RECCO, manufacturer of rescue technology that makes backcountry travelers more searchable, renewed its partnership with the Freeride World Tour (FWT) through 2025. Each competitor on the FWT, the Qualifier Tour and the Junior Tour will receive a RECCO rescue reflector, as part of both organizations’ core commitment to safety.
Since 2016, all riders in the Freeride World Tour receive a reflector that is complementary to the avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe and airbag backpack that each competitor is required to carry. RECCO technology is a two-part system, featuring an active search detector, carried by the rescuer, and a passive rescue reflector, carried by the user. When the radar signal hits the RECCO reflector, it is echoed back to the detector and points the rescuer in the direction of the victim.
“FWT is very proud to renew its partnership with Recco, an essential piece of the safety gear every freerider should be equipped with,” says Nicolas Hale-Woods, CEO of the Freeride World Tour. “Recco is not only a partner of the FWT events, but of the Qualifiers and Juniors series as well, representing over 6,000 riders worldwide, making each one of them a safety ambassador.”
As part of its sustainability initiative, safety is one of the core values that the organization is focusing on, in addition to mobility and equality. During the mandatory rider’s meeting, all competitors receive a safety briefing and are educated about the importance of being searchable with all means in order to be found in case of an accident.
“The RECCO system has been used by professional rescue teams for many years. Today we are proud to say that RECCO reflectors are, among the essential avalanche equipment, also recommended by such an opinion-leading organization as the FWT,” says Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at RECCO.
Black Diamond and Vibram stand alongside RECCO as long-term safety partners of the FWT. Together, all three brands cover the well-being and safety of each competitor, from ascent to descent.
To learn more about the importance of RECCO’s partnership with the FWT, please see here for a full interview with Nicolas Hale-Woods.
About RECCO
RECCO® advanced rescue technology makes outdoor enthusiasts searchable to rescuers in case of an avalanche accident or when lost in the outdoors. The technology builds on a two-part radar system. Rescuers carry RECCO® detectors that send out search signals which are echoed by RECCO® reflectors, carried by the user. RECCO® detectors are used worldwide at more than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 32 countries. RECCO® reflectors are integrated into select apparel, helmets, protection gear and boots manufactured by more than 150 leading outdoor brands. RECCO AB was founded in 1983 in Sweden and is owned by its founder Magnus Granhed and the publicly traded investment company Traction AB (listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm). More info at recco.com.
