Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour

The recently announced Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour gained lots of interest and positive feedback in the mountain bike scene and industry as well as from event organizers. The Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA) is now proud to present overall 15 competitions taking part in the FMB World Tour. Only the four best results of each registered rider count for the final FMB World Tour ranking. The single events are categorized into four levels: BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD and DIAMOND. Due to the support from the industry the FMB World Tour will pay the top riders of 2010 an overall prize fund of 20,000 Euros.

The FMBA has been quite busy during the last weeks: negotiations with different event organizers have been held, the event categorization was finalized, the single competitions were rated, the FMBA board of directors was voted and industry supporters have been acquired. 

The categorization system integrates a multiplicity of different criteria that ascertain the level of each single event. Main criteria are: the type and demands of the course, the rider line-up, the level of prize money, the professionalism of judging, media output and services in general. All competitions of the FMB World Tour have been categorized in close cooperation with the event organizers into one of four levels: BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD and DIAMOND. The FMBA reviews the events year by year in order to make sure these can keep the standards of their categories or change to a different level. The highest competition level is DIAMOND. These events are fulfilling the criteria right now in the best possible way. 

From BRONZE to GOLD, the higher the competition level the more points are collected by attempting riders for the overall FMB World Tour ranking. Each rider’s best four results at the different FMB World Tour competitions and related points count for the overall ranking. So the riders can collect points and improve their standings all season long. There are three BRONZE, five SILVER and five GOLD competitions in 2010. The two most important DIAMOND FMB World Tour stops, the Kokanee Slopestyle at Crankworx Whistler and the Red Bull Rampage, are at the same time the last ones of the whole FMB World Tour schedule:

Vienna (AUT), April 10-11th (SILVER EVENT)

Montpellier (FRA), May 13-16th (SILVER EVENT)

Winterberg (GER), May 21st-23rd (BRONZE EVENT)

Linz (AUT), May 28-29th (BRONZE EVENT)

Vail, Colorado (USA), June 3-6th (SILVER EVENT)

Leogang (AUT), June 24-26th (GOLD EVENT)

Chatel (FRA), July 2nd-4th (GOLD EVENT)

Creston, BC (CAN), July 9-11th (SILVER EVENT)

Saalbach (AUT), July 9-11th (BRONZE EVENT)

Kent (GBR), July 10-11th (SILVER EVENT)

Highland Mt. Park (USA), July 15-17th (GOLD EVENT)

Munich (GER), July 22nd-25th (GOLD EVENT)

Winter Park (USA), July 29th-August 1st (GOLD EVENT)

Whistler (CAN), August 7-15th (DIAMOND EVENT)

Virgin, Utah (USA), Sept. 30th-Oct. 3rd (DIAMOND EVENT)

Strong brands and well-known magazines are committed to the FMB World Tour. Their belief and trust into the whole project was followed by a direct support. The FMBA is proud and thankful to have the FMB World Tours supporters Adidas Eyewear, Alexrims, Avid, BigBike Magazine, Bikepark Leogang, Bikemag (USA), CamelBak, Decline Magazine, GT, Manitou, Mavic, Mongoose, RockShox, Scott, Specialized, SRAM, Truvativ and TSG on board. With the supporters’ help, a prize fund of 20,000 Euros (over 25,000 US Dollars) was raised. Not only the prize money, but certainly the world ranking list, which will always be updated and informs who is in the mix, will be a motivation for riders from all over the world to give their best in the FMB World Tour competitions. 

The freeride season is about to begin next weekend, when the FMB World Tour will be kicked off in Austria at the Vienna Air King (9-11th April). 

The goal of the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour is to help develop the sport of Freeride Mountain Biking - which includes: big mountain, slopestyle and dirt jumping - providing athletes and event organizers with a tangible world ranking system and guidelines for course design, judging and safety. The FMB World Tour is run by the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA), a non-profit organisation following the goal to push the mountain bike freeride sport into a more professional direction and establish it in the world of sports through the raise of media and public attention.

The FMBA advisory board is an alliance of core scene members consisting of professional athletes, event organizers and opinion leaders: Aaron Chase (pro rider / USA), Todd Barber (event organizer “Red Bull Rampage” / USA), Alex Dörr (CEO & founder EIM Solutions / GER), Tarek Rasouli (athlete manager & event organizer, “Big in Bavaria”, “26TRIX”, “Vienna Air King”, “White Style” / GER), Vincent Saccomani (judge of international events, journalist & filmer / FRA), Jeremy Roche (organizer “Kokanee Crankworx” and “Crankworx Colorado” events / CAN), Darren Berrecloth (pro rider & event organizer “Bearclaw Invitational” / CAN) and Grant Fielder (pro rider & course builder / GBR). After an internal voting March 2010, FMBA’s Board of Directors consists of the 1st president Tarek Rasouli, 2nd president Todd Barber and 3rd president Jeremy Roche.

FMBA - Freeride Mountain Bike Association | info@FMBWorldTour.com