After its third year, the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour (FMB World Tour) can look back on two very successful seasons. However, since the sport is constantly developing, the FMBA is anxious to continue to improve the structure of the World Tour. With the goal in 2012 of creating a fair and even playing field for all athletes, some important modifications will be made for the current season. These include amendments to rider licensing, the implementation of amateur rankings and athletes’ ability to access FMB World Tour events.
In 2012, the FMB World Tour will offer two different license categories: professional (PRO) and amateur (AM). Professional freeride mountain bike athletes or high-level riders need to acquire a PRO license in order to collect points at Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze events. Their results count towards the FMB World Tour overall ranking, best 6 results are counted. Diamond and Gold level events require a PRO license for participation. FMB World Tour PRO licensed athletes are only listed in the FMB World Tour overall ranking, not in any of the AM rankings.
The FMB World Tour AM license opens up competitive freeride mountain biking within the World Tour to athletes of all levels. Riders with an AM license can collect ranking points at Bronze and Silver FMB World Tour events. Their top 3 results in these events count towards one of two AM ranking lists – either the European or North American AM ranking – while the top 6 results in these event will still count towards the separate FMB World Tour overall ranking, where all FMB World Tour athletes are listed.
AM riders also have the chance to participate in one FMB World Tour Gold event per season and if that result is among the rider's top 6, these points will count towards the overall ranking.
Any AM rider wanting to participate in Gold and Diamond events more regularly has the possibility to upgrade to a PRO license during the season in order to be able to access and collect points at Diamond and Gold events.
In order to ensure that FMB World Tour riders are given the best opportunity to improve their rankings, Diamond and Gold events will be required to guarantee a certain amount of starting places for the top PRO riders. Silver events will have to guarantee starting places for PRO and AM riders, Bronze events have to grant priority access to FMB World Tour licensed riders.
Judging Clinics USA
A fair and standardized judging system is one of the most important building blocks that form the basis of the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour (FMB World Tour). That is why the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA) has called the Judging Clinics into life that train and certify judges from all around the world. Coming up soon are the North American Judging Clinics in Monterey, CA during the Sea Otter Classic festival (April 19th) and they are still open for participants. Read more about it here and write to info@fmbworldtour.com for more info about the clinics and the application process until April 2nd for a chance to take part. Join in!
News
Live Stream
Good news for everybody who will not be able to come to the Vienna Air King: you can watch the whole thing from your couch at home –it will be broadcasted in cooperation with the Red Bull Media House. The live stream will be available on the FMB World Tour website:http://www.fmbworldtour.com/
New Events
2012 brings many changes to the World Tour Calendar: Europe gains 3 new Gold events, 3 countries are added to the list of nations hosting FMB World Tour events and the mother of all freeride events is back as the finals of the FMB World Tour; the Red Bull Rampage (USA).
PAUL RAK - Head Judge Facts & Figures
Vienna Air King - March 31st and April 1st in Vienna (AUT);
The seventh edition of the VIENNA AIR KING will again be the ARGUS BIKE FESTIVAL’s absolute highlight as well as the kick-off event of the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour.
Rocket Air Slopestyle - April 13th and 14th in Thun (SUI);
One of Switzerlands most important freeride mountain bike events. Already in it's second year the event could full fill all requirements to become a FMB World Tour silver event.
Ranchstyle Mountain Bike Festival - May 6th to 8th in Grand Junction (USA);
With the Ranchstyle Mountain Bike Festival 2011 being a silver event for the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour, the event drew riders from all over the US and beyond.
3/20/2012 10:59pm
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