The Freeride World Tour (FWT) is the pinnacle of competition for the world's top freeriders, and its affiliated
FWT Qualifier/Junior will kick off in Japan as the 2025 TOYO TIRES FWT JAPAN SERIES.
The first FWT tournament was held in Switzerland in 1996, and its scale has expanded along with the growing number of freeride fans. It is now recognized as the only and largest freeride global tour in the world.
By the way, the top image is the key visual for the 2024-2025 season. The colorful lines and spray paints express the idea that when each line drawn by the snow artists (riders) is completed by the final rider, the event itself will be completed as a work of art
2025 TOYO TIRES FWT JAPAN SERIES, held at 3 venues with 6 events
The tournament schedule is as follows. Slopes are rated from 1* to 4* depending on their difficulty, and the number of points awarded for each tournament varies. The number of points accumulated after finishing the race determines whether or not you can participate in the following year's tournament, which is a system unique to FWT
Event name: 2025 TOYO TIRES FWT HAKUBA QUALIFIER 4*
Dates: Monday, January 27th, 2025 - Thursday, January 30th, 2025
Venue: HAKUBA VALLEY (Shirauma Village, Nagano Prefecture)
Organizers: Shirauma Village Tourism Bureau, Pioneerwork Co., Ltd.
Event name: 2025 TOYO TIRES FWT YUZAWA NAKAZATO QUALIFIER 2* 1* / JUNIOR 1*
Dates: February 1st (Sat) - February 4th (Tue), 2025
Venue: Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort (Minamikanuma District, Niigata Prefecture)
Organizer: Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Event name: 2025 TOYO TIRES FWT ARAI QUALIFIER 3* / JUNIOR 3*
Dates: Thursday, February 27th, 2025 - Sunday, March 2nd, 2025
Venue: ARAI MAOUNTAIN RESORT (Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture)
Organizer: ARAI MAOUNTAIN RESORT
HAKUBA QUALIFIER 4*: A location that rivals the real thing
The 2025 TOYO TIRES FWT JAPAN SERIES will see the participation of famous riders from around the world, and one event to watch in person is the HAKUBA QUALIFIER 4*. This is one of the few 4* competitions in the world, held in the Alpine area of Hakuba, and is comparable to European competitions such as those in Switzerland, where the FWT originated
A few days before the event, local security teams will protect the slopes of the competition run, restricting access to both general riders and athletes. This makes it difficult to watch the race from the slopes, so we recommend watching from the finish area, which is accessible by hiking.
The competition run will not be decided until two days before the event, but you should be able to see the entire run from the finish area.
This is the only place where you can witness the moment when the athletes, tiny as a pea as they burst out of the start gate, appear before your eyes through the finish gate with adrenaline pumping. It is also a premium experience to be able to see up close the athletes admiring each other in the finish area.
*The competition run will be announced on the official FWT JAPAN Instagram
The ski resort has developed a slope suitable for FWQ: "YUZAWA NAKAZATO QUALIFIER 2* 1* / JUNIOR 1"
For those who find the backcountry area too challenging, we recommend Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort or Lotte Mountain Resort, where the ungroomed areas of the slopes are set up as competition slopes. Both have lift access, so you can watch the race from the lifts on the slopes, and get up close to the start and finish areas
At Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort, the competition slope is located right in front of the rest house at the entrance to the ski resort. This slope is
specially prepared by the organizers, Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort, from the summer onwards to be suitable for the FWT Qualifier/Junior competitions, and is a welcoming slope for the participating athletes.
In the summer, it is turned into a work road, and as the snow makes it uneven and dotted with jump points, the athletes' individual line choices are a highlight.
Yuzawa Nakazato is also easily accessible by Shinkansen from the city center, making it the perfect place to go and watch a freeride competition
"ARAI QUALIFIER 3* / JUNIOR 3*" - Feel the tension of the athletes in the starting area
Another reason why the 3* competition held at Lotte Mountain Resort is easy to watch is that you can take a lift to the starting area.
Last season, the competition slope was "Zentana Bowl," which was only open on days with heavy snowfall. This slope is characterized by its wide vertical slope and steep gradient of up to 41 degrees, with a valley topography. If you watch the riders sliding down from the finish area, you can see the speed with your own eyes.
Furthermore, because many riders, from juniors to adults, are taking part in the competition, many riders can be seen warming up on the slopes while riding the lifts while waiting their turn to ski. This means you may be able to see the riders' riding in action beyond just one run in the competition
This year, why not visit each ski resort according to the competition dates?
■FREERIDE WORLD TOUR JAPAN https://freerideworldtour.jp