Inaugural FIS Freeride World Championship Confirmed for Feb 3

Featured Image: Dom Daher, Freeride World Tour

Crack open the history books, because the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships are about to debut in Andorra on February 3, 2026. Bringing together national teams from across the globe, the World Championships will be the first gathering of its kind.

A bit of background for those who are wondering how we got here. In 2022, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) purchased the Freeride World Tour. The move came as a shock to freeride fans who had long seen the sport as a haven away from the strict governance of traditional ski competition. But with those in charge seeking greater exposure and professionalism in the sport, the move was passed.

In 2024, the FIS Congress voted to approve freeride as an FIS-sanctioned sport. This paved the way for the current World Championships, which are held every two years for other FIS disciplines, and gave more of a platform to the whispers of a potential Olympic debut for freeride skiing and snowboarding.

Check out the full 17-country roster below.

These rumors have circulated ever since the FIS/FWT merger. While there is no concrete plan to introduce freeride by the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, the fact that these World Championships are taking place just a week ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games could be seen as a signal from FIS and the Tour, as FIS World Championships in other ski disciplines occur during non-Olympic years.

It's important to point out that while heavily intertwined with the Freeride World Tour, the World Championships are distinction. Riders can qualify through Pro Rankings on the Tour, Continental Quotas, National Governing Body Quotas, FIS Wildcard and Host Nation Wildcard. The nomination process was slightly confusing and contested, with many wondering why certain riders were included and others with more experience or qualifications were left off. Perhaps in the future we'll see the current FWT rankings impact qualification through the current season.

As for the competition itself, you'll be able to livestream it on the FWT website like any other stop on the Tour. It's scheduled to start at 9:30 A.M. local time, which is about 1 A.M. MST, and looking to pull a late night watch party. The host resort, Ordino Arcalis in Andorra, has been home to numerous FWT stops over the years, and the conditions are looking fantastic right now with several storms gracing the area in recent days. Nearly 60 inches has fallen in the last week according to the official press release.

The solid snowfall has allowed the team to secure the Basser Negre venue. This face boasts over 1,500 vertical feet and has an average pitch of 36 degrees. With technical features and terrain accessible from both of the two alloted start gates, there will be a ton of options for riders. This will be the first time the Basser Negre face is in play since 2018.

Left to right: Team Canada, Team New Zealand, Team Spain, Ross Tester waives the Stars and Stripes, Team Japan

Photo: Jeremy Bernard

There are so many talented skeirs jumping in the start gate that it'll be hard to pick a favorite. There are many competition rookies who will be fantastic to watch, with two being Kai Jones (USA) and Koga Hoshino (JPN). Both have been some of the most prolific film skiers of the last five years, and watching them plan and execute a comp run could play to their advantage as they have experience doing the same in front of the camera. Only this time, there won't be retakes.

We're also excited to see freeride veterans Jessica Hotter (NZL) and Valentin Rainer (AUS) back in action. Many of the faces representing their respective countries have competed on the FWT circuit before, but being able to represent your country in front of the world carries a different weight... or so we imagine. No matter the outcome, it will be an exciting day for freeride as a whole. Stay tuned for updates and results after the competition.