The one Freeride World Tour cease in North America is quick approaching (it kicks off Friday, February 7 at 8:45 MST, with the skiers dropping after the snowboarders), and we figured — with our not-so-infinite freeride knowledge — we’d throw our helmets into the prediction ring. These are our daring and nearly definitely incorrect guesses at how the Kicking Horse Golden BC Professional will play out.
Picture: Freeride World Tour/Jeremy Bernard
The Ladies’s Discipline
For the ladies’s roster, that is how we expect the rostrum will look:1. Justine Dufour-Lapointe2. Astrid Cheylus3. Lily BradleyJustine Dufour-Lapointe and Astrid Cheylus are apparent shoe-ins for the primary and second positions. In the course of the first FWT cease this winter in Baqueira-Beret, Dufour-Lapointe and Cheylus got here in first and second, respectively. Then, on the Val Thorens Professional, they switched positions, with Cheylus standing atop the rostrum. The 2 skiers have confirmed that they’re a step forward of the remainder of the competitors, every possessing a potent mixture of freeride and freestyle know-how. Barring a crash, they continue to be the best podium threats come Friday.What about third place, although? Perhaps it’s our American bias, however we’re pondering Lily Bradley will spherical out the rostrum. There’s proof past bias for this prediction, too. In Baqueira-Beret, Bradley almost laced what might’ve been a profitable run, barely dropping management after one of many largest backflips of the day. On the Val Thorens Professional, Bradley was placing collectively one other strong run once they bought caught up within the deep snow and misplaced their footing.When Bradley stays upright via the whole thing of a run, although, they’ll have a shot at difficult Cheylus and Dufour-Lapointe’s present dominance. The substances are there, and hopefully, Bradley will put all of them collectively in Kicking Horse.
Picture: Freeride World Tour/Jeremy Bernard
The Males’s Discipline
The lads’s roster is tough to guess, however that is who we’ve on prime:1. Marcus Goguen2. Ross Tester3. Valentin RainerLast season, the Canadian wunderkind Marcus Goguen — he’s solely 20 — earned 4 podium finishes in the course of the FWT, mixing consistency with dramatic freeride snowboarding. This season, he’s appeared equally unstoppable regardless of a bobble in Baqueira-Beret. On the subsequent occasion, the Val Thorens Professional, Goguen returned to kind with an unlimited backflip and a 3rd place. Presumably, he’s hungry to say his first win in the course of the 2025 FWT. The Kicking Horse Golden BC Professional will present him the chance to take action.Recent off a win in Baqueira-Beret, returning FWT competitor Ross Tester took an enormous danger. On the Val Thorens Professional, he went for a backflip 180, which, in the course of an enormous mountain run, is extremely tough to land clear. In Kicking Horse, we count on he’ll dial again the chance issue ever-so-slightly, keep away from touchdown change, and are available away with a podium-worthy run. Large methods to common from Tester are nonetheless anticipated, clearly. Lastly, Valentin Rainer has confirmed unshakeable. With fourth place and first place below his belt this season thus far, he’s been predictable whereas sustaining the pizzazz issue required to land within the prime 5. That bodes nicely for Rainer tomorrow. He has a profitable technique and possibly received’t deviate from it.What about Toby Rafford? Or wildcard Parkin Costain? No point out of Weitien Ho? Look, something can occur tomorrow, and, regardless of our predictions, it’s actually anybody’s recreation. The one assure is that the Kicking Horse Golden BC Professional will likely be endlessly entertaining. We advise towards lacking it.
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