FMB World Tour 2017 – Preliminary Calendar

January 24, 2017: Weeks have passed since the last FMB World Tour Event of 2016. Now, looking on to a bright and action ridden 2017 the first events of the new season have been confirmed. The preliminary calendar already consists of 18 FMB Events in 10 different countries around the globe and there will be many more to come.

With White Style in Leogang, Austria, kicking-off the FMB World Tour on January 27, all slopestyle fans and athletes can look forward to a long list of locations hosting FMB Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond Events this year. Reason enough for riders of all skill levels to get hold of their 2017 AM or PRO FMB License and make this season the best season yet!

Already 18 events have been confirmed and many more are to follow in the next weeks. At the grassroots level the events Diverse NIGHT of the JUMPs (POL, March 25), Bike Fest (POL, May 27), Gravity Jump It! (GER, June 10) and Cropp Baltic Games (POL, August 20) are already looking forward to lots of local riders sending it at their FMB Bronze Events. With the first FMB Silver Event of the year happening in Leogang this week, the next already confirmed contests are Bike Days (SUI, May 7) and Natural Games (FRA, July 1). The number of Gold Events has a good chance of increasing once again. The modification of adding every contestant’s best Gold Event result to the end result of the Diamond Series proved its worth last season and will be maintained. With the event O’Marisquino in Vigo (ESP, August 13) making the leap from the silver level, an increased number of Gold Events is to be expected. Other confirmed FMB Gold Events are Swatch Rocket Air (SUI, April 29), FISE Montpellier (FRA, May 27) 26TRIX (AUT, June 10), GlemmRide Bike Festival Saalbach (AUT, July 8) and Colorado Freeride Festival (USA, July 29) for the time being.

All event organizers and athletes, who know of local events or local dirt jump parks can make their event be a part of the FMB World Tour this year. Just follow the link to see, which requirements have to be fulfilled in order to host an FMB Bronze or Silver Event. Multiple events in one country can also sign up to become a National Series such as the very successful Dirtwars UK series. Inquiries can made via email to info@fmbworldtour.com.

Although the calendar is still very much in a state of flux, the FMB Diamond Events are all set in stone. After Crankworx Rotorua really gets the season under way on April 2, fans can look forward to a “double header” in June with Crankworx Les Gets on June 18 followed by Crankworx Innsbruck a week later on June 25. With the season in full swing, Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler will get everyone stoked on August 20, before Red Bull District Ride will conclude the FMB Diamond Series on September 2.

Keep your eyes peeled for further information about live webcasts and calendar updates on www.fmbworldtour.com or stay informed and sign up for the FMB World Tour Newsletter.

2017 FMB Preliminary Calendar

• January 27, 2017: White Style (Leogang, AUT) - FMB Silver Event
• March 25, 2017: Diverse NIGHT of the JUMPs (Krakow, POL) - FMB Bronze Event
• April 2, 2017: Crankworx Rotorua (Rotorua, NZL) - FMB Diamond Event
• April 29, 2017: Swatch Rocket Air (Thun, SUI) - FMB Gold Event
• May 7, 2017: Bike Days (Solothurn, SUI) - FMB Silver Event
• May 26, 2017: FISE Montpellier (Montpellier, FRA) - FMB Gold Event
• May 27, 2017: Bike Fest (Kalnica, SVK) - FMB Bronze Event
• June 10, 2017: 26TRIX (Leogang, AUT) - FMB Gold Event
• June 10, 2017: Gravity Jump It! (Boppard, GER) - FMB Bronze Event
• June 18, 2017: Crankworx Les Gets (Les Gets, FRA) - FMB Diamond Event
• June 25, 2017: Crankworx Innsbruck (Innsbruck, AUT) - FMB Diamond Event
• July 1, 2017: Natural Games (Millau, FRA) - FMB Silver Event
• July 8, 2017: GlemmRide Bike Festival Saalbach (Saalbach, AUT) - FMB Gold Event
• July 29, 2017: Colorado Freeride Festival (Winter Park, USA) - FMB Gold Event
• August 13, 2017: O’Marisquino (Vigo, ESP) - FMB Gold Event
• August 20, 2017: Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler (Whistler, CAN) - FMB Diamond Event
• August 20, 2017: Cropp Baltic Games (Gdansk, POL) - FMB Bronze Event
• September 2, 2017: Red Bull District Ride (Nuremberg, GER) - FMB Diamond Event

Slopestyle on Snow The 2017 White Style Rider Line Up

Saalfelden Leogang, Austria, 17 January 2017 – The final countdown has begun for White Style 2017. A number of big names from the FMB World Tour will be dropping into a snowy course to show off the craziest, most spectacular tricks you have ever seen on white powder on 27 January. The White Style course located at the Schanteilift in Leogang, Austria, has been the first hotspot of the slopestyle season for over a decade and will be welcoming pro athletes from all over the world for the twelfth time. The line-up has now been confirmed.

You don’t often see bright floodlights, tons of snow and thick wooly hats at any slopestyle events. White Style is unique and lures big names to the snowy slopes for the first FMB World Tour Event of the year. 20 top slopestyle athletes will be sending their best tricks and astound all the fans. But which pros will be lighting it up this January?

Szymon Godziek (POL) will be returning to Leogang. After winning the contest in 2015 and 2016, the Polish slopestyle superstar is looking for the “three-peat” to defend his title once again. Will he be able to crown himself as king of the snow once again? There are plenty of others, who will do their best to hinder him. Pavel Alekhin, the most well-known and fans’ favorite rider from Russia, will also be dropping in. The 27-year-old proved that he is capable of showing off his style on snow when he won White Style back in 2013. The Russian’s trick repertoire is huge; last year, he impressed the MTB scene with tricks which have never been seen before. It is very likely that Pavel will be Szymon’s toughest rival and will send his sickest tricks in order to take the White Style crown. Amongst the favorites are also the Italians Diego Caverzasi and Torquato Testa. Diego had his breakthrough last summer at 26TRIX at Leogang where he made it to the very top of the podium.

Nico Scholze, who impressed the audience last year especially with his massive backflip tsunamis, and BMX pro Michael Meisel will be starting for Germany. The Austrian supporters can look forward to seeing Markus Saurer from Styria. Other big names complete the list such as Anton „Cleanlander“ Thelander (SWE), the Brit Freddy Pullman and the Frenchman Simon Pagès. There will also be a number of southern Europeans competing: Nuno Barroso (POR), Catalan trick machine Bienvenido Alba and his fellow countryman Adolf Silva will be giving all they have for a great start to the season. Watch out for Adolf Silva – the up-and-coming 19-year-old‘s riding style is fully inspired by former White Style winner Andreu Lacondeguy and is best-known for his insane Double Flips and extremely extended Supermans.

After qualifying at 4pm on 27 January, the finals will kick off beneath the night sky. The athletes will have to rise to the occasion from 7.30pm to have the chance for the first win of the season. In the intermission between the slopestyle contest and the Best Trick Contest, a fiery presentation by a group of performance artists will light up the snowy mountains surrounding Leogang.

Everyone who wants to jump on their bike for endless fun can do so during the Scott Snow Downhill Race, which will take place at 6.30pm. You want to join? More information about the Scott Snow Downhill Race can be found here: http://bike.saalfelden-leogang.com/en/events/2017/white-style-2017/  Just write an email to andrea.neumayr@saalfelden-leogang.at

 and you will be added to the starting line-up.

The new White Style Champion 2017 will celebrate in style with all his fellow athletes and all the supporters at the “After-Contest Party”, which will be held in the “Leoganger KrallerAlm”. So save the date for the hottest and coldest mountain biking event this January and don’t miss out on all the action at the Schanteilift in Leogang on 27 January 2017.

All the news about White Style 2017 can be found on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/White.Style.Leogang/

Preliminary Rider Line Up

• Markus Saurer (AUT)
• Bienvenido Alba (ESP)
• Adolf Silva (ESP)
• Rémy Carra (FRA)
• Paul Couderc (FRA)
• Simon Pagès (FRA)
• Nicolas Terrier (FRA)
• Freddy Pullman (GBR)
• Michael Meisel (GER)
• Nico Scholze (GER)
• Lukas Schäfer (GER)
• Diego Caverzasi (ITA)
• Torquato Testa (ITA)
• Māris Orniņš (LET)
• Szymon Godziek (POL)
• Nuno Barroso (POR)
• Pavel Alekhin (RUS)
• Petr Andreev (RUS)
• Anton Thelander (SWE)

The Ripple Effect: Rogatkin Set To Make Waves In 2015

Munich, March 24th 2015 – In 2014 the new kid on the block, Nicholi Rogatkin from Boston (USA), created ripples in the FMB World Tour scene – this year, he is pre-qualified for the FMB Diamond Series and ready to make waves. Riding with the support of new partners, in 2015 we could be witness to another rider joining the ranks of the top dawgs on the scene.
 
Last year took mountain bike slopestyle to a whole new level. Athletes were dropping new tricks left, right and centre. Nicholi Rogatkin was one of these athletes and 2014 was only his debut season on the FMB World Tour. This dark horse rode out of the shadows at 26TRIX (Leogang, AUT) when, after an incredible trick battle with other world-class FMB athletes, he finished the weekend with a win. Triple tailwhips, long dart fronties, and cashrolls are just some of the bangers on his repertoire.
 
Nicholi quickly earned a spot in the FMB Diamond events and after finishing 6th overall in 2014, he is now pre-qualified for the 2015 FMB Diamond Series. Riding for Specialized, KALI, Ninja gloves and armed with the support of new partners, including head partner XDubai, DT Swiss, VP Components, Spank, Continental and Alpinestars, Nicholi is ready to start a promising and glorious year. Nicholi’s manager, Tarek Rasouli commented: "I am excited to see Nicholi going into his 2nd FMB season. Nicholi has worked hard during the off-season to be fully prepared for the competition this year. The additional support from his partners is another great confidence boost as well."
 
Nicholi's bike for 2015 screams "technical", "finesse" and "state of the art" - with top notch specifications, he is equipped for action:

Just recently, Nicholi joined the line-up of elite showman at Masters of Dirt in Vienna. This none competitive event with big jumps and high level of riding is a good warm-up for the season ahead. The FMB Diamond Series will be at the top of his list because this is where the FMB World Championship is won, but we can also expect to see him at Gold events such as 26TRIX (AUT), Colorado Freeride Festival (USA) and FISE. First FMB highlight event will be the Diamond event, Crankworx Rotorua (March 29th, NZL), followed by the Silver event Vienna Air King (April 12th, AUT).

 

Nicholi himself could not be more eager to build on the success of 2014: "Joining the MTB world has been unreal. All of my experiences so far have been mind blowing and unforgettable. I couldn't be more stoked on all the companies I'm working with in 2015. I'm fortunate to pick the very best companies to dial in every part of my bike. And in addition I'm happy to represent a new company, XDubai who is here to put Dubai on the map as a destination for generations to come."
 
Follow Nicholi Rogatkin on Facebook and Twitter.