After holding the general board meeting in 2012 last week, the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA) has finalized the calendar of the 2012 FMB World Tour. With 26 events on 3 continents in 11 countries, the FMB World Tour 2012 will be bigger than ever before.
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 competitions is back as the finals of the FMB World Tour; the Red Bull Rampage (USA). This year, the FMB World Tour calendar is packed full to the brim with events of the highest categories and due to the increased amount of Diamond and Gold level events, the requirements had to be adjusted. As of this season, the riders’ best 6 results will count toward the overall World Tour ranking, as opposed to last year’s 5 results.
The journey of the world’s freeride elite through the top-level competitions has all the ingredients to make sure any mountain bike fan is kept on the edge of the seat. After the kick-off in April, the FMB World Tour picks up speed in May with 3 Gold events in only 10 days. The FISE Slopestyle in Montpellier (FRA), Red Bull Berg Line in Winterberg (GER) and the 26TRIX in Leogang (AUT). Especially the first two events are so close together that the event organizers of FISE and Berg Line have volunteered to provide transportation for the riders from one Gold event to the other. Then in July, with the Chatel Mountain Style and K-Mikaze Games in Les 2 Alpes (FRA), 2 more European Gold events follow before the riding field ships to North America for 3 Gold events in a row: Claymore Challenge (USA), Colorado Freeride Festival (USA) and Bearclaw Invitational (CAN). By then, the riders will definitely already have the two Diamond events on their minds: The Red Bull Joyride at Kokanee Crankworx and the Red Bull Rampage as the final event in October.
Beside the high-class events where the battle for the championships will take place, the FMBA advisory board is implementing some improvements to this year’s FMB World Tour that will surely push the entire sport forward and put more focus on paving the way for up-and-coming riders and events. The board is still working out the details that will mainly affect the amateur level and Bronze events, more info to come soon.
April 1 - Vienna Air King (Austria)
April 14 - Rocket Air (Switzerland)
May 6 - Ranchstyle (USA)
May 6 - Bikedays Solothurn (Switzerland)
May 17 - FISE Montpellier (France)
May 19 - Red Bull Berg Line (Germany)
May 27 - 26Trix (Austria)
June 3 - Bastr Bastards (Czech Republic)
June 16 - Balaton Bike Fest (Hungary)
June 24 - Jump Ship (Canada)
June 28 - Urban Bike Challenge (Austria)
June 29 - Natural Games (France)
July 7 - Air Strike (Austria)
July 8 - Chatel Mountain Games (France)
Ju;y 14 - K-Mikaz Games (France)
July 21 - Claymore Challenge (USA)
July 28 - Colorado Freeride Festival (USA)
July 29 - The Hill Master (France)
Aug 4 - Bearclaw Invitational (Canada)
Aug 4 - Symphony Jam Session (Austria)
Aug 19 - Go Big or Go Home (Germany)
Aug 19 - Red Bull Joyride (Canada)
Sep 1 - Dirt Town Jelenia Gora (Poland)
Sep 23 - Happy Ride Weekend (Spain)
Sep 30 - FISE Agadir
Oct 7 - Red Bull Rampage (USA)
http://www.fmbworldtour.com/ 
