The Swatch TTR is structured so that riders on all levels, from amateurs on up to professionals, can compete on the same global tour. All riders are also ranked on the same TTR World Ranking list currently comprised of over 3500 riders.

Swatch TTR tour events are divided up by a “Star” system ranging from 1Star events to 6Star events making for a clear division between amateur/rookie level events and professional level events. The TTR Star accreditation denotes the significance of the event on a global scale, quantity of TTR Ranking points obtainable, overall quality of the event and the level of competition. 6Star is the highest star rating an event can get.

Each season begins in the Southern Hemisphere kicking off in New Zealand and Australia in August and moves to the Northern Hemisphere each November. Linking the Southern Hemisphere winter directly to the Northern Hemisphere winter allows for riders to compete in a full 10-month competition schedule that runs through the following April of each year.

The TTR Tour Champions are declared at the last 6Star events of the season. The men’s champion is crowned at the Burton US Open and the Women’s Champion is crowned at the Roxy Chicken Jam at the end of March. The TTR Tour Champion titles are awarded to the male and female riders who have the best ranking result at the end of the season. A rider’s final ranking is decided by an average of their best posted six results from the season. See more about the ranking list here.

Star Level Breakdown
1 – 3Star Level: The 1Star to 3Star level events are providing a proving ground for young and upcoming riders. Riders competing on the 1Star to 3Star levels can collect valuable TTR Ranking Points and can work their way up to compete in higher level events on the tour. By competing in regional and national TTR events, a young rider can improve their position on the TTR World Ranking List while gaining recognition and a chance to earn a “ticket to ride” in higher star level events.

4 - 6Star Level: The 4Star to 6Star levels of competition represent the top-level events on the TTR tour. Serious prize money, TV and global media coverage coupled with top-notch progressive setups and formats attract the best riders in the world. 6Star and 5Star events showcase the highest and most progressive level of riding. The 4Star level provides a stepping-stone for riders who are on the verge of breaking through to the professional level.

Transparent Rookie-to-Professional Tour Structure
An important aspect (and valuable incentive for athletes) of the TTR Tour is the transparent rookie-to-pro structure allowing younger talent to climb the ranks and develop their career as a professional snowboarder. Young riders can start out competing on the regional or national level at 1Star to 3Star TTR events and eventually work their way up to compete on the professional international level at 4Star to 6Star events.

The rookie-to-pro concept has been proven to work in recent years by riders such as Kevin Pearce and Peetu Piironen. Kevin Pearce was able to gain recognition on the competition circuit in the 06/07 season and earned invites to key major events such as the Air + Style Munich and the Arctic Challenge for the 07/08 season. Kevin was able to work his way up the ladder relatively quickly and established himself as a force in the competitive freestyle snowboard realm through the TTR tour. Peetu Piironen mirrored Kevin’s success on tour with outstanding performances at lower-level events in the 07/08 season which earned him “tickets to ride” in major competitions such as Air + Style Innsbruck and the Arctic Challenge in the 08/09 season. This leap into the majors in 08/09 put Peetu in a position to chase the TTR title, which he clinched at the US Open in March of 2009.