Revelstoke (BC), Canada – The Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face 2013 (FWT) kicks off its season of global big mountain freeriding competition with the first stop at Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, on January 7.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort and its “Mac Daddy” face is an ideal location for the first stop of the 2013 FWT. The steep backcountry terrain just outside the resort boundary atop 8,058-foot Mt. Mackenzie, riddled with cliffs, should provide an exciting North American freeriding venue.
“The snow conditions are setting up perfectly at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. With over 200 inches of total snowfall so far, the best case scenarios for the biggest, baddest North American venues are coming into play,” stated FWT Americas Competition Director Bryan Barlow.
The excitement for the first stop of the 2013 FWT is also felt among the athletes.
“I’m really looking forward to this season. With lots of new riders and great events, I’m sure it will be bigger than ever. The kick-off in Revelstoke is going to be great. A mountain like that is the perfect place for a freeride competition. I’m just glad to be a part of it and no matter what, I’m going to enjoy the show,” remarked defending 2012 Ski Men’s Freeride World Tour Champion, Reine Barkered of Sweden.
This is the first year for a six-stop combined FWT, formed from its merger with The North Face Masters of Snowboarding and Freeskiing World Tour announced in July. In addition to Revelstoke, the global FWT will include stops in: Courmayeur-Mont-Blanc, Italy; Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France; Kirkwood, Calif.; Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal, Austria; and Verbier, Switzerland.
“Revelstoke Mountain Resort is thrilled to have the Freeride World Tour return, even bigger and better than before,” said Sarah Windsor, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Revelstoke Mountain Resort. “To showcase both modalities on our terrain is an opportunity of a lifetime where top-caliber athletes will converge to show off their skills on Mackenzie Peak. We are honored to be the only resort in Canada, and one of two in North America privileged to host this world-class event.”
Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a four-season destination resort located in the Columbia Mountains of British Columbia, just minutes from its namesake town 124 miles northeast of Kelowna and 257 miles west of Calgary.