ, Anouck Mouthon (FRA) and Mary Celia Boddington (USA).
