Featured Image: Courtesy of Backcountry Invitational
While much of South America has experienced nothing short of a banner winter, the same can't be said for the southernmost city in Argentina: Ushuaia. The scheduled home of the Backcountry Invitational's 2026 South American stop, the area's low snow totals and uninspiring forecast left competition organizers with no choice but to scrub the event.
Backcountry Invitational announced the cancelation of the 2026 Ushuaia stop on August 25. In a social media post, the team shared their disappointment, but stressed that conditions were far below their standards. The lengthy competition weather window was slated for September 5 through 26.
"The window hadn’t opened yet, but the mountain needs a solid base before we can build the course and wait for a storm on top of it. This season it’s coming late," read the announcement. "The Backcountry Invitational runs when conditions are perfect. That’s always been the deal, and that stays true even when it means waiting another year."
Cerro Martial, the same ski resort that hosted the competition in 2025, was again meant to be the destination this winter. While the ski area doesn't typically see the same snow totals as its Central and Northern Andes neighbors, the sharp, undulating peaks of the region offer an incredible setting for a competition of this variety, as we saw last year. Freeride Argentina had also assisted in coordinating the comp over the last few months.
The Backcountry Invitational isn't a traditional freeride competition, with athletes and competition organizers building kickers throughout the course to expand natural features. Cliffs, side hits, rollers, gullies and other natural options are always an option for riders, as well. It's a wildly entertaining formula that's grown in popularity, with the Backcountry Invitational having expanded from its home in Switzerland to three countries since 2024.
The next step for the Backcountry Invitational remains in question. Last year, the team hosted what was dubbed a Test Event at Treble Cone, New Zealand. It was a major success by all accounts. That said, there has been no hint that we're in for another TC edition this September or October, especially considering the massive weather window that was originally slated for Ushuaia.
We hope to see another stacked group of freeriders in the Backcountry Invitational start gate soon, be it in NZ or back in Switzerland this winter.
