The wait is almost over.

Race Face Performance Products along with Giant Bicycles and Manitou Suspension is proud to announce the selection process for the 4th annual Ultimate Freeride Challenge is now complete.

Our sixteen competitors have been chosen by a judging panel which included pro riders Andrew Shandro, Tyler Klassen and Corey LeClerc, filmmakers Derek Westerlund and Ambrose Weingart and pro photographer, Sterling Lorence. Along with representatives from Race Face, Giant and Manitou, these industry professionals helped select the 16 riders who’ll compete in this year’s Ultimate Freeride Challenge for a sponsorship contract worth over US$25,000.

“The selection process went really well.” say Race Face’s Marshall Rutman, “The top 16 videos were established very quickly. And now we shift the power into the hands of our online community – for them to go online, view the videos and vote for who they think should win. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.”

The 16 videos have been divided into four groups with the first round of voting beginning Friday, March 4th. Over the next six weeks, Race Face’s online community will vote for their favourite videos and the winners will advance to future rounds. We’ll fly the two finalists down to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey California and on April 16th at the BIKE Magazine Video Awards, we’ll announce the winner and sign them to a sponsorship contract with Race Face, Giant Bicycles and Manitou Suspension worth over US$25,000!

And now, without further a due, Race Face, Giant and Manitou are proud to present the competitors in the fourth annual Ultimate Freeride Challenge:

Round 1 (March 4th – 11th)

Dave McLaughlin – 19
Jesse Meerkerk - 19
Jadyn Welch - 21
Dustin Bryant - 21

Round 2 (March 11th – 18th)

Garett Buehler - 13
Matt Leitch - 22
Derek Peltzer - 26
Kurt Sorge - 16

Round 3 (March 18th – 25th)

Matt Brooks/Jared Gatzka – 19/27
James Doerfling - 18
Ryan Berrecloth - 26
Darrell Knelson - 19

Round 4 (March 25th – April 1st)

Joe Perrizo - 20
Derek Alexander - 18
Jonas Green - 24
Steve Tuchiwksky - 19

Congratulations to all riders and good luck in the competition!

Now, to whet your appetite, we’ve had our good friends at Pist-N-Broke productions put together a teaser video to showcase all 16 competitors. Click on through to the UFC page of our web site to check it out.