January 17, 2013 (Munich, Germany) – After what seems to have been a long winter break, the FMB World Tour is once again kicking off. This year however, for the first time Australia will host the starting event of the FMB World Tour 2013 season. The world circuit will then travel to Europe for the first Euro event, held in Austria.

– The X-up Freeride Festival (Silver level) held in Warnervale, NSW Central Coast is the first FMB World Tour 2013 event: January 18th -20th, 2013
– Riders are returning to White Style (Silver level) to challenge Sam Reynolds for his defending title at this first Euro event in the FMB World Tour 2013 calendar: February 1st, 2013
– FMB World Tour rider registration 2013 is online: www.FMBWorldTour.com
– ISPO Munich will once again host the FMBA European Judging Clinics on February 4th-5th, 2013
– Complete official FMB World Tour 2013 calendar to be released in February 2013

Last year, the world’s best professional and amateur riders came together to compete for FMB World Tour ranking points. For the PRO’s, the chase for the golden CamelBak Better Bottle was closer than ever, with the leader changing several times throughout the season. In the end, it was on the red dirt of the Utah desert that Brandon Semenuk was announced FMB World Tour Champion 2012.

This year, the FMB World Tour circuit is more global than ever! For the first time in FMB World Tour history the season will begin outside of Europe with the Australian X-up Freeride Festival. This first official event is set to be pure freeriding fun. It will feature the main Slopestyle competition as a FMB World Tour Silver event, a Best Trick competition as well as the unofficial Australian ‘Whip-off Championships’ and a high jump competition.

The guys behind the organization of the X-up Freeride Festival have done a great job in putting together an action packed schedule with a true festival atmosphere. You can learn more about this event on the FMB World Tour website.

White Style is a great new addition to the FMB World Tour 2013. It is the only event to host the world’s best freeriders on a course made out of snow! Don’t think though that the course designers went easy on them just because it might be a bit slippy. Oh no! Super-sized snow jumps will give the riders enough airtime to show off their wintertime developments and progression for the first time in 2013. More details about White Style are available on the FMB World Tour website.

By the beginning of February we will already see the first FMB World Tour ranking points. Who will take the early lead? At this point it is anyone’s game but an early lead could prove crucial for a season victory, as the competition gets tougher and tougher throughout the season.

The FMBA will release the full FMB World Tour 2013 calendar in February. Keep your eyes peeled for all event dates to keep on top of the upcoming action this season!

Aside from these great kick-off events, the FMBA advisory board is coming together to discuss further developments for the FMBA and FMB World Tour. The FMBA is constantly in search of ways to keep the progression of freeride mountain biking moving forward and is dedicated to representing the voice of mountain bikers worldwide. On February 4th-5th the annual FMBA European Judging Clinics will be held at ISPO Munich. This intensive two-day course is aimed at ensuring FMB World Tour judges represent a high judging platform in the world of competitive sports.

Useful links and more info:
For info on the X-up Freeride festival please visit their Facebook page and event website HERE.
For more details about White Style visit their Facebook page HERE.
To stay tuned in, and learn about the FMB World Tour, check out the official website www.fmbworldtour.com.
Follow us on Facebook via www.facebook.com/FMBWorldTour and on Twitter via www.twitter.com/fmbworldtour .
For information about the FMBA please click HERE.