Swatch Sponsors Freeride World Tour

Freeride has announced a three-year partnership with Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch.

The deal will see the firm sponsor six Freeride events during each of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons.

These Tour events present the best free-ride skiers and snowboarders from around the world.

The partnership between the pair is a key part of the strategy to raise the profile of the winter sports series which will enter its fifth season in 2012.

Nicholas Hale-Woods, founder of the Freeride World tour, has expressed his delight at the agreement.

“With strong support from Swatch, the 2012 season will be the next step in globalising the sport. We’re really pleased to have a new event in Courmayeur-Mont-Blanc which presents us with a superb range of Freeride competition options and we’re working ever closer with MSI to further align our events and activities in 2013″.

President of Swatch, Arlette-Elsa Emch, also explained his thinking behind the deal and promised “to build upon the existing excitement surrounding action sports by increasing and promoting its significance globally, in order to enrich the experience of those participating in and those watching these amazing events”.

The schedule for the forthcoming events has also been announced and will see American ski event organiser Mountain Sports International (MSI) on board during the 2012 Swatch Freeride World Tour.

MSI founder and CEO Adam Comey stated, “Combining the Freeskiing and Freeride competitions structures in the Americas with those in Europe is inevitable and we will continue to discuss and work together in order to create a common platform for riders and fans alike.”