Tanner Hall never fails to make a headline.

Back in May, it was announced he would be competing on the Freeride World Tour in a wildcard slot, but that same month Squaw pulled his pass for hiking the park. In October Tanner dropped his incredible film Here After but was also dropped from the Oakley team after a twenty-year sponsorship. Ever controversial, Tanner has gained both loyal supporters and harsh critics.

That being said, on the first stop of the Freeride World Tour Tanner was able to silence the doubters by earning a second place finish in Hakuba, Japan. “I’m stoked. I didn’t crash and made it to the bottom,” he said. The result coincided with the announcement of his sponsorship by Ruroc, a brand that, fittingly, also has been known to create a fair few headlines. T-Hall joins 2018 FWT winner Mickael Bimboes and team members LJ Strenio and Andy Parry on Ruroc. In Andy's words: “I have been waiting for this all my life. RUCREW!”

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/921909/Tanner-Hall-FWT-Hakuba-Japan---2nd-Place-Interview-mp4?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=alerts

“This is my very first ever big mountain event. To jump into the Freeride Tour for your first one ever - it’s pretty amazing to have conditions like this in Hakuba, Japan,” said Tanner. “I’m really blessed and really stoked that it was just really good conditions and a lot of fun.” As for the rest of the season on tour - Tanner plans on studying the venue to optimize the natural features as much as possible. Another podium finish might be on the cards in Kicking Horse, British Columbia, where Tanner will be faced with familiar terrain.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3Ln2YHwoh/