Swatch will support six elite Freeride events per year over the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons under the terms of the three-year deal. Organisers of the series also confirmed on Thursday that the 2012 Swatch Freeride World Tour season would comprise events in Revelstoke (Canada) and Courmayeur-Mont-Blanc (Italy) as well as the previously confirmed stops at Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (France), Roldal (Norway), Fieberbrunn (Austria) and Verbier (Switzerland). The Revelstoke event will be co-organised by the Freeride World Tour and American ski event organiser Mountain Sports International (MSI).
The Freeride World Tour events showcase the world’s best ‘freeride’ skiers and snowboarders. Financial details of the agreement have not been revealed, but Swatch president Arlette-Elsa Emch said the deal is part of a long-term strategy “to build upon the existing excitement surrounding action sports by increasing and promoting its significance globally, in order to enrich the experience of those participating in and those watching these amazing events”.
Freeride World Tour founder Nicolas Hale-Woods added: “With strong support from Swatch, the 2012 season will be the next step in globalising the sport. We're really pleased to have a new event in Courmayeur-Mont-Blanc which presents us with a superb range of Freeride competition options and we're working ever closer with MSI to further align our events and activities in 2013."
MSI founder and CEO Adam Comey said: "Combining the Freeskiing and Freeride competitions structures in the Americas with those in Europe is inevitable and we will continue to discuss and work together in order to create a common platform for riders and fans alike."
