Recap FWT 2023 – Bacqueira Beret
Getting after the line, Freeride World Tour 2023 - Bacqueira Beret, Spain. pc freerideworldtour
FWT 2023 kicked off yesterday in Spain at Bacqueira Beret. Despite difficult conditions with a snowpack that has been unseasonably thin this year the competition started on time. With some recent wind loading lots of sharks have been barely covered, particularly on the upper part of the Tuc De Baciver.
Competition officials took a closer look at the situation and ultimately decided the far upper portion was not safe. They declared it not part of the competition to help avoid any aggressive efforts in such dicey terrain. Athletes were made aware they could only be judged on their runs beneath this sharky unsafe area.
To complicate matters ski cuts performed by the local guides testing the slope triggered several avalanches down the chutes. This demonstrates just how wind-loaded some of these pockets had become.So under variable conditions, an upper course portion declared unsafe, and an enthusiastic hometown Spanish crowd the event got underway.
Women’s’ Snowboarding
Women’s Snowboarding was up first. The winner was Katie Anderson (CAN) and her first year on FWT. According to the FWT Katie “found a playful line, linking multiple airs and grabs with incredible board control, before cruising through the lower powder field with style.” According to FWT website she has this after the event,
“It’s really awesome to be back here with all the FWT people, and the fans especially. I changed my run last minute and was pretty nervous, but the snow was better than I thought. I had a lot of fun, and I am stoked with the win.”
Men's Snowboarding
Men’s Snowboarding was next up. According to the FWT, “Michael Mawn (USA) took the win for the second consecutive year with a strong technical line. He threaded the needle at the top of the course, airing into a tight couloir, which threw him out at high speed into the face. He then sent multiple critical airs while maintaining complete control of the board under his feet.”
After the race, Mawn had this to say with FWT journalists,
“It’s so good to be back here; this is my favorite stop, and the fans are so welcoming. An avalanche took out my planned line, and so I had to pick out another one, which I was a bit on edge about. But I found some good snow and went full throttle – I was really pushing it! I just felt really happy to be here with everyone.”
Slaying pow on competition runs, FWT 2023 - Bacqueira Beret, Spain. pc freerideworldtour
Women’s Skiing
Women’s Ski followed with a great effort by the ladies here. Addison Rafford (USA) with her first year on the FWT claimed victory with a masterful clean, fluid run capped off with a massive cliff stomp in a tight couloir to the fans’, and judges’ delight.
She had this to say after the race, “
My run was so much fun. I found it hard to pick my line from the visual inspection, but it turned out well, and I really enjoyed it. It’s my first time in Europe, and I’m super stoked to be in Baqueira Beret – this place is unreal!
Full throttle into the drop, FWT 2023- Baqueira Beret, Spain. pc freerideworldtour
Men’s Skiing
Men’s Ski rounded out the day’s competition at Baqueira. Max Palm from Sweden was a favorite going in after setting a FWT record last year with his first-ever double backflip. With that performance, he earned a first-place finish and a tour wild card for the year. He’s back at it again charging hard and showing us why competitive freeriding comes naturally to him. According to FWT, “The young Swede opened his account with a supercritical 360 into a tight zone, before linking aggressive big mountain turns into a tweaked-out air. He finished with a huge backflip and another air at high speed, cruising through the gates for the win.”
After the race, Palm had this,
“I am so stoked to be back in Baqueira after getting the win here last year. Since I woke up this morning everything has gone well: I had the best runs on piste, and I just felt it was going to be a good day. I put down my run and stuck to my plan, ending up in the first position. Baqueira is the best place ever, I just love this place!”
Here are some of my own notes watching the men’s comp….
Max Palm - with a close recovery in upper couloir after throwing that 360… perfect backflip into a tight choke, blasted through to the runout!!
Xander Guzman with his rookie debut threw a ‘screamin semen’ at his last of four consecutive tricks in immediate succession! (Surprised he wasn’t scored higher?)
Abel Moga riding a nice technical line and capping it off with a beautiful front flip onto the apron below! The crowd went absolutely bananas and started to charge down the hill from their seated positions to cheer from the boundary gates. What a mob scene for both locals Navarro and Moga!! Wow!
Kristoff Trudell and Ross Tester got “sharked out” before they could let loose….
Abel Moga showing everyone who’s excited to be competing on the FWT 2023 - Bacqueira Beret. pc @abel.moga21
Next Stop… Andorra
What a way to kick off the season!! The athletes looked ready and eager to shred and threw down some championship runs in a tough, and sometimes unforgiving environment. Congratulations to the winners and all the athletes who competed this year. Next stop, Ordino-Arcalís in Andorra on February 4 through 9th. It’s a favorite on tour and where Maxime Chabloz will defend his title along with Jess Hotter who both had won last season. Tiphanie Perrotin who dropped a massive cliff in Baqueira will get a chance to defend her title from last year and try for another.
Shredding the face on the FWT 2021 at Ordino Arcalís, Andorra. pc ordinoarcalis
We’re back tomorrow On Tour with Tavo. This time we examine the engine of his performance ride and look at the dedication it takes to compete at such a high level. It’s an exciting story you don’t want to miss! We’d like to give a special thanks to Tavo’s sponsors for their amazing support!