Setting up a competition like the Freeride World Tour requires very specific skills and an above-average resistance to the elements. Working in winter on mountain peaks involves a number of risks to the point where sometimes you have to camp for several days before being able to start the race.
What the FWT is a film presented by Alpina Watches that unveils the astonishing story of the FWT, including a behind-the-scenes look into the colossal effort it takes to run an event. For over 15 years, the FWT has been at the center of freeriding, helping to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in freeriding history. It has also been an integral part of the evolution of the sport itself, owing to the endless stream of young talent each year that brings new tricks and novel approaches to competition.
For more Freeride World Tour videos, visit https://www.freerideworldtour.com
Follow the FWT:
https://www.instagram.com/freerideworldtour/
https://twitter.com/FreerideWTour
https://www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour
https://www.tiktok.com/@freeridewtour
What the FWT is a film presented by Alpina Watches that unveils the astonishing story of the FWT, including a behind-the-scenes look into the colossal effort it takes to run an event. For over 15 years, the FWT has been at the center of freeriding, helping to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in freeriding history. It has also been an integral part of the evolution of the sport itself, owing to the endless stream of young talent each year that brings new tricks and novel approaches to competition.
For more Freeride World Tour videos, visit https://www.freerideworldtour.com
Follow the FWT:
https://www.instagram.com/freerideworldtour/
https://twitter.com/FreerideWTour
https://www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour
https://www.tiktok.com/@freeridewtour
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SportsTranscript
00:00 What the f***?
00:07 My name is Johnny Ray and I'm in charge of the mountain operations on all of the events.
00:16 It's the set up of everything that is seen on the mountain from the start gate to the
00:20 production tents to the finish line.
00:27 The perks of the job I would say is the flexible work hours, the team spirit.
00:37 We get to spend most of our days outside.
00:44 All the accommodation and the travel is included in the package so it's free.
00:53 The glamour of the Freeride World Tour, you live out of a suitcase, you eat when you can,
00:58 if you can, you're always dehydrated, you're always jet lagged.
01:04 We don't see much of the local life, except the office and the hotel.
01:09 We try to follow the rhythm of Yoris and Nico and anticipate their 25,000 scenarios in mind.
01:14 We have a bit of grey hair before our age.
01:20 Live competition coverage has been the Freeride World Tour's signature since 2013,
01:26 but taking broadcast production to the backcountry hasn't happened without a few hiccups.
01:36 And when disaster strikes, it usually starts with a seemingly innocuous phone call, just like this one.
01:45 Is it good, can I start? Today and tomorrow in Andorra, the isotherm is around 2,300 metres,
01:55 with a north-north-east wind.
02:00 And Saturday, if we compare Saturday to today, are we in a similar regime at the isothermal level?
02:11 In my job, I have to decide whether it's good to do a competition.
02:17 With the weather, it sometimes happens that the phase has to change,
02:22 even though we had validated one, and at the last minute, there's no more snow, too much snow, it's dangerous.
02:31 You said a day with the isotherm at 1,000 metres.
02:35 You said a bit of wind, but there was no wind, so the snow has already warmed up.
02:40 I'm really sad.
02:42 I can see that.
02:43 We have to talk to Bertie.
02:45 We're the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to TV recording.
02:51 We'll have to make the sports choices, the weather obligations and all that.
02:57 Logistics, when I tell them, "Ah, in the end, we'll probably go for the competition on the other side,
03:03 or it'll be up there," they don't always like it.
03:09 You learn quite quickly that plans change all the time, and you just end up adapting.
03:15 Three, two, one, with you.
03:19 Well, good morning, Freeride family.
03:21 We've got a 30-minute delay at the moment while we wait for the light to clear out.
03:25 I would not say this is a job for everyone.
03:29 The sort of mental flexibility required.
03:35 The ability to quickly change direction and do something that you didn't think was going to happen,
03:41 like a competition in a different country the day after tomorrow.
03:44 Those things are taxing.
03:47 This is going to be our final update of the morning.
03:49 Unfortunately, due to difficult light conditions, we are going to shut it down for today.
03:54 That's right, Mother Nature has not played ball.
03:57 What is tough about the Freeride World Tour is getting hit by the wind,
04:04 getting turned around by the waiting line, getting caught by the...
04:07 Uh...
04:09 Oh!
04:13 [BEEPING]
04:15 [BEEPING]
04:17 Welcome to Freeride World Tour Hotline.
04:22 Having trouble holding your competition? We're here to help.
04:26 To put your competition on hold, press 1.
04:30 To postpone your competition and smash your operational budget, press 2.
04:35 To cancel your competition, press 3.
04:38 To move your competition to a different venue in less than 36 hours, please hold the line.
04:44 All of our Miracle Operators are currently unavailable.
04:53 Please try again at a later time.
04:56 [BEEPING]
05:04 Alaska 2015, Freeriding's ultimate destination,
05:09 and the Freeride World Tour's first attempt at holding a competition there.
05:13 Taking advantage of a short weather window,
05:19 the production team sets up camp on a remote ridge facing the competition venue.
05:31 Bad weather closes in, forcing the crew to camp out and look after the equipment
05:37 while waiting for an elusive bluebird powder day to run the competition.
05:42 Little did the team know they would spend the next nine days cut off from the world,
05:48 waiting for the skies to clear up.
05:51 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:54 It turns out their efforts were not in vain.
06:18 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:21 Hello, and welcome to Haines, Alaska for the fourth stop on the 2015 Freeride World Tour.
06:32 [SPEAKING FRENCH]
06:35 After a long wait, Alaska finally delivered,
06:57 possibly the greatest Freeride World Tour event to date.
07:01 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:04 That's not the way I see it.
07:20 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:24 Oh, my goodness.
07:27 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:30 What the [BLEEP]
07:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]