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Fred Syversen: Professional Skier With World Record for Highest Cliff Jump

An insider's guide to life as a pro skier, freeskiing in Chamonix and who to look out for in the 2013 Freeride World Tour

featured in Events reviews Author Sophie Nicholson, Val Thorens Editor Updated

As the best freeriders in the world gather in Revelstoke this weekend for the first stop on the all-new Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face, we were fortunate to be able to have a sit down with a free skiing legend, holder of the world record for the highest cliff jump and super nice guy - Fred Syversen.

At 46, Fred is still skiing professionally at the highest level, is a Whitedot Skis and Flylow sponsored athlete, and a businessman (Fred is part owner of Folven campground and Stryn summer ski resort in Norway). What Fred is perhaps most famous for however is 'that' jump. In 2008, while filming ski movie 'Nuit de la Glisse', Fred unintentionally skied off a 107m cliff at over 80km/h and miraculously suffered no injuries.

While the jump made him a household name, what is perhaps even more impressive is not only that he is alive, but also that he is still skiing professionally in his mid 40's. In the ultra competitive, physically demanding,and often dangerous world of professional freesking, careers generally don't last long but Fred has endured. As a result, we could think of no better person to speak to about the evolution of freesking, life as a pro skier in Chamonix, and who to look out for in the 2013 Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

Plus he's a really nice guy - check it out.