Following two stops in South America that set the pace for the 15th year of the big mountain freeskiing tour, the 2012 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour kicks off its North American stops beginning January 4-9 with the Canadian Freeskiing Championships in Revelstoke, BC; the US Extreme Freeskiing Championships in Crested Butte, CO on February 8-12; the North American Freeskiing Championships in Kirkwood, CA on February 22-27; and culminating with the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships in Snowbird, UT on March 14-19, 2012.

Photo by Josh Anderson

 

"Last year we took a huge step in the progression of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour when we introduced the style/creativity category which has opened the door to a new generation of skiers who are incorporating new school tricks into fluid, solid skiing on big mountain terrain, and has encouraged the tour mainstays to get more creative,” said Bryan Barlow, event director for the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. “As our events fill up faster each year, we’ve decided to introduce a pre-qualified list for the qualifier days.  This will allow our returning athletes a chance to register first, and a number of ‘open’ spots will be available on a first come, first serve basis.”

 

Heading into the third stop of the season, Guerlain Chicherit (FRA), who returned to the circuit after several years of absence, is in the lead for the men with 142 points, followed by Kirkwood’s Josh Daiek with 126 points and Mad River Glen’s Lars Chickering-Ayers with 114 points.  For the ladies, Crystal Wright of Jackson, WY is in first with 171 points, followed closely by Snowbird’s Angel Collinson with 168 points and Sole Diaz (CHE) in third with 125.

Photo by Josh Anderson

 

Athlete registration for Revelstoke will open December 7, 2011 at 10 a.m. MST; registration for all other stops will open December 15 at 10 a.m. MST at http://www.freeskiingworldtour.com.

 

Canadian Freeskiing Championships, Revelstoke, BC, January 4-9, 2012

US Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte, CO, February 8-12, 2012

North American Freeskiing Championships, Kirkwood, CA, February 22-27, 2012

Subaru Freeskiing World Championships, Snowbird, UT, March 14-19, 2012

Additional Freeskiing World Tour Qualifiers will be announced in the coming weeks.