Freeriding reached a defining milestone Tuesday when 150 centimeters (5 feet) of fresh Pyrenean snow transformed Ordino Arcalís into a proving ground for the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships.
The venue selection carried its own weight: tucked in the tiny principality of Andorra—a 180-square-mile nation straddling the France-Spain border just two hours from Barcelona—the resort sits within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve declared in 2020. Its north-facing orientation delivers what’s widely considered the Pyrenees’ best snow quality, and it’s been a Freeride World Tour mainstay since 2015.
At the event’s center lies the legendary Basser Negre face, returning to international competition for the first time since producing memorable moments in 2018. At 2,687 meters (8800 feet) elevation with 470 meters of vertical drop, slopes reaching 47 degrees, and three distinct technical zones offering multiple line options, the face rewarded creativity and commitment while punishing hesitation. After decades of existing on the fringes of mainstream ski racing, big mountain freeride claimed official international federation status on terrain that seems almost purpose-built to showcase the discipline’s full range.
But sources say the historic day ended with slightly a bitter aftertaste as five of the Ski Women’s most anticipated competitors never got the chance to take their runs.
New Zealand’s Ben Richards continued his dominant season, posting a 91.67 to claim the Ski Men title. Dropping tenth in the order, Richards skated the entrance couloir with speed and precision before launching a floaty 360 off his first feature. He gapped another significant cliff, stomped a second 360 without hesitation, and finished his line without a wobble.
At the time Richards dropped, the youngest competitor in the field was still holding first place. Nineteen-year-old Red Bull athlete and son of TGR founder Todd Jones, Kai Jones—a Group 4 Wildcard selection making his competition circuit debut—had led the Ski Men category with an aggressive run that linked massive cliffs into a monster-sized double, setting the tone for everyone who followed. Jones has spent most of his professional career (which began when he turned pro at age 12) in front of TGR’s cameras rather than competition judges. His 76.67 held through most of the field before France’s Ugo Troubat, a late addition to the start list, bumped him to third with an 86.00. Jones celebrated his bronze-medal finish alongside his cousin, Mia Jones, who claimed the Snowboard Women title.
The family connection added a storyline to the American contingent’s strong showing. Mia Jones—leading the overall Freeride World Tour standings in her rookie season—controlled the steep Basser Negre face with precision, earning 84.00 points. France’s Noémie Equy placed second (81.33), followed by Spain’s Núria Castán Barón (79.00), whose performance electrified the home Pyrenean crowd.
Switzerland’s Liam Rivera dominated the Snowboard Men category with 84.33, threading a confident line through challenging rock features before launching a massive double that sealed his place in the record books. France’s Victor de Le Rue, dropping last under immense pressure, landed a clean opening 360 to secure second (80.00), while American Michael Mawn’s return to competition after a break resulted in third (69.00).
But the Ski Women competition became the day’s flashpoint as deteriorating visibility forced organizers to halt the event after 11 of 16 competitors had finished—meeting FIS’s two-thirds threshold for validation.
Poland’s Zuzanna Witych, dropping third-to-last among those who competed, claimed the title with 80.33 after demonstrating technical alpine skills through the top couloir and committing to several significant features. Canada’s Justine Dufour-Lapointe took second (76.33) after stomping a signature backflip in redemption for a mistimed landing at the previous week’s Val Thorens stop, while American Molly Armanino secured third.
The early stoppage meant Agostina Vietti, Lily Bradley, Manon Loschi, Astrid Cheylus, and Wynter McBride—several of them pre-event medal favorites—never got to drop, and that asterisk will likely fuel debate about format modifications and weather protocols for future championships, although they always do their best to mitigate weather windows and conditions.
France topped the newly introduced Nations Ranking, with the United States and Canada rounding out the podium in the medal-based team competition that awarded points to each country’s top-five finishers across all categories.
What this means for freeriding’s future remains to be seen. FIS sanctioning opens potential pathways toward Olympic inclusion while providing structure for athletes to pursue the discipline professionally—an opportunity that could reshape how young riders approach the sport.
Whether that evolution strengthens or dilutes freeriding’s outlaw soul is a conversation that will extend far beyond the Pyrenees.
Photos courtesy of FWT/FIS.
