FMB World Tour off to a perfect start!

With the Vienna Air King last weekend, the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour started its 2011 season with a bang – and with the new season also come several changes and improvements. Not to forget, Vienna was the FMB World Tour’s golden Better Bottle’s first stop, a trophy that has sparked lively conversations – as anything worthwhile should. You can watch the kick-off event’s highlights and catch a glimpse behind the scenes of the FMB World Tour with a new series of pod casts – check out the first one:



In order to conduct a successful World Tour, having generalized parameters is absolutely vital. Only a universal judging system allows for fair and reliable ranking as well as the possibility of comparing performances. Which is why one of the FMBA’s first steps this year was the establishment of judging clinics. Every event is required to have FMBA certified judges – the number depends on the event’s level. Using the guidelines established in the clinics, the judges are looking forward to providing more clarity and professionalism in competition judging.

Just like last year, all FMB World Tour competitions are categorized into four levels: diamond, gold, silver and bronze. The categorization system integrates a multiplicity of different criteria that ascertain the level of each single event. The FMBA reviews the events year by year in order to make sure these can keep the standards of their categories or change to a different level. The higher the competition level the more points are collected by attempting riders for the overall FMB World Tour ranking. This year, each athlete’s best five results at the different FMB World Tour competitions and related points count for the overall ranking, so the riders can collect points and improve their ranking all season long. While last year only the four best results counted, athletes will have to show more consistent performance this season to take home the golden trophy.


Naturally, the subject of prize money is of great importance to the riders. Freeride athletes risk their health every time they get on their bikes and it is important to express an appreciation for their willingness to do so. The FMBA has therefore introduced a minimum amount of prize money depending on the level of the event. This way, the sport has a consistent standard and it is ensured that athletes are rewarded for their readiness to take risks.

For a chance to take home the golden Better Bottle after the Red Bull District Ride, sign up with the FMBA as a rider or sign up if you’re not a rider but want to support your sport! http://fmbworldtour.com/member/

For more information about the FMBA and FMB World Tour, please go to www.fmbworldtour.com or www.facebook.com/FMBWorldTour

Media related requests are welcome and can be directed at press@fmbworldtour.com


About the FMBA
The Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA) is a non-profit organization that follows the goal of guiding the mountain bike freeride sport into a more professional direction and firmly establishing it in the world of sports. To achieve this goal, the FMBA promotes high standards of judging, course design and safety and implements them in all events of the FMB World Tour. Athletes and event organizers are provided with a tangible world ranking system and reliable guidelines forming an organized and structured framework for a free and creative sport. After an internal voting in January 2011, FMBA’s Board of Directors consists of the President: Todd Barber, Vice President: Tarek Rasouli and Principal: Jeremy Roche.

About the FMB World Tour
The Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour integrates contests of the highest level from all over the globe into one overarching competition for the title of FMB World Tour Champion. All athletes with a membership of the FMBA have the opportunity to become the next FMB World Tour Champion. FMB World Tour events envelop the many facets of the freeride sport including: big mountain, slopestyle and dirt jump.