freestyle pro tour

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Freestyle Pro Tour Vieste is set to make history once again

Related Articles

2023 Freestyle Pro Tour Calendar Announced

January 15th, 2023

20 years, 20 events, 2023 here we come! The Freestyle Pro Tour is excited to announce the official 2023 event calendar for it’s 20th year anniversary.  This years’ tour is packed with events at all levels, in all disciplines and all over the world. Thanks to Tow-in and Foilstyle, events can happen in any conditions, guaranteeing world class action at each venue. The calendar also introduces the Proving Grounds Series, as well as continuing on the tour’s commitment towards the women’s fleet. Watch the teaser and read all the details below!

Adam Sims (FPT CEO):  “After years of planning and months of preparations we are really excited to present our calendar for 2023. Our mission to open the doors of accessibility to the sport, to create a clear pathway and support professional top tier radical action all at the same time has begun. We are pleased to present a comprehensive star ranking system, expanding on our existing operation and offering opportunity for all. I’m proud of our team and the effort put in over the winter months as we see the freestyle discipline of windsurfing take a big leap forwards. The teams commitment to the sport through these recent tricky years is ever prevalent when we see such giant steps being taken with a number of ground-breaking achievements for the sport, all happening at once”

In 2023 we see the FPT go global, crossing outside of Europe’s borders with new tour venues. This comes with a new 10 star ranking system allowing for opportunity at all levels. Starting at the Proving Grounds Series (1-5 stars), the tour aligns with national events and supports the future of the sport. On to the Continental Series (6-8 stars) which sees improved established events, as well as new events added. Finally the Championship Series (9-10 stars) will see the best of the best compete for the Freestyle Pro Tour Champion title. All events will carry ranking points, with separate series and combined champions being crowned at the end of the season.

So let’s get to it! Here are all events currently planned for this year. Furthermore, in the interest of maximising confirmed events, the FPT is witholding other potential events that might happen. Keep your eyes peeled for additional event announcements coming throughout the year. This also means a stronger commitment from the Event Organisers, with more certainty surrounding the event scheduling. An updated calendar will be released on the 14th of February.

Proving Grounds Series

By introducing the all new Proving Grounds Series the Freestyle Pro Tour aims to create a clear structure within the freestyle discipline. Uniting local freestyle events all over the world under one umbrella, it will be easier for aspiring freestyler’s to try out competing and to get to know other ambitious riders. These events are focused around being fun and flexible, making the entry into the competitive freestyle scene as accessible as possible. The FPT is committing to supporting these local freestyle events everywhere, with a firm belief that this is the way to grow our sport.

The legendary German Freestyle Battles have joined ranks with the FPT, as well as the Danish Open and Japanese Windsurf Association among other single events in countries like Poland and Morocco. This path will also strengthen the foundation of the Continental Series which always builds upon historically successful events. When it comes to calculating fair rankings, no more than the top 3 results from Proving Grounds Series events will count for each individual (should they attend 3 or more events) towards international tour rankings. More details will be available in our updated Rulebook coming out soon. The FPT will continue to crown Continental Champions, together with Tour Champions in all disciplines as well as an overall All Disciplines Freestyle Pro Tour Champion. 

Foilstyle and Tow-in

We see the disciplines of freestyle evolving, allowing action to take place any time, anywhere, regardless of the wind strength. Foilstyle gets a massive boost as there are multiple events added to the calendar, often alongside the regular Freestyle or Tow-in events. The diversity of disciplines allows freestylers of all shapes and sizes to find their place on tour and chase the title that suits their love for the sport.

Adam Sims (FPT CEO): “By offering a stage for newcomers to the sport and professional competitors alike with affordable, diverse and accessible events, be that through our Proving Grounds Series, right up to our Championship events, we maximise opportunity for true talent to shine through, regardless of background. Equality is at the heart of our decision making and will give rise to new blood forging great careers in one of the most exciting sports on Earth.” 

The new season will be kicked off with our Proving Grounds Series event in Cape Town, as well as a celebration of the 2022 season with the FPT Awards. Both happening at the end of January, stay tuned for more news!

The Freestyle Pro Tour is incredibly excited to welcome back the world’s best freestylers as well as promising new talent in 2023! See you on the water!

FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freestyleprotour/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freestyleprotour

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freestyleprotour

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreestyleProTour/

Recent Posts

• Vieste is set to make history once again!
• Shaken not Stirred – Rafael de Windt is Back!
• What’s the Limit?! – Balz Muller and Yentel Caers in a crazy Fohn Storm
• FPT and Starboard plant 1000 Mangroves to offset the 2023 Freestyle Pro Tour!
• “Now my biggest passion is Foilstyle” – Interview with Steven Van Broeckhoven

Freestyle Pro Tour 2023 Geneva (SUI)

Freestyle Pro Tour in Geneva (SUI): Yentel Cears (BEL) becomes first ever European Foilstyle Champion, Maaike Huvermann (NED) is crowned the new European Tow-in Champion

This stop of the Freestyle Pro Tour 2023 marks the conclusion of the European Foilstyle and Tow-In Championship battles . It took place in the beautiful Swiss capital of Geneva. Maaike Huvermann (NED) and Sam Esteve (FRA) win the Geneva Tow-In finals. With this win Huvermann backs up her overall ranking score and becomes the official 2023 Women’s European Tow-in Champion . For the men, Georg Grisley (ENG) takes the title of the 2023 Men’s European Tow-in Champion.

Share this entry

• Share on Facebook
• Share on WhatsApp
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Vk
• Share on Reddit
• Share by Mail

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our site functions. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website.

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

• LIVE Events

All your favorite teams and sources in one place

Your Teams. All Sources.

© 2024 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.

Freestyle Pro Tour Cape Town update

Read more at www.sail-world.com

www.sail-world.com • Freestyle Pro Tour

Think your team or athlete is better? Show us, submit your story, photo or video

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

OK Privacy policy

Pro Breaking Tour events, Freestyle Session Events and more...

July 13, 2022 • Battles • Bboy • Bgirl • Breakdance • Breaking • CROS ONE • dancer • DJ • hip hop

So the back half of the year is here and this is when things start to heat up and get super busy towards the end of the year.  I know info can be everywhere so I'm going to do my best to try and update here so that its made readily available.  Remember though all of PBT/UDEF events sign ups will be done through BreakKonnect so tune in there as well and familiarize yourself with everything on that site.  It will continue to grow ad facilitate all your needs. -  https://breakkonnect.com

Tour Schedule for Pro Breaking Tour Events.  All USA Based events. *not including Freestyle Session Events overseas.  Remember PBT/UDEF is a USA Based entity so most events will be in the USA.  

PBT Invitational which is a televised event taking place at 326 Technology Center Way in Rockhill, SC August 5th.  Yes South Carolina.  We are gunning for it to be free to the public but possibly might be $10 as the sports after us are charging they were up in the air on what we could do.  Call time is 1-2PM so be there by at least 12PM to gain entry.  We will have room for everyone. 

Week after is Philly Open presented by A.Fatti.  This has quickly become one of the premier events on the tour.  Can't wait to check out what's in store this year.

Floorlords are back with the return of United Styles 3 vs 3.  Also celebrating their 41st Anniversary!  If you're in the East Coast and beyond this is where its at!

Freestyle Session Special Edition is back in August 27th going down in the Bay Area.  Tickets are now available at this link -  https://www.dnalounge.com/calendar/2022/08-27a.html

Link to Event info is here -  https://www.facebook.com/events/726430475356114

Tickets are a must for everyone entering the building whether spectating or entering.  If you plan on entering sign ups are here -  https://breakkonnect.com/event/1899

more info coming soon on Freestyle Session World Finals which is our 25th Anniversary!  Crew battles going to be crazy.  We've had two qualifications one in Japan and the other in Switzerland with Good Foot Crew taking the W in Japan and The Ruggeds taking the W in Europe.  Coming up soon will be events in Colombia and South Korea.  We will drop info here when its all made available. 

sorry for the disorderly order but figured I would put the US dates first.  Will tighten it all up on a future post but for now just leaving you with some good info.

← Older Post Newer Post →

Leave a comment

• choosing a selection results in a full page refresh
• Opens in a new window.
• Opens external website in a new window.

• Want To Buy
• Let's Trade

1995 GT Pro Freestyle Tour

1995 gt pro freestyle tour, customized for my 2nd son in an array of my favorite mid-school components..

The 1995/1996 range of GT Pro Freestyle Tour bikes was my “Holy Grail” from BITD. It took me well over 1 year to source all the parts from around the world to complete this build. I sincerely thank all my fellow BMX enthusiasts on this site for your technical advice and willingness to sell/ship parts abroad. I couldn't have done it without you, and thank you  bmxmuseum.com ! 

---GT Earn Your Wings---

COMPONENTS LISTING:

Frameset:  Survivor 1995/1996 GT Pro Freestyle Tour, re-chromed. (Serial No. FS 12950883)

Seat:  Survivor GT-6 Viscount drop nose saddle

Seat Post:  NOS GT layback seat post 22.2mm, chrome

Seat Post Clamp:  NOS GT double bolt, silver

Bottom Bracket:  NOS 19mm Profile Hop Up American bottom bracket, silver

Crank Set:  Re-issue GT Power Series 175mm Cr-Mo cranks, chrome

Crank Axle:  NOS Profile Racing GDH 48-spline 19MM x 5.625" chromoly crank spindle

Crank Spindle Bolts:  NOS Profile Racing titanium GDH flush mount bolts w/ concave washers, silver

Sprocket:  Survivor 43T GT Wings sprocket

Pedals:  NOS GT VP-821 9/16 DX style platform pedals, silver

Headset:  NOS Tioga Beartrap 2 threaded 1" x 24 headset, chrome

Rear Brake:  NOS Dia-Compe AD-990 rear U-brake caliper with GT Kool Stop pads, black

Front Brake:  NOS ACS 860 front brake with NOS GT Kool Stop pads, black

Detangler:  NOS Odyssey Gyro 2, chrome

Brake Levers:  NOS Dia-Compe Tech 77 levers with stopper (Japan made), silver

Grips:  NOS GT Kraton grips, clear

Bar Ends:  NOS GT AME Gripsavers, black

Bars:  Survivor Peregrine Q-Bars (Gen 2), shortened and re-chromed

Pegs:  NOS GT Show pegs

Stem:  NOS 1" GT Mallet stem (SR Japan Stamped), black

Chain:  KMC 510 112L 1/8", silver

Wheelset:  Chrome Alex Supra G triple wall 48 rims laced to NOS silver GT Mohawk high flange 3/8 axle sealed hubs

Tires: Panaracer HP406 freestyle skinwall tires 20x1.75, black

Bashguard: NOS GT Bashguard, black skid plate

Submitted by asterios98

• Company: GT Bicycles
• Model: Pro Freestyle Tour
• Wheel Size: 20"
• Headtube size: 1"

More Bikes From asterios98 (2 bikes in museum — View All )

1996 GT Pro Freestyle Tour

Home  /  Contact  /  About  /  Links     English Francais Espanol Deutsch Italiano Portugese Russian Chinese Japanese Korean Arabic Disable Mobile Site By Clixel

The Kinesis Freestyle Pro may have just changed my typing experience — but doesn’t justify its price

Better split keyboards come way cheaper than this.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a split keyboard, so you can place each module for maximum comfort and pain relief. It’s great for productivity, but the lack of backlighting, low quality keys, a squeaky typing experience, and the need to dish out lots more money on crucial ergonomic accessories (like keyboard feet) mean you should look elsewhere.

Special hotkeys for use in an office

Generally good build quality

One-touch onboard key remapping

Comfortable, pain-free typing

Low quality keys

Crucial accessories sold separately

No backlighting

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• Cheat sheet

Price: $179

Switches: Cherry MX Brown (Tactile), Cherry MX Red (Linear)

Layout: 80%

Operating system: macOS, Windows, Linux

Backlighting: No

Connectivity: USB Type-A wired (70.8 inches)

Measurements: 15.5 x 7.25 x 1.25 inches (393mm x 184mm x 31mm)

Weight: 41.6 ounces (approximately 1kg)

Kinesis has been making keyboards centered around comfort and productivity for more than 30 years now, and its Freestyle Pro is one of several split keyboards on offer. If you have a desk job, a split keyboard could prove highly beneficial — allowing you to sit with your arms apart and reducing chest tightness.

The Freestyle Pro comes with a long cable linking the two modules, so you can place it however you like for maximum comfort. It comes with either tactile or linear switches, so you can customize the board’s sound and feel, designated macro keys for common productivity tasks, and is excellent to type on. That might make it sound like one of the best ergonomic keyboards around.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room — the Kinesis Freestyle Pro costs $179, and the more I used it, the more I felt like the price wasn’t justifiable. To find out more, read our full Kinesis Freestyle Pro review.

Kinesis Freestyle Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? An ergonomic split keyboard with Cherry MX Brown (Tactile) or Cherry MX Quiet Red (Linear) mechanical switches.
• Who is it for? For people with chronic pain or for those with an office-based job involving lots of typing.
• How much does it cost? A lot. The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is available for $179 / £249 from Amazon. At the time of writing, Kinesis is not accepting orders via its website , but products are still available via Amazon.
• How is the typing? Good, pain-free, and it can improve your posture. But you’ll have to tune out the metallic ping the keys make.
• Anything missing? There’s no backlighting, the keys feel cheap, and at this price, you would expect a wrist rest or at least a pair of feet to prop up the keyboard.

Kinesis Freestyle Pro review: The ups

The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is for people who sit at desks for long periods of time, and it’s aimed at maximizing productivity and comfort. It’s built well, has special office hotkeys, and after testing it for a couple of days, I noticed an improvement in my posture.

Design and build quality

When you take the Kinesis Freestyle Pro ergonomic keyboard out of the box, don’t be put off by the lackluster design. Yes, it’s plain looking and nothing to write home about, but once you get hands-on with it, you quickly realize its strength lies in its build quality.

Measuring 15.5 x 7.25 x 1.25 inches, its 80% tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard frame is slightly on the bigger side. Instead of a number pad, you get special office hotkeys (such as Cut, Copy, Delete, etc.) which I prefer. Weighing 41.6 ounces, this is just the right weight for me. The keyboard has a matte black finish, which gives it a lowkey premium look, but I have to knock a point off for the cheap-feeling keys (more on that later).

The keyboard I tested came with Cherry MX Brown (Tactile) switches, but if you want a quieter typing experience, Kinesis offers this keyboard with Cherry MX Quiet Red (Linear) switches, for the same price. Set up is also really easy, as all you need to do is plug it into your laptop, and within 5 minutes of unboxing it, you’re typing away.

Freedom of placement

Connecting the Kinesis Freestyle Pro’s two modules is a 20-inch cable for good versatility, as you can effectively place them as far apart as would be logical in terms of a split keyboard sprawling across your desk. There’s a compartment under the left module to store excess cabling.

Sitting with your arms spread further apart encourages an open chest, which can prevent a tight chest and stiff shoulders. The keyboard also has a zero degree slope form factor, which means that you won’t need to bend your wrists as you type — a design Kinesis has retained from its Freestyle 2 keyboard. I’d have preferred the ability to change the height and slope though, which we’ll go into later.

Typing experience

Typing on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro took a little getting used to, but not as long as I feared. If this is your first split keyboard, Kinesis recommends starting with both modules next to each other as though it were one keyboard, then slowly moving them apart. 

Personally, after five hours of using it, I wasn’t making as many mistakes anymore. I usually use my right finger to press the B key and my left finger to press the Y key, so having these placed on opposite modules proved to be an issue, but one I quickly overcame. 

Despite the typos, I noticed I wasn’t stretching my fingers too much, and setting the two modules 12 inches apart (the default cable length when you unbox the keyboard) took the tension out of my shoulders and chest.

I did a typing test in the first hour and got a score of 44 words per minute at 90.61% accuracy. This jumped to 68 wpm at 93.82% accuracy at the end of the reviewing period. You can see my type test results for three different keyboards above using 10fastfingers.com . Using the Kinesis Freestyle Pro I was achieving above average results in both typing speed and accuracy.

Special office hotkeys

I’ve never used a keyboard with hotkeys for specific work-related functions before. On the left side of the Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a set of 8 macro keys.

These include Desktop (which acts as App Exposé on macOS), Last App (for when you need to swap back to your, well, last app), Select All, Undo, Delete, Cut, Copy, and Paste. While these take some time to get used to, I’ve found them very handy, and I now wish all keyboards had them.

Quick onboard remapping

On the right side and above the function keys on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro, you’ll find four useful keys, and my favorite is the remap key. This allows you to remap your keyboard without needing to download special drivers of software. 

When you press it, the blue light flickers quickly, slows down when you press the key you want to change, and then stops once you’ve pressed another key. Again, this is great for office productivity as you don’t need to break your flow by diving into software to make a quick change. 

When I tested the Epomaker TH80 Pro mechanical keyboard, I had to download its driver to customize the RGB lighting and remap the keys, so I was pleased I didn’t have to go out of my way to remap the Freestyle Pro.

Kinesis Freestyle Pro review: The downs

All of my issues with the Kinesis Freestyle Pro have the same point of origin: its price. This keyboard will set you back $179, and possibly more depending on the extras you buy.

While the Kinesis Freestyle Pro’s base looks premium enough, the keys sadly do not. For $179, I would have loved the whole keyboard to have a premium finish, but Kinesis has compromised on the quality.

The printed letters on the ABS keycaps look like they’re prone to fading, as they aren’t properly lasered into the keycaps. Obviously, ABS keycaps will start to look glossy and tired after prolonged use, too. PBT keycaps would have suited this keyboard more, and I loved how those felt on the TH80 Pro.

This affects your typing, too. The first thing I noticed when I started typing was the metallic ping resonating from each key I pressed. While I eventually managed to tune out the noise and it stopped affecting me, that might not be the case for you, and the typing experience can prove to be too annoying.

Crucial ergo accessories sold separately

As I mentioned above, the Kinesis Freestyle Pro is expensive. But the price doesn’t stop at just the keyboard, as you’ll need to spend even more on crucial accessories.

Most keyboards (especially ergonomic ones) give the ability to angle your keyboard using feet — this is a pretty basic feature, but not so with the Kinesis Freestyle Pro. To angle the keyboard at 5, 10 and 15 degrees, you need to buy the tenting accessory for $26. And to rest your wrists, the Kinesis palm supports cost $36. All this costs you an additional $62, taking the total up to a whopping $241.

Sedentary jobs — working for too long while seated — have increased by 83% since 1950 in the United States, according to the American Heart Association . Bad practices can lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSI), so if Kinesis wants to emphasize the importance of looking after yourself, surely these crucial accessories could have been included with the keyboard itself. In comparison, a slightly lower priced keyboard such as the Logitech Ergo K860 , comes with a comfortable wrist rest and feet for different height settings — and it costs $129.

The lowest we’ve seen the Kinesis Freestyle Pro drop to is $157 at Amazon , minus the accessories, which is still a lot.

A feature I value that’s missing from the Kinesis Freestyle Pro is backlighting. This is by no means a gaming-oriented keyboard so I’m not asking for flashy RGB colors that can change patterns. But not even some simple white backlighting? Come on, Kinesis! 

It would have helped me see the layout of the keys while I was getting used to the keyboard, and especially typing in the dark. If you want an ergonomic split keyboard with customizable backlighting, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB could be for you, and it comes with cushioned palm pads, for $199.

Loose back cover

This might be a minor complaint, but the Kinesis Freestyle Pro’s compartment for stashing the linking cable kept sliding open for me every time I picked up the left module. I wasn’t putting much pressure on it either. 

The cover should lock into place, which would eliminate the big potential issue of accidentally dropping the left module. If you buy one, you better be conscious to lift it up either from the side or the bottom.

Kinesis Freestyle Pro review: Verdict

I didn’t hate using the Kinesis Freestyle Pro. The second day I was using it, I noticed my posture was more upright and my wrists weren’t aching. Using this keyboard has been a wake-up call, and one thing I know for certain is that I don’t want to go back to using a regular keyboard. I even found myself looking online for a new ergonomic keyboard, but did I look for the Kinesis Freestyle Pro? That would be a resounding “no.” 

While I don’t want to compromise on the long term health of my hands and wrists, if I need to spend $241 on the keyboard and its accessories to truly optimize my experience, I’ll look elsewhere. 

There are cheaper options available, such as the Logitech Ergo K860 . You can get better ergonomic features without worrying about low quality keys, metallic pings when you type, or the keyboard falling apart.

If you do end up forking over a chunk of your paycheck and are left feeling unsatisfied, Kinesis offers a 60-day trial period, thankfully.

Nikita is a Staff Writer on the Reviews team at Tom's Guide. She's a lifelong gaming and photography enthusiast, always on the lookout for the latest tech. Having worked as a Sub Editor and Writer for Canon EMEA, she has interviewed photographers from all over the world and working in different genres. When she’s not working, Nikita can usually be found sinking hours into RPGs on her PS5, out on a walk with a camera in hand, at a concert, or watching F1. Her work has appeared in several publications including Motor Sport Magazine, NME, Marriott Bonvoy, The Independent, and Metro.

This desk mat was supposed to upgrade my setup but it created more problems than it's worth

I just tested Logitech's new shortcut to ChatGPT — and it's a big time-saver

This $45 garden tool helped me get rid of dandelions and saved my back

Most Popular

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Freestyle skier Alex Ferreira mixes perfect halfpipe year with pranks as his alter ego ‘Hotdog Hans’

FILE - Alex Ferreira, of the United States, celebrates his victory in the World Cup men’s freeski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alberta, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Ferreira won every contest in the halfpipe this season. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - United States’ Alex Ferreira competes during the men’s FIS World Cup freeski halfpipe final Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta. Ferreira won every contest in the halfpipe this season. (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - United States’ Alex Ferreira, center, who won, celebrates on the podium with second-place Jon Sallinen, left, of Finland, and third-place Lee Seung-hun, of South Korea, in the men’s FIS World Cup freeski halfpipe final Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta. Ferreira won every contest in the halfpipe this season. (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

• Copy Link copied

Freestyle skier Alex Ferreira won every halfpipe contest he entered this season. His alter ego, “ Hotdog Hans ,” won, too, by charming unsuspecting terrain-park visitors with his outlandish antics.

It was the perfect season of performing tricks and pulling pranks .

Dressed as “Hotdog Hans,” an 80-ish-year-old, wisecracking, beer-swilling ski bum, Ferreira creates all sorts of havoc on the slopes. The character has turned into a social-media sensation, too, known for stunts that defy his octogenarian-appearing age.

Behind the makeup and funny skits, though, is a driven Ferreira , a two-time Olympic medalist who’s coming off a season in which he went 7 for 7 in halfpipe contests. It was a winter when he was so locked in that he impressed even his harshest critic — himself.

“Sounds weird to say — I don’t usually say this about myself, ever — but I was very proud,” the 29-year-old from Aspen, Colorado, said.

Now, the big questions: How does he maintain this sort of hot streak leading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics? And, will he ever catch up to the popularity of “Hotdog Hans,” the persona he created on a whim?

First question, first — the Olympics are pretty much all he thinks about. It’s what drives him. He will be looking to complete the Winter Games medal set after winning silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and bronze four years later on a brutally cold and windy day in the mountains northwest of Beijing.

“I’m going to dedicate every single day moving forward,” he said, “to getting that Olympic gold.”

That’s a mission endorsed by “Hotdog Hans,” who was “stripped” of his “1952 gold medal” for drinking too much “golden lager” — or so his fictional backstory goes. His alter ego is a colorful and artful soul, a reason why the prankster has gained around 226,000 followers on Instagram , while Ferreira checks in at more than 65K .

The idea was hatched by one of Ferreira’s buddies a few years ago to follow in the footsteps of NBA standout Kyrie Irving dressing up as the character “ Uncle Drew ” in a Pepsi promotion. Ferreira & Co. figured it would be cool to race around the terrain in Aspen and other parts of the world in full costume — complete with vintage clothing, beer can in hand — and shock the crowd with the character’s salty disposition and stunning backflips.

“It’s nice to be able to just kind of relax and laugh a bit,” explained Ferreira, who just returned from Switzerland where he filmed the latest installment of the “Hotdog Hans” series. “That’s what we were going for with him.”

What he was going for himself was a perfect season.

Ferreira wasn’t afraid to voice that goal to his longtime coach, Elana Chase , either, and his support team. By vocalizing the objective, it made him train even harder and focus on the little things — like not being late for anything, even a sauna session.

“You wake up in the morning and you say, ‘How do I want my life to go?’” Ferreira said . “I want my life to be in the cameras and on top of that podium.”

His wins this season included the Secret Garden World Cup, Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, X Games, another U.S. Grand Prix, back-to-back Calgary Snow Rodeo events, and at the Dew Tour in Copper Mountain, Colorado, where he just may have had his most memorable run. He went switch left cork 1080 tail grab, into a right side double cork 1620 safety grab, into a left side cork 1080 tail grab, into a switch right double cork 1080 Japan grab, and finished with a left side double cork 1620 safety grab.

That translates into 18 rotations and eight flips in every direction. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, too, as Ferreira and his team plan to raise the volume.

“The degree of difficulty is going to increase. The creativity is going to change. Because it’s a constantly moving sport,” said Chase, who first met Ferreira when he was 9 years old and jumping on a trampoline to practice his tricks. “So if you even have the audacity to try to do the same thing two years in a row, it’s not going to work for you.”

There was a time when Ferreira considered soccer his potential calling. Understandable given his father, Marcelo, was a professional player from Argentina. But the slopes beckoned Alex Ferreira.

Chase has been a driving force behind his success. She teaches him as much about double-corks as the importance of credit scores. They have honest conversations about winning, too.

“We can really get down to the nitty-gritty and discuss winning without thinking those superstitious thoughts,” said Ferreira, who in his spare time designs pickleball courts and teaches lessons. “There are no secrets to success. All the greats talk about it. They just get down to hard work.”

As his winning streak continued throughout the season, the pressure soared, too. That’s what made winning his final competition at Copper Mountain so special.

To celebrate, his mom made lasagna and he sat around chatting with family and friends. They played some Mario Kart, too.

Nice and mellow.

Soon after, it was back into the zany role of “Hotdog Hans” for some good-natured mischief on the slopes.

“It brings people so much joy,” Ferreira said. “We’re trying to give them the most funny vibes we can.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympicsAP

with Foivos Tsoupras