The 4*Freeride World Tour Challenger provides the big stage for the final decisions for qualification for the Freeride World Tour 2025. This international freeride contest is taking place in Obertauern for the first time and offers ideal conditions for this event with numerous freeride options.

This is the big showdown of the international freeride scene. The last contest of the season in Region 1. The selection process is extremely tough, as there are only very few places available for advancement. In each region, 4 riders will advance in the men’s ski category, 2 riders in the women’s ski category, 2 riders in the men’s snowboard category and only one rider in the women’s snowboard category

RIDERS WHO ARE COMING FROM THE FWT QUALIFIER
The list of participants includes some of the most talented names from the FWT Qualifier competitions. Among them are Sarah Bacher (Snowboard Women), Florian Handschuh (Snowboard Men) and Ulla Gilot (Ski Women), three riders from the Austrian freeride scene.
With a magnificent 7100 points in the qualifier ranking, Gabin Bouzanne (FRA) secured his place in the Snowboard Men category. Snowboarders Sacha Balicco (FRA) and Christophe Charlet (FRA), as well as skier Virgile Didier (FRA) are also on the start list. In the Ski Men category 23 riders made it through to the Challenger competitions. Just over half of them come from France, which once again shows the strength of the participants from the French Alps.
The winner of the last 4* FWT Qualifier – James Veitch from Great Britain – is also taking part. Sweden’s Edvin Olsson and Nils Wersén, together with , can also be found at the top of the qualifier rankings. Two German freeriders, Max Zimmermann and Tiemo Rolshoven, also delivered top performances and have the opportunity to compete in the Challenger events.

RIDERS WHO ARE COMING FROM THE FWT PRO
The FWT Qualifier athletes will be joined by riders from this year’s Freeride World Tour who did not have enough points to remain in the Pro Tour. They can earn back their starting position by performing in the Challenger competitions. In addition to snowboarders Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA) and Anna Orlova (RUS), French snowboarders Hugo Serra, Ludovic Guillot-Diat and Gabriel Bletton as well as Megane Betend (FRA, Ski Women) and Abel Moga (ESP, Ski Men) are also pursuing this goal.