Skiers spend thousands of dollars to compete—and there’s no guarantee the investment will pay off
Drew Tabke secured the men’s win in Vallnord-Arcalis when the Freeride World Tour kicked off the season early this month, while Italian Arianna Tricomi came out on top of the female line up in a freeride-oriented style not usually seen in the women’s competition. Spirits were high, the sun was shining, and a fresh coat of snow blanketed the venue. There were big airs, tricks, crashes, smiles, and fist pumps—all of the classic components of a FWT event.
What wasn’t seen on the live feed, however, was the financial cost to the skiers standing in the iconic Swatch-face start gate … More