FREERIDE WORLD QUALIFIER in NEW ZEALAND

The Freeride World Tour (FWT) is the pinnacle of freeride competition, where riders showcase their line choices, technique, and style on natural, untouched mountain terrain. The Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ) serves as the preliminary series for the FWT.

This season, Temma Tamai competed in two FWQ events—a 4-star and a 2-star—held at The Remarkables in New Zealand. Having graduated from the junior category, this marked his first challenge on the global qualifying circuit.

Here, Temma reflects on his experience at the FWQ:

“I aged out of the junior category last season, which made me eligible for the FWQ. I decided to compete because I wanted to see how different the level was compared to juniors and to find out how well I could perform on the world stage.”

The FWQ is on an entirely different level compared to the junior circuit. Snow conditions and terrain shift constantly, and long waiting times can drain your energy. In such unpredictable environments, a rider’s performance is judged largely by their line choice and how they bring that line to life.

“I was reminded how critical line selection and smooth riding are. Incorporating jumps into your flow tends to earn higher scores too. During the competition, riders shared slope conditions and cheered each other on after runs—it was a great learning environment with a really positive vibe. Having spectators praise my riding was also incredibly rewarding.”

In the 4-star event, which was Temma’s debut, he earned a 3rd place finish. While faced with limited features, he deliberately chose the main chute, showcasing his signature smooth, fast line. This solid performance set the stage for a more aggressive approach in the next event.

In the following 2-star competition, Temma tackled hard, choppy terrain, successfully executing the event’s biggest cliff jump and a backflip. Although a late-run fall cost him some points, his bold and dynamic riding thrilled the crowd.

“Watching other FWQ riders, I noticed many were using boards that didn’t really suit their foot size or riding style. Even for me, my usual board—the INDY POOLDECK—felt underpowered and a bit short for the event’s harsh, icy conditions. Still, by focusing not just on the board’s overall length (1540mm), but also on specs like volume, running length, and effective edge, I discovered that this shorter board actually made handling easier.”

GENTEMSTICK doesn't create boards for competition. However, it's also true that there is valuable feedback that can only be gained through competing. The constantly changing snow conditions, sudden shifts in terrain, and the intense pressure of performing in a competitive setting are experiences that simply can’t be replicated through everyday freeriding.

These realizations provide a definite advantage when riding tight lines in the mountains. Even though competition is not our goal, the feedback we gain from it directly informs the development of our next boards.