Reine Barkered

For perhaps the last VdW episode of the season, we present new and old ski heroes: Valentin Rainer and Max Hitzig have opted for riding and Reine Barkered, one of the most successful contest freeriders ever, says goodbye to the competition stage. Antti, Nikolai, Krister, Gerhard and Fabio are also taking part again. We hope this will motivate you to try your luck again!

It was a party! The FWT took place in the Spanish Pyrenees for the second time in a row and it already seems to feel very much at home here. Under blue skies and in partly difficult, partly fantastic snow conditions, it was especially the performances of the local heroes that had hundreds of spectators cheering. It's clear: control wins points but Air&Style wins events, and young rookies win against old hands. A great start to the season!

The days are getting longer and longer, and the snow is getting creamier, slushier, stickier, heavier, slower... Summer is approaching! So let's dream again of social justice, long couloirs and deep storm days with old heroes! And we balance a few wintry highlines towards the end of the episode.

Jackie Paaso, FWT veteran who now lives in Sweden, takes us on an unusual adventure in the Swedish wilderness in "Arctic 12". Together with Reine Barkered and other pros from the Scott team, she has set herself the goal of skiing up all 12 mountains in Sweden that are over 2000 meters high.

South Tyrolean Markus Eder and La Grave local Aurelién Routens win the second stop of the Freeride World in Courmayeur. The other skiers on the podium were Revelstoke winner Jérémie Heitz (Switzerland) and Swede Reine Barkered. Among the snowboarders, John Rodosky (USA) and Emilien Badoux (Switzerland) won the places.

On January 7, 2013, the eagerly awaited FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2013 will finally get underway! The first event of the now united and world's most important big mountain tour will take place in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada.

Sam Smoothy (NZL) wins a stop of the FWT for the first time and then immediately in the freeride mecca of Chamonix (FRA). With his fluid riding style, he clearly set himself apart from Reiner Barkered (SWE) and Oakley White-Allen. The latter now leads the overall standings. In the women's event (skiing), Jaclyn Paaso (USA) could not be beaten by Angel Collinson (USA) and Janina Kuzma (NZL). The snowboard competition was won by French local Douds Charlet (FRA), who finished on the podium ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA) and his compatriot Aurelien Routens (FRA). The women's podium (snowboard) was also dominated by North Americans: Maria Debari (USA) won ahead of Margot Rozies (FRA) and Shannan Yates (USA).

Sam Smoothy (NZL) wins a stop of the FWT for the first time and then immediately in the freeride mecca of Chamonix (FRA). With his fluid riding style, he clearly set himself apart from Reiner Barkered (SWE) and Oakley White-Allen. The latter now leads the overall standings. In the women's event (skiing), Jaclyn Paaso (USA) could not be beaten by Angel Collinson (USA) and Janina Kuzma (NZL). The snowboard competition was won by French local Douds Charlet (FRA), who finished on the podium ahead of Ralph Backstrom (USA) and his compatriot Aurelien Routens (FRA). The women's podium (snowboard) was also dominated by North Americans: Maria Debari (USA) won ahead of Margot Rozies (FRA) and Shannan Yates (USA).

The penultimate stop of the Freeride World Tour 2011 in Fieberbrunn went according to plan in fantastic weather and despite the changing snow conditions on the slope, and thrilled the numerous spectators. The local heroes dominated both the ski and snowboard competitions.

Graubünden is located in the south-easternmost corner of Switzerland and is the largest canton in terms of area - but also the one with the smallest population. Mathematically speaking, there should therefore be enough space for endless areas of fresh, untracked snow. In practical terms, Graubünden has access to a total of 45 ski areas. This means that some are virtually extinct. Others, on the other hand - especially those well-known in freeriding circles - are crowded and full of hustle and bustle. No matter which scenario you prefer, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone in Graubünden...