PR28 – Georgia Pro confirmed for this Thursday, February 29, 2024

FWT by Peak Performance season in full swing, with the last event before The Cut coming up

·   First FWT Pro event in Georgia will take place on Kakhiani this Thursday

·   Last stop before The Cut

·   Conditions are absolutely epic, with fresh snow and forecasted bluebird skies

MESTIA, Georgia – February 28, 2024: Stop three of this season’s FWT by Peak Performance is ready to fire in the great heights of the Georgian Caucasus Mountains. Competition has been moved forward to this Thursday, as the weather is predicted to worsen from Friday, with clouds moving in and an unpredictable pattern settling in from Saturday. However, the conditions currently have all the right ingredients for an epic event: the Tetnuldi resort recently received 30 cm of fresh snow over a consistent snowpack, with sunshine and stable temperatures forecast this week.

FWT organizers are therefore keen to take advantage of these classic conditions and get the event underway earlier than the proposed waiting period.

The competition will take place on Kakhiani – or კახიანი in Georgian – the second-highest mountain on the Gvalda Range, which towers over the town of Mestia. Riders will descend the north-northwest face – starting at 3,150 m and finishing at 2,830 m – which has an average gradient of 37° and some sections up to 55°. This location is perfect for freeriding, with steep terrain and unique features, making it a thrilling and challenging setting for the event.

In the back of the minds of many riders will be The Cut, which means this will be the last event of the season for some. This will surely fuel those in danger of relegation, and ensure they give everything they have to keep their place on Tour and advance to the FWT Finals. Rankings leaders – Anna Martinez (Snowboard Women), Victor de Le Rue (Snowboard Men), Manon Loschi (Ski Women) and Max Hitzig (Ski Men) – will be confident with their strong positions, but there is a long list of talented riders behind them. There are also some big names sitting dangerously below The Cut – notably former World Champions Tiphanie Perrotin (Snowboard Women) and Ludovic Guillot-Diat (Snowboard Men) – or precariously just above, including 2022 World Champion Maxime Chabloz (Ski Men). Can they find some late form and secure their place in the FWT Finals? We’ll find out later this week. 

Live coverage starts at 11:45 AM GET (8:45 AM CET), with the first rider dropping at 12:00 PM GET (9:00 AM CET). The dropping order will be:

·   Snowboard Men

·   Snowboard Women

·   Ski Women

·   Ski Men

Be sure to watch the event in person if you’re in the area. Otherwise, remember that the competition will be broadcast LIVE at www.freerideworldtour.com, with incredible user-friendly replay options to make sure you don’t miss a trick. In the meantime, stay tuned to the FWT social media channels and subscribe to the FWT newsletter to keep pace with the latest news as it drops, including competition and rider updates.

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 turned this single competition into a prestigious series of worldwide events in 2008, 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 has been part of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

About Peak Performance

Born in the Scandinavian mountains out of a love for skiing in remote, untouched terrain, our passion for adventure and nature runs deep. Our purpose is simple: we bring the freeride spirit to the world. As for our products, they all have the same purpose – empower the freedom to be adventurous and follow your own line. Whether it be horizontally or vertically, on skis, by bike, or on foot, they offer a balance of style and performance. Our Scandinavian heritage is ever present and our commitment to doing better things in a better way is our never-ending responsibility. For more information, please visit www.peakperformance.com.