It’s the sole qualifying stop on the Freeskiing World Tour this year, and it will bring 90 world-class competitors to throw down in Moonlight’s Headwaters terrain, a north-facing cirque with 1,000-foot fall line chutes, gnarly rock features and intense steeps.
“We are very excited to host a Subaru Freeskiing World Tour event, to be able to showcase the incredibly challenging inbounds terrain that we have here at Moonlight Basin,” said Greg Pack, General Manager of Moonlight Basin.
Locals have long known the Headwaters were a perfect place for this caliber competition, and last year, the Freeskiing World Tour saw the light.
FWT events tend to draw visitors both regionally and nationally, something that would be positive for Moonlight Basin, and for Big Sky as a whole. Prior to Moonlight’s event, the tour made stops in Las Lenas, Argentina, Ski Arpa, Chile, Revelstoke, B.C., Snowbird, Utah; it will wrap-up the season in Kirkwood, Calif.
“This is going to be one hell of a show,” said Erik Morrison, Moonlight’s social media assistant. “Jim Jack and the FWT chose Moonlight for two reasons: the terrain and the attitude. The freeskiing spirit is alive and well here at Moonlight, and we’re rolling out the red carpet for anyone who wants to come experience it.”
The event was initially planned for January, but the FWT postponed it to maximize snow cover. It was worth the wait.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the Headwaters venue the last few weeks shooting and riding,” Morrison said. “Conditions have been good! There are a lot more features this season. I’d expect to see some strong, technical skiing, and a lot of creativity.”
The Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier ‘Venue Update’ album on Moonlight’s Facebook page, is one of the best resources for athletes, spectators and other skiers/riders to study the venue and evaluate conditions, Morrison said.
View/download pdf of local skier profiles
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