Swatch Freeride World Tour by the North Face lands Feb. 27 at Kirkwood

The fourth global big mountain stop of the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face 2013 arrives near Lake Tahoe at Kirkwood Mountain Resort Feb. 27.

The competition can be viewed from anywhere in the world via live webcast available the day of competition on www.freerideworldtour.com. The first possible day of competition is scheduled for Feb. 27 with a weather window extending to March 3, according to a news release.

“It comes as no surprise that Kirkwood has been having a very snowy first half of the season. Conditions are setting up the mountain to have prime coverage needed for this event,” observed FWT Americas Competition Director Bryan Barlow in the news release.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort’s big mountain venue, The Cirque, is the ideal location for the fourth stop of the 2013 FWT. The Cirque is comprised of exposed, steep and raw terrain, which is permanently closed to the general public, allowing for a unique and exciting North American freeride venue.

“With unmatched inbounds terrain and some of the deepest snow in the country, Kirkwood is an appropriate choice as the only U.S. stop for the Freeride World Tour,” said Casey Blann, Kirkwood’s general manager. “This event really solidifies our position as one of the premier big mountains in the country, and I personally can’t wait to see these athletes tackle The Cirque.”

On its fourth stop for the season, competition amongst the deeply talented international athlete field is heating up. The tour started with a roster of 36 prequalified male skiers, 14 male snowboarders, 14 female skiers and seven female snowboarders. The 2013 FWT features five stops for male skiers and snowboarders, and four stops for female skiers and snowboarders before a cut will be made for the SWATCH Xtreme Verbier in Switzerland. After the fifth stop in Fieberbrunn, Austria, the top three results out of five events for men and the top three results out of four events for women will be used to qualify riders for Verbier and the 2014 FWT.

Lake Tahoe area local and 2012 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Champion Josh Daiek is looking forward to competing at his home mountain this season.

“I’m simply stoked for the competition to be at Kirkwood!” said Daiek. ‟It has some of the most fun terrain and is one of the best competition venues in the world.”

The SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face at Kirkwood Mountain Resort begins Mon., Feb. 25, 2013 with athlete arrival. The opening ceremonies for the FWT will be on Tues., Feb. 26 with possible competition dates beginning on Weds., Feb. 27 through March 3.

Swatch Freeride World Tour by the North Face 2013 Kirkwood Schedule:

Monday, February 25
Athlete Arrival Day
Location
9:00am - 4:00pm
Athlete Check In
Red Cliffs Lodge
6:00pm - 8:00pm
FWT Welcome Party
TBD

Tuesday, February 26
Athlete/Media Check In
Location
9:00am - 4:00pm
Athlete Check In
Red Cliffs Lodge
9:00am - 4:00pm
Media Check In
Red Cliffs Lodge
9:00am - 4:00pm
Venue Inspection
The Cirque
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Mandatory Athlete Meeting
Red Cliffs Lodge
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Opening Ceremonies/Bib draw
TBD

Wednesday, February 27
First Possible Contest Date
Location
8:00am - 8:30am
Athlete/Media Load
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
10:00am - 3:00pm
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
The Cirque
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Mandatory Athlete Meeting
Red Cliffs Lodge

February 28 - March 3
Weather Days

For athlete information visit: www.FreerideWorldTour.com. Follow The Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/freerideworldtour and on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/FreerideWTour
and #FWT13