SCOTT Athletes kick off the Freeride World Tour 2024 in style at the Verbier Pro!
January 29th, 2024. Sunshine and great snow provided the perfect stage for SCOTT athletes to shine on the first Freeride World Tour competition of the season. After the cancellation of the Baqueira Beret Pro due to the lack of conditions in the Pyrenees, Verbier was the perfect venue to kick things off and the athletes put down an impressive show on the Petit Bec. SCOTT athlete Zuzanna Witych stole the show for Ski Women, landing on top of the podium with a fast run in which she dropped three big cliffs in perfect control, achieving a 97 score, highest of the day. Molly Armanino achieved a third place with a solid run.
Credits: FWT/ Jeremy Bernard
Zuzanna Witych Wins Gold for Ski Women in Verbier
After recovering from a tricky injury and focusing on the filming of her own ski movie last year, Zuzanna Witych got a Wildcard to join back on the Freeride World Tour 2024. Little did the skiing community expect that she would come back like a hurricane to win the first competition of the season with a jaw-dropping 97.67 score. Dropping as one of the last on the start list, and having a 94.0 score by Manon Loschi to beat in order to take the win, Zuzanna started fast and confident and headed to a technical line she had carefully studied.
Zuzanna put down an epic run, lining up three big cliffs with perfect control from top to bottom. Taking her first ever win in Verbier, it was a special and emotional day for Wytich, who managed to become the ranking leader and wear the golden bib for the first time.
Winning Run of Zuzanna
“I have no words for what happened, I'm beyond stoked and grateful for this incredible day,” says Zuzanna Witych.
"I executed my plan, every time in the air it was bigger than I expected, especially in the last cliff... but I knew I had to go for it.
It was just such a good feeling during the run, and taking the win here is mindblowing"
Zuzanna Witych
SCOTT Athlete
Molly Armanino takes third place, and Ski Men put down a show
After finishing second overall last year in her first season at the Freeride World Tour, Molly Armanino started things off with a podium once again. With a Ski Women roster that has significantly improved compared to last year with additions like Manon Loschi and the return of Hedvig Wessel, the show was guaranteed. As usual, the SCOTT athlete chose a special line and displayed some great skiing to take home some good points and a third place. By the end, Molly was happy with the result but felt she could have showed more... the podium gets her some extra margin to do so in the upcoming comps.
"Being the first comp of the season I just wanted to do something I knew I could do and make sure to land it, it felt good.
Congrats to Zuza, she was first for a long shot, I had never seen a score like that"
Molly Armanino
SCOTT Athlete
On Ski Men, a packed roster of 22 athletes took the Petit Bec without anything to hold back. With spicy lines full of speed and big airs by many talented riders, the comp was decided by small details. World Champ and SCOTT athlete Valle Rainer struggled with the landing of a big backflip, losing control points. The swedish Carl Regnér showed once again great control and consistency with a line that put him in a meritory 6th place. Finally, the local Simon Perraudin went down when overshooting a 360 rotation after stomping one of the highest airs of the day over a huge cliff on the top part of the face, for the delight of his crew of friends and family watching and rooting for him from the finish line.
Official Goggle and Safety Partner
SCOTT Sports is proud to be named as Premium Partner and the Official Goggle and Safety partner of the Freeride World Tour. We support the organization in making the tour a success and equip the staff with our goggles and safety products. Meaning all riders can be assured they are in safe hands with the well-equipped crew.
In addition, SCOTT has launched a Limited Edition FWT goggle to celebrate the 2024 edition of the Freeride World Tour.
Image Credits: SCOTT Sports - Elias Lundh / Jeremy Bernard - FWT/ Dom Daher - FWT
