The Silver Belt Freeride Comp at Sugar Bowl Returns for 2026

All Images: Jake Burchmore | Featured Skier: Tristen Lilly

The Silver Belt is back at Sugar Bowl Resort for 2026, and FREESKIER is hitting the road west to California for the event's third installment. With snow in the forecast, followed by clear skies and plenty of sun, it's going to be a hell of a time, and we're taking you along for the ride with live coverage, results, photos, clips and the official People's Choice Award vote after the event.

The competition has quickly grown in popularity, with some of freeskiing's biggest names showing up last season. Led by Sugar Bowl local Xander Guldman, the 2025 athlete roster included Kelly Hilleke, Robert Ruud and Val Festavan, and even 2026 NST Ski Super Sessions winner Hannah Epsteyn and 2026 FWT World Champion Ben Richards.

Unlike traditional freeride competitions, which are segmented by age group and can take months or years to qualify for, the Silver Belt brings together skiers and snowboarders with a community-minded approach. Young groms can throw down against seasoned veterans, freeride jocks versus Olympic freestyle skiers, all on one course with features shaped by the athletes themselves and judged by a peer-to-peer vote.

The course is dynamic, with several kickers, cliff bands and a rolling pitch that begs to be surfed. It's not about fast and furious fall line skiing, but rather about finding a unique and creative way down that grabs the attention of the other competitors.

Equal parts hype and inspiring, The Silver Belt is not to be missed

The competition takes place in the legendary Silver Belt Gully, which was home to the original Silver Belt competition from 1940 to 1975. In 2023, the competition was revived with a twist. Growing up at Sugar Bowl, Xander Guldman recognized the mountain's unique terrain, and with his keen eye for features, he sought to rebuild The Silver Belt as a proving ground for all.

"The Silver Belt is the event that I always dreamed about growing up," Guldman told FREESKIER. His role in the Sugar Bowl community cannot be understated, as he's come to embody the hard-working, kind-hearted persona the resort embraces. "For me, skiing has always been about self-expression, community, and progression, and this event brings all of these elements together in a low-stress and athlete-centered format."

He continued, "I think that the Silver Belt and other grassroots events, like it help push the sport in a positive direction. As freeride gains global recognition, we have an amazing opportunity to lean into the sport’s countercultural roots. Other athlete-judged and backcountry freestyle events do exist, but the Silver Belt is the only event of its kind that offers open registration. The talent pool is deeper than ever... and this sport needs an outlet like this for people to ski creatively and take the pressure off."

How to watch the 2026 Silver Belt competition in person

Due to evolving conditions, this year's Silver Belt schedule will look a bit different. Instead of an open qualifier day, the athlete field has been trimmed, with 24 ski men, eight ski women, seven snowboard men and six snowboard women. Riders will begin to shape the course on Thursday, April 2. The build will continue through Friday, April 3, with the competition being held Saturday, April 4, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.

Spectators are more than welcome at the finish line, and the event is free to attend with a valid Sugar Bowl life ticket! Expect music to be bumping, people cheering, immaculate vibes and some of the biggest sends you'll see all season. The Vendor Village at the Sugar Bowl base will also be open all day, with drinks, gear, music and more.

The action continues all weekend this year, with the resort's closing day taking place on Sunday, April 5. Additionally, this is the last season the historic Sugar Bowl Gondola will remain standing before it is replaced. If you've ever skied at Sugar Bowl, you know the significance of this 20th-century engineering marvel. Join us in saying goodbye to this piece of history with a happy hour party and a live gondola cabin auction.

And if you can't make it out to the summit of Donner Pass, we'll will be bringing you live coverage of The Silver Belt 2026 right here on Freeskier.com and on our social media channels. We'll see you in Tahoe!