The first stop of the 2026 Freeride World Tour started with snowboard women, giving the competition an explosive start. Rookie Mia Jones topped the podium, starting her season off right. The Baqueira Beret venue featured wind buffed aspects and shining sun. Prevalent rocks and unpredictable conditions added levels of complication but this rookie took it all with a level head and threw down a noteworthy run. She stomped big airs with confidence and navigated a creative line down the venue to score herself a first place ranking.
Snowboard Men tackled the venue next and returning Swiss snowboarder Liam Rivera made his way to the top of the podium. After a third place overall finish in the 2025 FWT, Rivera started his season off right with this run. He capped his run off with a clean backflip on the last air of the venue and slid confidently into the finish corral. US athlete Holden Samuels ended third place after two podium performances and a sixth place overall finish in the 2025 season.
The Women’s Ski division set the ski categories off with a blast. Justine Dufour-Lapointe took first with a standout run. After two Olympic medals under her belt she switched to freeride and earned herself four podium finishes last year to end the season as the 2025 FWT champion. She threw down confident and graceful airs with a clean backflip in the middle of her run. US athletes Wynter Mcbride and Molly Armanino skied themselves to fifth and ninth place, respectively to start off their 2026 seasons.
The competition concluded with Ski Men and after winning last year, Toby Rafford took second while Ben Richards stomped a winning run. After lacing clean turns in the beginning of his run Richards led into a big flip followed by a bigger spin to land himself on top of the podium. US athlete Ross Tester came in fifth after his second place performance at the Baqueira Beret Pro last year. Rookie Joey Leonardo placed 14th in his first tour run with an exciting debut.
As the competition came to a close these athletes set the 2026 Freeride World Tour off and got the audience hyped for what’s to come. The rankings are posted as athletes continue to prepare for the Val Thorens Pro next week and battle for top spots.