In addition to being the competition’s partner and Official Watch, Alpina also supports FWT contestants Sybille Blanjean, Max Palm, Victor de Le Rue and Thibault Magnin, all Alpina ambassadors. Starting with an event at Baqueira Beret (Spain) from 27 January to 1 February 2024, FWT and its 40 riders, divided into four categories, will then travel to Andorra, Canada, Georgia (a new stage this year) and Austria before finishing up in Verbier at the legendary Bec des Rosses mountain in Switzerland from March 23-31.
In 2024, the 53 best freeriders in the world will be back for the 17th edition of the iconic Freeride World Tour in four categories (men’s/women’s skiing, men’s/women’s snowboarding), ready to push the absolute limits of what can be done high in the mountains and win the ultimate accolade in the sport. One major new feature this year is the presence of an additional stage in Georgia at Georgia Pro, from March 1-7.
Alpina and FWT share the same passion for adventure and since 2018 have been partners in helping freeride athletes achieve their goals as they negotiate some of the toughest routes the mountains have to offer. As well as being FWT’s Partner and Official Watch, Alpina also supports four athletes who are taking part in this year’s competition and are among its ‘Alpiniste’ team of ambassadors: Swiss skier Sybille Blanjean, an FWT contestant since 2022, Swedish skier Max Palm, a rising star in freeriding, French snowboarder Victor de Le Rue, with two freeride world championship titles to his name (2019 and 2021) and a wild card spot for this contest, and the Spanish-Swiss skier Thibault Magnin, an expert in freeskiing joining the FWT for the first time in 2024 thanks to another wild card spot.
Freeride World Tour 2024
This year’s programme comprises six stages in six different countries:
Baqueira Beret, Spain: 27 January - 1 February (CANCELED)
Ordino Arcalís, Andorra: 1 - 7 February
Kicking Horse, Golden BC, Canada: 14 - 20 February
Georgia Pro, Georgia: 1 - 7 March
Fieberbrunn, Austria: 12 - 18 March
Xtreme Verbier, Switzerland: 23 - 31 March
The Grand Finale will return to Bec des Rosses, Verbier, Switzerland, the undisputed cradle of freeriding. For lesser mortals, the event is simply a must; for their part, the athletes tame this beast of a mountain year after year – and even turn into it into their playground, constantly combining new route variations with stunts that push the envelope ever further. For the coming edition, Alpina will be setting up an observation point at the Bec des Rosses finish line, welcoming visitors to experience the competition in their own special venue.
A watch for extremes
The event is one where the very best skiers and snowboarders will be testing limits. To help them on their way, Alpina has designed a watch that echoes the essence of their sport – the extreme. The Alpiner Extreme Automatic Freeride World Tour is right there where it belongs, in the realm of mountains, outdoor sports, and extreme conditions. Focusing on the essentials (hours, minutes, seconds and date), the timepiece features an automatic calibre beating at 4Hz (28,800vph) and comes in a chunky 41 x 42.5mm cushion format.
To ensure optimum readability, the Alpiner Extreme Automatic Freeride World Tour sports white luminous hand and hour markers atop a black dial bearing the Freeride World Tour logo at 6 o’clock. The case is sun-brushed – the wisest choice for a timepiece that by its very nature will be exposed to bumps and scratches. Similar thinking has resulted in a rubber strap ready to deal with slips, extreme temperatures, and the most unexpected circumstances. Located at 3 o’clock, the crown has been fitted with a rubber grip – a vital detail making it easy for gloved riders to operate.
Beneath the scratchproof, glareproof sapphire crystal, Alpina has indulged in a nod to its historical emblem: the dial and seconds hand counterweight echo its legendary triangle logo, symbolising the Alpine summits for which the watch is designed.
