The North Face® Adds New Freeride Talent To Its European Athlete Team
The North Face®, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, proudly presents three new freeskiers – Sam Smoothy, Leo Slemett and Sebastien Hannemann – to The North Face® European athlete line-up, strengthening an already well established global actions sports team.
Sam SMOOTHY (NZL), Leo SLEMETT (FRA) and Sebastien HANNEMANN (GER) join snowsport heavyweights Xavier De Le Rue (FRA), Markus Eder (ITA), Johan Jonsson (SWE), Giulia Monego (ITA) and Marja Persson (SWE) to complete a dominant freeride athlete team. The new line-up, together with a three year partnership with the Swatch® Freeride World Tour by The North Face® proves the brand’s ever growing commitment to the snowsports arena.
Starting his career as a promising ski racer, Sam SMOOTHY has competed on the freeride circuit since 2004, winning the World Heli Ski Challenge in 2011 and placing second in 2012. At last year’s edition of the Freeride World Tour, the New Zealander took 4th place overall with 1st place in Chamonix, 2nd in Courmayeur and 3rd in Roldal, making him the first male skier to podium three consecutive Freeride World Tour events.
The youngest member of The North Face® athlete team, 19-year-old Leo SLEMETT is one to watch this season. Spending a year in the junior category and a year in the World Tour Qualifiers, Slemett has finally earned his place on the Freeride World Tour in 2013. Successes of the 2011/2012 season include wins at The Dahu Freeride Open, Eldorado Freeride Open, The Nedaz Freerider and the T-Bar Free Session.
Sebastien ‘Basti’ HANNEMANN had success at a national level before his big breakthrough came in 2008/2009 when he had the chance to compete in the World Qualifier Tour. Great results led to a wildcard for the 2009/2010 Freeride World Tour, where he achieved 10th place in the world ranking and 9th place the following year. A break to Basti’s left heel curtailed his 2012 season but is motivated to return to competition in 2013.
All three skiers will compete in the upcoming Swatch® Freeride World Tour By The North Face® alongside team mates Markus Eder and Xavier De Le Rue. Hannemann will make his first appearance at the second stop in Courmayeur.
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