Freeride World Tour 2021 | Region 2 Qualifying Athletes
Meet IFSA's Region 2 qualifying athletes for the 2021 Freeride World Tour...
We hope this note finds you well and healthy and taking care to follow social distancing recommendations. The cancellation of 8 Freeride World Qualifying events and our Championship at Kirkwood was a tough pill to swallow. However, we feel this was the right decision as evidenced by the eventual closure of most resorts across the US and Canada.
Know that terminating our 2020 Tour was the hardest call we’ve ever made as an organization. Though agonizing, we firmly believe it was the correct course of action to protect the health of our athletes and the mountain communities where we love to play.
Please read through the following updates from the IFSA as they pertain to the 2020 FWQ Region 2 Tour...
REFUNDS
Note that all athletes who were registered for events that were cancelled have now been refunded. If you were not confirmed for an event, the authorization on your credit card will expire soon. You can call your bank to expedite that process if necessary. Each event organizer (in some cases a nonprofit ski club, an event production company, or the resort itself) has provided the largest refund possible. Some events were forced to issue partial refunds in order to cover operating and production costs to ensure they can continue to produce events in the future. We realize this is an incredibly tough time for everyone and where possible, full refunds were provided.
RANKINGS
The IFSA Board of Directors has spent weeks in discussion with athletes, coaches, and our partner the Freeride World Tour in Region 1. The IFSA and the FWT have decided to align across both regions and award the Freeride World Tour qualifying spots for the FWT 2021 Tour to the athletes according to current rankings. This is an unprecedented time and we did not arrive at this decision lightly. With no precedent to guide us we believe this to be most fair outcome for our athlete community in this challenging time.
BEARTOOTH BASIN FWQ 2* & SOUTH AMERICAN STOPS
We are currently assessing the viability of our FWQ 2* event at Beartooth Basin in June and FWQ events in Chile and Argentina in late summer 2020. Keep an eye on your email and our social accounts for updates. We will abide by local health department, CDC, and TSA recommendations.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our entire FWQ community and we know that if anything, Freeride teaches us resilience and patience. Our passion for mountains, snow, and each other will meet again on the slopes when the time is right.
We wish hearty congratulations to our Region 2 FWQ Champions and recognize the accomplishments of all our athletes during this unique 2020 Freeride World Qualifying Tour.
Stay happy, healthy, and sane,
IFSA Board of Directors
Tracy Chubb (USA - 1st FWQ Region 2) put in strong performances in North America this winter, such as taking the win at the FWQ 4* Kicking Horse in Golden, British Columbia. In the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Tracy also racked up podium finishes at Kirkwood, Crested Butte, Big Sky and Beartooth Basin.
Click Here to follow Tracy on Instagram
For several years, Ross Tester (USA 1st FWQ Region 2) has been working his way up the ‘Freeride pyramid’. He first made his mark by winning the North American Junior Circuit, and the Junior World Championships in Grandvalira in 2017. However, Ross is not the only Junior to have become a master. He will be joined by Cooper Bathgate (CAN - 2nd FWQ Region 2) who was also close to qualifying for FWT last year. Raymond McDermott (USA 3rd FWQ Region 2) winner of the Kicking Horse Golden BC 4* honed his smooth style at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and will complete the list of rookie skiers who will join the 2021 FWT representing Region 2.
Click Here to follow Ross on Instagram
Click Here to follow Cooper on Instagram
Click Here to follow Raymond on Instagram
Canadian Katie Anderson (CAN - 1st FWQ Region 2) will make her first turns on the Tour in 2021 after narrowly missing qualification after the 2019 Kirkwood FWQ 4* championship last April. A talented rider, Katie clinched finishes on the podium at Revelstoke, Crested Butte, Kicking Horse, and Taos this season. Katie is keenly interested in supporting female riders and the up-and-coming generation of younger snowboarders in Canada.
Click Here to follow Katie on Instagram
Michael Mawn (USA - 1st FWQ Region 2) who formerly competed at a high level in half pipe is a rider with an excellent foundation and a wide skill set. Michael loves exploring backcountry terrain and has transitioned from the IFSA Junior Series (2017-2018 IFSA North American Junior Freeride Champion in 15-18 Male Snowboard division) to the FWQ series.
Click Here to follow Michael on Instagram
