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A current International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association (IFSA) nonprofit membership is required to register for Freeride World Tour (FWT) Qualifier events. An IFSA annual membership is tax deductible & remains at $60/year.

FWQ = Freeride World Qualifier

FWQ21:

comeback from covid-19 pandemic season

FWQ22:

introduction of FWT Challenger mid season

FWQ23:

FWT Acquisition by FIS

FWQ24:

IFSA & FWT debut a new partnership with the LiveHeats platform to globally unify their membership, event registration & scorekeeping: https://liveheats.com/IFSA

FWT & FIS launch a new website showcasing the platform for progression designed & coded with ♥ by superhuit.ch: https://www.freerideworldtour.com/qualifier/freeride-world-tour/

You can enter as many competitions as you want in a season, but only your top 3 results go towards your overall ranking. Events are ranked 1-4 stars- the higher the star, the more the points it’s worth per placing.

FWQ23 end of season Overall Rankings:

USA: 6th. Americas: 11th. World: 22nd.

1 spot away from FWT Challenger ‘23

The 2024 FWT Qualifier season schedule was officially released November 1st, 2023:

https://www.freeskiers.org/events/ifsa-events.html

FWQ23 events totaled ~$1,000:

Kirkwood 4*- $160

CB 4*- $190 (2nd place)

CB 2*- $140 (cancelled- still charged)

Taos Ski Valley 3*- $185

Arapahoe Basin 3*- $175 (5th place)

Aiming to get to Revelstoke & Kicking Horse in British Columbia late January for what will be my 1st time to Canada.

While I believe there are several great Southern Rockies venues close to home, the IFSA has catered the beginning of the past 3 seasons to Canada & the PNW- a 22 hour drive from Gunnison, Colorado.

Gas + Maintenance: 

When my 1999 Honda CR-V engine blew coming back from Purgatory Resort’s closing day, I was able to pick up a 2004 Honda Pilot, which I nicknamed HAPPY.. Gilmore.. because we both need sponsors.

odometer 240k+ miles

needs suspension work 

~$70 for a full tank of gas

Flights: 

Gunnison-Crested Butte 

Regional Airport (GUC- home)

Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ- 1hr)

Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT- 2.5hrs)

Denver International Airport 

(DIA- 4hrs)

I collect points everywhere I go to save for & help with future stays- Hotels.com, Choice, IHG, Marriott, Wyndham, Hyatt, Hilton, Airbnb, Vrbo… I see a Booking.com logo on the IFSA website, but am not sure how they are sponsoring the organization.

I can also sleep in my 2004 Honda Pilot (HAPPY). With the seats laid flat, there’s enough room for me- being 5’1”- to sleep comfortably & I’m no stranger to car camping... a dream would be to have a RV or small trailer I could tow on tour.

Athlete discounted tickets are offered for each event- pricing varies per resort & most offer a Friends & Family rate too.

I currently have the 23/24 Epic Local Pass- via a $700 sponsorship from Gunnison Pizza Company (GPC). Vail Resorts includes Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), where I’ll be practicing my freeriding.

Fingers crossed Gunnison’s Cranor Hill opens for the 23/24 season & there will be some Monarch Mountain days in the mix being a similar distance as CBMR from home.