Posted on

FMBA Announces 2022 Calendar Ahead of First Event of the Season – Pinkbike

FMBA Announces 2022 Calendar Ahead of First Event of the Season - Pinkbike
PRESS RELEASE: FMBA

Here we go again. The FMB World Tour is back and getting things rolling on the 2022 season. With 24 events, and counting, coming down the pipeline, the 2022 FMB World Tour is set to deliver a season not experienced since pre-pandemic. From the return of Red Bull District Ride to a new stop being added to the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship (SWC) to the homecoming of esteemed FMB Gold level events like O Marisquino and Big White Invitational, the calendar is filling up fast.

With the 2022 FMB World Tour kicking off in less than two weeks, the FMBA is stoked to share what riders can expect from the season ahead. So, what exactly is on offer this year?

The 2022 FMB World Tour will see five FMB Diamond level events in the same calendar year for the first time since 2017. As well as the SWC will feature four events for the first time in three years. Yup, it’s been that long… As to where the new tour stop is though, Crankworx hasn’t spilled the beans just yet. Expect an announcement in the coming weeks!

Riders can also get pumped for the return of many beloved FMB Gold level events, as well as the introduction of an entirely new event in Canada with SilverStar Slopestyle. Remember that epic Slopestyle course that Brett Rheeder and Matt MacDuff debuted during Crankworx BC last year? A course like that can’t just sit around…

The 2022 FMB World Tour is also on track to host three National Series in support of regional freeride mountain bike events creating their own ranking – Australian Slopestyle Tour, Freebird Slopestyle Series, and Swiss Dirt Series.

Above all else, the mountain biking community can expect to witness one of the most progressive seasons yet. With sanctioned Women’s Divisions already scheduled at 13, and counting, FMB Bronze and Silver level events, 2022 is history in the making.

2017 was the last time that FMB Diamond level events were so plentiful, and athletes are already chomping at the bit to earn their place on those coveted rosters.

bigquotes My dream is to be back in Nurnberg again for Red Bull District Ride – such an iconic event that you won’t [want to] miss – but also a new Crankworx stop sounds very interesting!Diego Caverzasi

With the return of Red Bull District Ride and the Crankworx FMB SWC announcing the addition of a fourth stop, the 2022 FMB World Tour calendar is shaping up to be an exciting one. Szymon Godziek is one of the numerous riders impatiently awaiting the homecoming of Crankworx Whistler.

bigquotes I have some unfinished business in Slopestyle there. I feel super motivated for the 2022 season. After my last year in 2018, lots of things happened and the progression of the sport went up so quick. I see riders like Emil [Johansson] doing tricks that I was always dreaming of [and it] gives me even more motivation. Unfortunately, my 2021 plan didn’t go exactly as I wanted, and I haven’t got back into Crankworx yet. That’s my main goal for this year.Szymon Godziek

The 2022 FMB World Tour calendar will also see the return of esteemed FMB Gold level events O Marisquino and Big White Invitational after a two-year hiatus.

bigquotes This blank space of two years has served us all to reflect on the future of O Marisquino and see how we want to approach it for the next editions. This 2022 it seems that we have returned to pre-pandemic normality, so we hope to see thousands of people from the public cheering on the riders, a great atmosphere, and the best Dirt Jumps we have seen so far in Vigo. This year the riders are going to find a circuit similar to the 2019 edition, but a little faster and with bigger jumps. We have decided to extend the receptions and improve the speed so that they arrive more comfortably at the jumps and can comfortably demonstrate their best tricks.Pablo Moreno, O Marisquino Dirt Jump Director

With these, the new SilverStar Slopestyle competition in Canada, and two more highly anticipated FMB Gold level events on the calendar (stay tuned for more details!), the upcoming season is set to include nearly triple the amount of FMB Gold level events that were on the 2021 schedule. Based on what’s coming down the pipeline, it is expected that six FMB Silver level events and 16 FMB Bronze level events will round out the 2022 FMB World Tour calendar, increasing the total number of events by more than 50% in comparison to last year.

Of the upcoming FMB Bronze and Silver level events, nine will fall under one of three National Series competitions taking place – Australian Slopestyle Tour, Freebird Slopestyle Series, Swiss Dirt Series. While Freebird Slopestyle Series and Swiss Dirt Series are returning to the calendar, the Australian Slopestyle Tour will be making its debut this 2022 season. With three FMB Bronze level events all featuring both a Men’s and Women’s Category, the newest National Series is set to confidently enter 2022.

Despite fewer contests taking place around the world last year, riders’ progression was still on point, and many are ready to get back to competition.

bigquotes My overall goal is to win the Freebird Slopestyle Series. I want to learn as much as I can, unlock more tricks, make new friends around the world, and of course, go to as many dirt parks as possible.Renata Wiese

Many are also keen to see what athletes have in store for the upcoming season.

I think 2022 is going to be one of the most progressive years ever seen, with opportunities opening up for both up and comers and established riders, it’s going to be mind-blowing and I’m excited to be a part of it.Mike Ross bigquotes

bigquotes Some of the athletes, like Lucas Huppert, have been competing at [Züri Dirt Contest] since 2015. It’s very nice to see how the athletes improve from year to year. Even if you look at the results over the years, it is very exciting to see that they are constantly higher up in the rankings.Dominik Bosshard, Züri Dirt Contest Event Organizer

Kicking off the 2022 FMB World Tour in less than two weeks is Australia’s Highline Mountain Bike Festival.

bigquotes With only a few to go until the festival kicks off, the pressure and excitement is building! Our Mini and Pro Slopestyle courses are prime and ready for competition; we have done plenty of test tune sessions to ensure the best quality riding experience. [The] goal for this event is to showcase the quality of Australian male and female riders across the Slopestyle categories on offer.Shannon Rademaker, Event Manager

This is the first year that the event is sanctioned as a FMB Silver level event. Combined with 25 new amateur Slopestyle riders competing for the first time and the addition of a Women’s category, Highline Mountain Bike Festival is boldly entering the 2022 season. Mike Ross is one of the many athletes ready for its return to the Land Down Under.

bigquotes Highline Mountain Bike Festival is definitely the event I’m most excited for. It’s kicking off the season and it’s a great event to showcase the Australian Slopestyle scene we have down here. Bring it on!Mike Ross

A recent addition to the FMB World Tour, that will be coming into effect this year, is the FMB World Tour Women’s Division, which gives FMB Bronze and Silver level events the option to host a sanctioned Women’s Category.

Competing in her first Slopestyle event back in 2016, Kathi Kuypers reflected on how opportunities haven’t always been readily available for Women in freeride.

bigquotes I couldn’t focus on developing my skills on the Slopestyle bike because my sponsors didn’t see a market, so I rode all the other disciplines like Enduro, a little bit of Downhill, [did] loads of magazine story productions, and so on. But I never gave up and continued progressing. Now brands are hiring [Women], especially for freeride events and content, and [with] the FMB World Tour Women’s Division, there will be even more attention on [Women in freeride] and their accomplishments. This is all I’ve ever wanted.Kathi Kuypers

On how this will transform the competitive landscape of mountain biking in 2022 and beyond, many in the industry see nothing but positive change.

It will definitely broaden the horizons of all of us. New brands will emerge, new sponsors, new opportunities will arise, and a new image will be cast on the sport. Women like Kathi Kuypers ride FMB World Tour events and have been fighting for this moment for over 10 years. I am very pleased to see that this effort is now paying off.Dominik Bosshard bigquotes

bigquotes I love it!! I feel like it is going to be awesome to see what the girls can do! I like what the FMBA is doing by adding a Women’s Division and giving us the chance to compete equally.Renata Wiese

Most of all, it seems as though the riding community is ready to once again experience the feeling of comradery that is so deeply rooted in mountain biking culture. On track to visit 12 different countries across three continents, the 2022 FMB World Tour is more than a circuit of mountain bike competitions. On what unites such a widespread, diverse community, many shared their perspectives.

Biking is fun and it’s the same all over the world, no matter where you [are] from or where you live.Diego Caverzasi bigquotes

bigquotes The desire to have fun and the desire to excel are aspects that are universal.Pablo Moreno

And at the end of the day, that’s really what it’s all about.

See the entire list here.

Posted on

SXSW begins and brands mark International Women’s Day: The Week Ahead

SXSW begins and brands mark International Women’s Day: The Week Ahead

March 9

The Collage Group, a consumer research organization, hosts a webinar on health and wellness across race and ethnicity. The event will provide research around how brands can capture consumer attention in the healthcare space.

Campbell Soup Co. reports financial results for its fiscal second quarter. Executives speaking in a December update for investors forecast $2.25 billion in revenue, which would be slightly down from the same period last year. Price hikes and momentum from “advantaged” brands like Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm are powering the company, which is undertaking another round of pricing increases.

Subscribe to Ad Age now for the latest industry news and analysis.

March 10

Ad Age hosts In Depth: Unlocking the Metaverse, a virtual conference that will offer a primer for marketers looking to explore branding in virtual worlds. Speakers include Avery Akkineni, president of VaynerNFT; Tressie Lieberman, VP of digital marketing and off-premise at Chipotle Mexican Grill; and Caty Tedman, head of partnerships at Dapper Labs.

March 11

SXSW begins in Austin, Texas and runs through March 20. Hot topics include the metaverse (of course!) and NFTs. 

March 12-13

The 27th Critics’ Choice Awards telecast airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on TBS and The CW.

Daylight savings time begins. Don’t forget to spring forward.

 

Posted on

Amid fast-changing events, Biden looks ahead in State of the Union – The Boston Globe

Amid fast-changing events, Biden looks ahead in State of the Union - The Boston Globe

Opening his speech with praise for Ukraine and for the worldwide effort to isolate and punish Russia for an invasion that threatens the global order, Biden promised pain for Russia and Putin and sought to comfort Americans rattled by the sudden instability and the cost it could impose.

“I want you to know we are going to be OK,” Biden said, offering words that drew members of both parties in the nation’s normally divided Congress to their feet.

“In the battle between democracy and autocracy,” he said, “democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security.”

It was an upbeat — albeit weighty — opening to a speech that has had to be rewritten as history unfolds by the day, delivered by a president who is fighting low approval ratings and eager for a reset. Biden touted the US role in uniting European and other countries in their efforts to economically isolate Russia, and announced tough new measures to ban Russian planes from US airspace and setting Justice Department prosecutors after Russian oligarchs.

The crisis is overshadowing Biden’s legislative agenda as well as the country’s more recent progress fighting COVID-19. Still, aware his party needs a winning message to carry it uphill through the midterm elections, Biden sought to rebut Republican criticisms on crime and policing while casting his administration’s key legislative accomplishments — an economic stimulus bill supported only by Democrats and a bipartisan infrastructure bill — as a balm for the economy, even as he acknowledged Americans’ pain over rising prices.

“And with all the bright spots in our economy, record job growth and higher wages, too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” said Biden, forced to reckon with the problem that polls suggest has kept his approval ratings underwater for months. “Inflation is robbing them of gains they might otherwise feel.”

Biden’s speech, which was initially meant to focus on his plans for the economy and progress in fighting COVID-19, was instead split between the international crisis and a renewed pitch for his domestic agenda. On COVID-19, the president promised a cautious return to normal and asked people to set aside partisan divisions over the “God-awful disease.”

“I know you’re tired, frustrated, and exhausted . . . but I also know this,” Biden said. “Because of the progress we’ve made, because of your resilience and the tools we have been provided by this Congress, tonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines.”

“Thanks to the progress we have made this past year,” he added, “COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.”

In some ways, the crowd in front of him told the story of the lightning-fast change coursing through the country. The assembled group of lawmakers and administration officials on the House floor was mostly maskless, an unusually normal sight that reflects the administration’s effort to find a way to live with COVID Some of the assembled lawmakers wore yellow and blue — the colors of the Ukrainian flag — as a sign of support for a nation under assault on the other side of the globe. Justice Stephen Breyer stood somberly in his black robes, his presence a reminder of his impending retirement, which offers Biden a chance for a big political win, after he nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black woman on the court.

But the scene also revealed the scale of the obstacles he faces as renewed his pitch for his stalled legislative agenda. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat who frustrated Biden’s plans to enact a sweeping social spending bill and reform of the filibuster so he could enact new voting rights protections, sat with Republicans instead of members of his own party. And Republicans booed Biden when he spoke of his economic agenda, breaking the earlier bipartisan camaraderie around Ukraine.

Biden, who spent much of 2021 locked in protracted negotiations with Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, another moderate Democrat, offered up parts of the social spending bill they had sunk as an answer to the problem of inflation. He called on lawmakers to lower prescription drug prices, cut energy costs by combating climate change, cut child care costs, and make the tax system fairer.

“I think I have a better idea to fight inflation: Lower your costs, not your wages,” Biden said.

But it is no clearer now than it was in recent months how Biden will get those measures through Congress.

His approval rating in some polls has plummeted below 40 percent since last summer as COVID cases surged again,and he’s faltered in two areas touted as his strengths: foreign policy and congressional deal-making.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll released over the weekend showed the depths of Biden’s troubles. His overall approval rating reached a new low of 37 percent. Just 36 percent of Americans said they thought Biden was a strong leader and only 40 percent said he had the mental sharpness to be an effective president.

But the poll also indicated an opportunity for him in the Ukraine crisis. Two-thirds of respondents said they supported economic sanctions against Russia by the United States and its European allies. And eight in 10 said they viewed Russia as unfriendly or an enemy to the United States.

Biden, who spent decades on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, seemed most confident and at ease while rallying the lawmakers and officials in front of him against Russia and in support of Ukraine and his country’s alliances.

“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson, when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving, And the costs and the threats to America and the world keep rising.”

He said that he had spent “countless hours” unifying European allies and sharing US intelligence about Russia’s plans, and that global action had left Putin as isolated as he has ever been.

But he was also careful — as he has been for months — to emphasize his reluctance to send American troops to Putin’s ground war or to start any other military engagement in Ukraine.

“Let me be clear, our forces are not engaged and will not engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine,” Biden said.

The speech comes as Democrats search for a message they hope will hold off Republican gains in this year’s midterm elections. Biden called for new investments in crime prevention and community policing — likely seeking to rebut Republicans who say his party is soft on crime.

“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said. “It’s to fund the police, fund them, fund them, fund them with the resources and training, resources and training they need to protect our communities.”

In the Republican rebuttal to Biden’s speech, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds criticized the president over his handling of the economy. “The Biden administration believes inflation is a ‘high class problem,’” she said. “I can tell you it’s an everybody problem.”

In his speech, Biden also laid out a litany of other priorities, including confirming Jackson to the Supreme Court, and passing the same voting rights legislation that Manchin and Sinema effectively killed.

Biden also offered up a “unity agenda” to combat the opioid epidemic, address mental health problems, help veterans, and beat cancer. The latter piece of that agenda sparked a Republican lawmaker to yell out at Biden, blaming him for the deaths of 13 service members during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Biden ended his speech on a hopeful note. “We are stronger today than we were a year ago,” he said. “And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.”

Jim Puzzanghera of the Globe staff contributed to this report.


Jess Bidgood can be reached at Jess.Bidgood@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessbidgood.

Posted on

Look Ahead: Local events and things to do this week, Feb. 27-March 5

Look Ahead: Local events and things to do this week, Feb. 27-March 5

Enjoy fine wine and dining in Park City, eat soup to support an art museum and learn how to volunteer at Red Butte Garden.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

March 3-5

Enjoy fine wine and dining in Park City

Enjoy fine drinks and dining at the 18th annual Red, White & Snow event held in Park City that benefits the National Ability Center. The three day celebration features ski days, live and silent auctions, a black tie gala dinner, and wineries and chefs from across the country. Tickets for individual event packages range from $250 to $1,200 and can be bought online at bit.ly/3sgCjrx. Note that some events are already sold out.

March 4

Eat soup to support an art museum

Attend the St. George Art Museum’s annual Soup n’ Bowl fundraiser (47 E. 200 N., St. George) on March 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event includes a lunch of soup, bread and dessert, with the soup served in bowls created by local potters. Attendees can also meet some of the potters and buy their work. Tickets are $20 and can be bought online at bit.ly/3pcDXZx or at the event, with proceeds generating support for the museum’s permanent collection.

March 5

Learn how to volunteer at Red Butte Garden

Learn about ways to serve the community by attending Red Butte Garden’s volunteer open house on March 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Held in the Red Butte Garden Orangerie (300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City), attendees can learn about the many volunteer opportunities available, including garden guides, summer camp and youth programs help, and horticulture and event volunteers. See bit.ly/3BLND1W for more information.

Posted on

Eventful times ahead: Big ticket events to make a comeback in the Maritimes

Eventful times ahead: Big ticket events to make a comeback in the Maritimes

GLACE BAY, N.S –


It’s full steam ahead for organizers of the Vince Ryan Hockey Tournament in Cape Breton.


“My Prayers have been answered,” says Ritchie Warren, event organizer.


Earlier this week the province announced tournaments will return in Nova Scotia on March 7, with all COVID restrictions ending by March 21.


After a two year absence, players will soon hit the ice for one of the largest adult hockey events in North America.


“We were in big financial trouble and if it had of been cancelled. I would personally say that would’ve been the end of the Vincey Ryan. It was just draining us each year,” says Warren.


It’s not only game on for the Vincey.


In Halifax, The AUS Basketball Championship returns in March, marking the first multi-day event at the ScotiaBank Centre since 2020.


The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo returns June, with the buskers back in the city in late July.


The Cabot Trail Relay is also on pace to return.


“It definitely gave us a lot more hope for the relay. Originally they were talking about lifting restrictions in May, which is the relay,” says Grace Mason-Parkinson, organizer.


All of this means big business for the Maritimes.


“I’ve actually talked to a number of operators who really rely on a tournament like the Vince Ryan,” says Terry Smith, Destination Cape Breton CEO.


Some hotels in Sydney, N.S. are already at capacity.


It’s revenue that’s been missed for more than two years now. The tournament generates an estimated $5 million into the local economy.


“It’s going to bring people to restaurants and bars for four days and in some cases longer. So operators are really looking forward to having that back,” says Smith.


70 teams have signed up to take part, but now that restrictions will be relaxed, Warren is hoping more will come.


“I’m amazed. We have 14 new teams coming that have never played in the Vincey before and that’s wonderful news,” says Warren.

Posted on

Brands seize on NBA All-Star Game and Valentine’s Day: The Week Ahead

Brands seize on NBA All-Star Game and Valentine’s Day: The Week Ahead

Feb. 15

Restaurant Brands International reports its fourth-quarter and full-year results. This will be the company’s first financial update since announcing plans to acquire the Firehouse Subs chain in December. Analysts will seek answers for slow-growing sales at Burger King and on international expansion for its fast-growing sibling chain, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. 

Feb. 16

Kraft Heinz Co., which outperformed expectations in its fiscal third quarter, reports results for its fourth quarter and full year. Officials expect flat sales for the year vs. a robust 2020 but improving quarterly profits as it manages cost increases.

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement begins its virtual 11th annual Converged TV Measurement and Data Conference. It comes at a time of unprecedented flux in TV measurement, with industry heavyweight Nielsen having lost Media Rating Council accreditation and a host of networks offering trials of alternative currencies for writing TV deals. Ad Age Editor Jeanine Poggi interviews Krishan Bhatia, president and chief business officer, global advertising and partnerships of NBCUniversal, in an opening keynote fireside chat.

Roblox, the gaming platform that has come to characterize the growing interest in the metaverse, announces fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 15 and hosts a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors will see how the gaming world with almost 50 million active users is shaping up, and hear about how brands have been developing there.

Feb. 17

Coming off a fourth quarter in which it exceeded analyst expectations for sales and earnings, Hormel Foods will review its financial results for the fiscal first quarter. The maker of Spam, Planters and Skippy saw sales gains in all of its four divisions (refrigerated foods, grocery, Jennie-O turkey and international) in the fourth quarter.

Walmart announces fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, showing whether the country’s biggest retailer continued momentum from earlier in the year. Announced departures of the U.S. unit’s chief merchandising officer and chief customer officer in January might lead to some trepidation, but Walmart has been on a roll for a while.

Roku releases fourth-quarter results today with an earnings call at 5 p.m. ET. Industry watchers will get to see how the streaming company closed out last year in the holiday period, and how the connected TV advertising business is performing.

Feb. 18

The action-adventure video game series “Uncharted” gets brought to life in the form of a movie of the same name, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, that lands in U.S. theaters today. The New York Times reported that Sony Pictures spent $120 million to make it, with high hopes that the 40 million fans who have bought “Uncharted” games (published by Sony Interactive) for PlayStation over the years will turn it into a big-screen blockbuster.

Feb. 19-20

The closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics airs and streams live Sunday at 7 a.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com, with a primetime re-airing on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

The NBA All-Star Game heads to Cleveland on Sunday. TNT coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET. State Farm has the lead sponsorship on the All-Star Saturday night activity, which includes the Taco Bell Skills ChallengeMTN Dew 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk.