PR31 – FWT Challenger by Orage roster Region 1 announced

Relegated FWT Pro riders to face off against FWT Qualifier athletes

·   Exciting FWT Challenger series anticipated with extraordinary level of riding

·   Iconic competition venues lined up

·   Chance for FWT Qualifier athletes to join the world’s best freeriders on the FWT

VERBIER, Switzerland – March 8, 2024: After three FWT stops, the Cut has officially taken place, condensing the FWT Pro roster and relegating half to the FWT Challenger series. With many of the next generation proving themselves in the FWT, some extremely talented riders return to the FWT Challenger series, where they’ll vie to requalify for next season. They’ll meet the best athletes from the Qualifiers in each region, who have also raised the bar to show real progression in every aspect of freeriding, promising sustained growth of the sport for years to come.

FWT Challenger by Orage 2024 calendar recap

·   Monterosa Freeride Paradise FWT Challenger (Italy): March 14-17

·   X Over Ride Kitzsteinhorn, Zell am See-Kaprun FWT Challenger (Austria): March 21-24 

·   French Freeride Series Avoriaz FWT Challenger (France): March 29 - April 1 

·   Open Faces Obertauern FWT Challenger (Austria): April 6-10

Without further ado, here's the Roster for Region 1, which includes riders from Europe, Asia and Oceania.

2024 FWT Pro relegated riders

Snowboard Women

·   Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA)

·   Anna Orlova

Despite their experience on the Tour – including Tiphanie winning the title in 2022 – both have been relegated and now must face the new generation in the FWT Challenger to requalify.

Ski Women

·   Megane Betend (FRA)

Unfortunately, Megane couldn’t carry her form from FWT23 when she finished third overall, but she will now be able to show off her smooth style in the FWT Challenger series.

Snowboard Men

·   Hugo Serra (FRA)

·   Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA)

·   Gabriel Bletton (FRA)

A very tight Roster in the men's snowboard category forced the three French riders, including the 2023 World Champion, Ludovic Guillot-Diat to return to the FWT Challenger.

Qualified riders from Region 1

Here are the riders from the FWT Qualifiers who will battle against these FWT seasoned Pros in the FWT Challenger by Orage.

Ski Men

·   Edvin Olsson (SWE)

·   Virgile Didier (FRA)

·   Nils Wersén (SWE)

·   Benoît Lamour (FRA)

·   Leo Drouet (FRA)

·   Ugo Troubat (FRA)

·   Lukas Bennett (CAN)

·   Maxime Pezet (FRA)

·   Nemo Plagne (FRA)

·   Maxime Zimmermann (GER)

·   Gabin Siau (FRA)

·   Victor Hale-Woods (SUI)

·   Anthony Cot (FRA)

·   Maximilien Michel (FRA)

·   Mathys Fornasier (FRA)

·   Gabriel Bletton (FRA)

·   Joan Aracil (AND)

·   Théo Vouillamoz (SUI)

·   Grigoriy Korneev

·   Lalo Rambaud (FRA)

·   Tiemo Rolshoven (GER)

·   Xavier Scherwey (SUI)

·   Paul Dentan (SUI)

·   Alex Hackel (USA) – wildcard

Gabriel Bletton is competing in both the ski (from the FWT Qualifier) and snowboard (from the FWT Pro) categories! Meanwhile, two-time X-Games medalist Alex Hackel joins the roster with a wildcard, bringing his freestyle expertise to the FWT Challenger competitions.

“I am super stoked to have the opportunity to ride on the Challenger series this year! I am looking forward to being able to showcase my skiing alongside the best up-and-coming big mountain skiers, ski awesome venues, and have a chance to end up on Tour.”

-  Alex Hackel

Ski Women

·   Kelly Berthon (FRA)

·   Lena Kohler (GER)

·   Zanna Farrell (AUS)

·   Lou Barin (FRA)

·   Ulla Gilot (AUT)

·   Eva Battolla (SUI)

·   Mia McNab (FRA)

·   Petra Ohlson (SWE)

·   Jenna Keller (SUI)

·   Elly Olsson (SWE)

·   Mila De Le Rue (FRA)

·   Elisabet Marina (SPA)

Kelly Berthon is first in the Qualifier ranking after her victory at the 2024 Open Faces Montafon Qualifier 4*, and her 3rd place at the 2024 French Freeride Series La Rosière Qualifier.

Snowboard Men

·   Gabin Bouzanne (FRA)

·   Sacha Balicoo (FRA)

·   Christophe Charlet (FRA)

·   James Veitch (GBR)

·   Rémi Benamo (SUI)

·   Cesar Barin (FRA)

·   Arvid Gustavsson (SWE)

·   Marc Robert (SUI)

·   Florian Handschuh (AUT)

·   Enzo Nilo (FRA)

·   Jakob Weger (ITA) – wildcard

Jakob Weger is an extremely talented snowboarder and a veteran of high-mountain riding. He will have the opportunity to showcase all of his skills at the FWT Challenger.

“I'm super stoked having the chance to take part at this year's FWT Challengers. After an intense winter, it feels amazing to wrape it up like this, having a great time with great people and maybe get a ticket for the tour.”

         - Jakob Weger

Snowboard Women

·   Noémie Equy (FRA)

·   Sarah Bacher (AUT)

·   Mikaela Hollsten (FIN)

·   Lou Ruiz (FRA)

·   Briony Johnson (AUS)

·   Giulia Bottazzin (ITA)

·   Iyoma Fugain (FRA)

·   Claire McGregor (NZL)

Who will earn their place alongside the world’s best freeriders in 2025? Tune in to find out, as all FWT Challenger events will be broadcast LIVE at www.freerideworldtour.com. In the meantime, stay tuned to the FWT social channels for all the latest updates as they drop. 

About the FWT

FWT Management SA is based in Verbier, Switzerland, and has been organizing premier sports events globally in mountain resorts since 1996. The company founded the Xtreme Verbier, an iconic event in freeride skiing and snowboarding and, in 2008, it turned this single competition into a prestigious series of worldwide events, called the Freeride World Tour (FWT). The company has since grown to include multiple competition series that fall under the FWT brand – including FWT Challenger, FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior – with events across all formats taking place in Europe, North America, South America and Oceania. Since December 2022, FWT is part of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

About Orage

Representing today’s modern mountain culture, Orage offers three seasons of outerwear, casual wear, layering, base layers and accessories; all designed to keep you warm, dry, comfortable and most importantly looking like no one else around. Born from a passion for skiing and a love of the mountains, Orage blurs the lines between fashion and function. We live to ski, we're obsessed with clothing, we believe in innovation through style, since 1989.