FWT19 Grand Finale: Final Comp Set for Saturday, March 23
This weekend, the battle for the 2019 Freeride World Tour Overall Title will be waged on the infamous Bec des Rosses face.
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The final event of the 2019 season for the Freeride World Tour (FWT19) is confirmed to take place in Verbier, Switzerland this Saturday at 8:15 a.m. CET (12:15 a.m. MST). After an exciting penultimate stop in Ordino Arcalìs, Andorra a few weeks ago, both the men’s and women’s Overall Titles are still up for grabs.
FWT19 Ski Men
In the men’s category, Italian Markus Eder still has a strong lead in the overall rankings, but his crash in Andorra provided a glimmer of hope for FWT18 Overall Champion Kristofer Turdell to make a comeback and defend the title. The Swedish underdog will need to win on the Bec des Rosses to become the FWT19 overall champ.
France’s Léo Slemett, who won in Ordino Arcalìs, and American Andrew Pollard are also in a tight battle to round out the top three for 2019, and will undoubtedly put on quite a show to finish well in Verbier. Meanwhile, American Wild Card Tanner Hall announced on Instagram that he will not be skiing on the Bec des Rosses this Saturday.
FWT19 Ski Women
On the women’s side, the competition for the Overall Title is much tighter, with last season’s overall champion Arianna Tricomi of Italy, FWT19 rookie Jacqueline Pollard of Utah, and Wild Card Hedvig Wessel of Norway all within 1,000 points of each other. Switzerland’s Elisabeth Gerrtizen, sitting in fourth, is also nipping at the top three’s heels.
Read more: How to Watch the Xtreme Verbier 2019
Meanwhile, Americans Jackie Paaso, who won in Andorra, and Hazel Birnbaum shouldn’t be counted out, meaning the women’s ski contest in Verbier will be one to watch.
The final stop of FWT19 is scheduled to take place in Verbier, Switzerland on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at 8:15 a.m. CET (12:15 a.m. MST). The event will live stream on FWT’s YouTube channel. Keep up-to-date with all of the FWT19 action on SKImag.com’s FWT page, as well as SKI Magazine’s Facebook and Twitter channels.