The results from the FWT in Kicking Horse, BC

The results from the FWT in Kicking Horse, BC

Stop #3 of Freeride World Tour 2022 ran to successful completion in Kicking Horse Golden,
BC this Saturday with challenging conditions and high drama for the Tour’s rankings. With
the results from Kicking Horse confirmed, a select group of riders are now qualified to the FWT
Finals.

The drama started before the competition even began. 115km/h winds affected the mountains
around Kicking Horse Golden, B.C. two days before the event and the planned venue, Ozone,
bore the brunt of the wind and was left in poor condition. Following consultation between the
riders, guides and organizers, the decision was made to change venues to T1 South. This
change required an impressive all-night effort from organizers to move the entire competition
and production infrastructures to the other side of the resort. The conditions on the new venue
were challenging, but with dry conditions across much of North America, it was still a huge
victory to complete another successful event.

Snowboard women

The day began with Snowboard Women, with Erika Vikander (USA) grabbing her second
event victory of the 2022 season. Vikander put down a solid run, linking several airs with her
signature stylish riding. She was followed by Katie Anderson (CAN), whose high-speed,
powerful style made quick work of the challenging face. Former World Champion Manuela
Mandl (AUT) rounded out the podium in 3rd place, with an impressively technical entry from
start #2.

The snow was difficult but I’m so happy to put down another clean run! Making the cut with
the golden bib is really exciting, and I can’t wait to get to the next events in Austria and
Switzerland.
” - Erika Vikander

Snowboard Men

The next category was Snowboard Men, with Camille Armand (FRA) taking the win. Armand
has been on the podium at all three events of 2022; he previously placed 3rd in Ordino Arcalís
and 2nd place in Baqueira Beret. In 2nd place was FWT veteran Ludovic Guillot-Diat‎ (FRA),
who rode a unique line down the rider’s right side of the venue. Cody Bramwell (GBR)
finished in 3rd place with a run that featured a massive 360 at the top and full-speed riding
down the center of the face.

I feel good to take the win today. I’m also happy because now my ranking for the season gives
me a lot of confidence for the upcoming events. Am I aiming for the world title? We’ll see!
” - Camille Armand

Ski Women

Ski Women again put on an incredible show, and tour rookie Lily Bradley (USA) emerging
victorious. Bradley looked unaffected by the tough conditions as she put down a smooth run
with a technical entrance and several fluidly-linked airs. Following up her victory in Ordino
Arcalís with another solid result was Jess Hotter (NZL), who took second place with a
characteristically hard-charging run. 3rd place went to the young Canadian Olivia McNeill‎
(CAN).
 
I want to to push my level by adding more tricks to my runs, and it’s also important to me to be
a good representative for young queer women in our sport.
” - Lily Bradley

Ski Men

The final category of the day was Ski Men and the drama and action could not have been more
intense. Defending World Champion Kristofer Turdell (SWE) needed a strong result and he
did not disappoint, with a balanced run showing his smooth style, big-mountain prowess and
freestyle ability that awarded him 3rd place. Max Palm (SWE) was able to bounce back from a
brutal crash in Ordino Arcalís to put down another incredible run for 2nd place. Max’s event-
winning double backflip in Baqueira Beret was the first time that trick had been successfully
landed in FWT history, and he pulled it off again for another podium finish in Canada. But
stealing the show for his second victory in a row was tour rookie Maxime Chabloz (SUI), who
put down a freestyle-heavy run featuring two 360s, a cork 720 and a huge backflip to take the
win.

My plan today was to go for a purely freestyle run. I saw Max’s double backflip and knew I had
to go for it, so I tried to take my jumps as big as possible, grab every air, and I added an air at
the bottom no one else hit. I’m dedicating this win to my brother Yannick, who was recently
injured competing in the Olympics in China.
” - Maxime Chabloz

The Finals

As the intense action of the competition concluded, riders experienced some of the most
emotional moments of the season, with the new overall ranking determining The Cut. The top
25 riders (11 ski men, 6 ski women, 5 snowboard men, 3 snowboard women) are now
qualified to the FWT Finals, while those who placed below the qualification line were
relegated to the FWQ Finals. Perhaps most surprising amongst the riders not advancing to
FWT Finals was two-time world champion Victor De Le Rue (FRA). Despite a 2nd place finish
in Ordino Arcalís, poor results in the other two events were insufficient to secure qualification
for the defending champion.

Currently leading the Snowboard rankings are Camille Armand (FRA) and Erika Vikander
(USA). In the Ski categories, Maxime Chabloz (SUI) and Jess Hotter (NZL) are at the top of the
pack. These riders will be wearing the yellow jersey as the tour heads to the first of the two
FWT Finals events in Fieberbrunn, Austria (15-20 March). Although some riders have
distinguished themselves as standouts, the race for the world title remains wide open, and
champions will ultimately be decided at the final event of the year in Verbier, Switzerland (26
March - 3 April).

Arjen
was born with maps of ski areas in the cradle and has visited almost all of them. His great passion is freeriding.
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