After the weather in Revelstoke made it impossible to hold the first Freeride World Tour stop in 2013 at the planned time, the "Radikal Mountain" Freeride World Tour Qualifier in the French ski resort of La Clusaz will possibly be the first event in 2013 to compete for FWT points at the highest level!
The fact that the series of Freeride World Tour Qualifier events is often referred to as the second league of freeriding applies to the hierarchies, but hardly to the level of riding: it is not uncommon for the starters to include well-known names of professionals who also compete in the FWT and have to hold their own against the usually very strong field of riders made up of newcomers and locals. According to individual riders, the willingness to take risks, especially when it comes to performing tricks in the lines, is often significantly higher at FWQ runs than at FWT runs. This means that the 3-4 star events in particular are certainly no less spectacular and exciting to watch than many a professional FWT event.
Located in the French northern Alps, more precisely the Aravis Massif, La Clusaz with its unique terrain shapes and excellent off-piste possibilities has been a household name for many freeskiers and certainly also some snowboarders, and not just since the Candide Thovex' films. The shapes of the limestone give the faces a special and unique character that cannot be found on other contest slopes in the Alps.
In order to give as many riders as possible the chance to take part, the third edition of Radikal Mountain will be divided into two 2* FWQ contests for 90 riders each, which will take place on January 9 and 10, 2013. The points won will count cumulatively and the best eight riders will qualify for the 4* FWQ main event taking place on January 12-13, 2013. In this freeride competition, the riders are selected according to the FWT seeding list, and this event is again divided into a qualification run and a final. The graphic provides an overview of the qualification system at Radikal Mountain 2013.
An overview of the two faces of the 2* FWQ competitions can be found here:
There is currently no detailed information on the face of the 4*, but in previous years the final contest took place here:
For PowderGuide, the two Innsbruck freeriders Jochen Mesle and Fabian Lentsch will be on site and report directly from the contest!
