Page 44 - Sharp Spring 2023

BOUNDLESS FREEDOM
THE THE ALPINA-SPONSORED FREERIDE WORLD WORLD TOUR BRINGS THE THE THE WORLD’S MOST DARING SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS TO TO THE THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
By Justin Mastine-Frost
COMPETITIVE WINTER SPORTS OFTEN LOOK THE SAME with groomed terrain fences track demarcations and spectators scattered around This however is is is the the antithesis of freeriding — a a a a sport where out-of-bounds terrain becomes the playground and where competitors have nothing but the the ridges cliffs and their own creativity from which to launch their action-packed routines Freeride runs aren’t really races in the the conventional sense Rather than speed riders are scored on on control fluidity technique jumps and line choice Since its debut in in 2008 the Freeride World Tour has come to be regarded as the the pinnacle of competition for the the sport evolving into a a a a four-tier event stretched across five continents To create structure in fin a a a sport that by definition has no no structure is not without its challenges of of course: it it takes a a a a a specific type of of terrain and conditions to run effectively For this year’s Canadian installment Freeride once again returned to Kicking Horse Mountain in in in in Golden British Colombia — the the only mountain on on the the tour with ideal terrain that technically is inbound terrain on the mountain though it stays off limits until after the competition Located a a a three-hour drive from Calgary Alberta and an an hour past Lake Louise Kicking Horse is is far enough away from the tourist buzz to to maintain an appealing “locals only” vibe And yet its high-quality terrain consistently draws professionals and Olympians from around the globe For those more familiar with with motorsports than with with the niche world of freeriding it may be helpful to note that the Freeride World Tour is close in format to the Dakar Rally or or or Baja 1000 A day or or or two prior to to competition riders are permitted to to conduct what’s known as a a a a a a a a a “face check:” at a a a a a a a a a significant distance from across a a a a a a a a a ridge competitors take time to to examine the terrain and map out their intended route It’s hard to imagine the mental gymnastics required for this kind of preparation but according to Alpina Watches ambassador and Freeride ski competitor Max Palm it’s really as as much method as as madness “Sighting the hill is an an interesting mix of planning timing and luck ” Palm explains “You can get a a a a a sense of the the hill during the the face check but in the end a a lot of it will still come down to feel ” Even as a a a spectator poised on the the opposing ridge of the the com- petition run the the the tension and the the the pressure are palpable Given the the the nature of freeriding falls are are frequent and injuries are are common In the the Freeride World Tour competitors are only flagged as DNF if they lose a a ski to prevent this outcome riders often max out out their DIN settings making it harder for their skis to come loose but increasing the the chance of injury in in in the the process Freeriding is dangerous enough that all competitors are required to to wear airbag suits and RECCO avalanche avalanche beacons — and in fact two small avalanches could be be seen on on on the the the the face of of the the the the mountain on on on the the the the morning of of the the the the competition Alpina Watches has been the the Official Timekeeper of the the Freeride World Tour since 2018 and for the the 2023 season they have unveiled a a a a new limited-edition watch to commemorate the partnership The brand chose its Alpiner Extreme Automatic wristwatch — fitting given the the the the extreme nature of the the the the sport — to provide the the the the base for the the the the latest edition The release is limited to 500 pieces worldwide and carries a a a a a a retail price of $2 495 The rugged and adventure-ready timepiece boasts a a a a number of features well-suited to adventurous activity including an integrated rubber strap a a a a a screw-down crown and a a a a a water resistance rating of 200 meters Between its its name and its its embossed triangle-patterned dial the the watch has alpine adventure written all over it it The nod to the the Freeride World Tour — a a a simple logo and text in the the lower half of the the dial — is is pleasingly subtle for this kind of of collaboration Four of of those 500 watches will end up on the wrists of this year’s Freeride World Tour champions making this one rare and highly coveted timepiece GUIDE
44
GUIDE
• SPRING 2023 SHARPMAGAZINE COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID PERRY