Heads up, if you’re a freeride fan or someone who’s been interested in checking out the sport, make sure you tune in TODAY for the 2026 FIS Freeride World Tour (FWT) YETI Alaska Haines Pro, scheduled to begin at 10:30am AKDT.
This year’s competition marks the first time the FWT has made its way to Alaska since 2017, returning to the legendary venue used in both 2016 and 2017. Gnarly Alaskan spines, steep pitches, and truly enormous terrain await the athletes on the face appropriately nicknamed “The Venue.“ It’s the longest face of the 2026 season so far, a season that’s sadly been full of cancellations at previous events.
The face is east-facing, and conditions are looking solid for competition day. 7-8 inches of fresh cold powder is sitting on top of a compact and supportive base, providing athletes with great snow to throw down. Riders have the choice to begin in one of two possible start gates, one located at 6,890 feet and the other at 6,988 feet.
After exiting the start gate, the skiers and snowboarders will take on a 2,420 foot vertical descent (that’s more vertical than some ski resorts) with a maximum steepness of 51 degrees and an average pitch of 45 degrees. With an open face full of prominent spines and ridgelines, we’re sure to see some impressive and creative runs.
6 skiers and snowboarders from the United States are competing today, including Shayne Blue Sandblom (Snowboard Men), Mia Jones (Snowboard Women), Wynter McBride (Ski Women), Ross Tester (Ski Men), Joey Leonardo (Ski Men), and Toby Rafford (Ski Men). Live coverage for the event is set to begin at 10:30am AKDT, while the first rider is scheduled to drop at 10:45am. Tune in to the livestream of the event on the FWT website or watch with the stream below.
