ContestHappenings 2 | Val Thorens, new location, impressive terrain and breathtaking performances

The start of the competition was shaky: Waiting for the perfect moment

At the Riders Meeting on Saturday evening at the Hotel Fahrenheit Seven, the first bad news: Monday as contest day? Cancelled! But it was still unclear where the spectacle would ultimately take place. Two possible venues were up for debate: the striking face of the "Cime Caron" or the somewhat more playful "Lac Noir" flank. The riders pulled out their BIBs, picked up their jerseys and had to familiarise themselves with both faces in order to be prepared for anything. Because in the mountains, only one thing counts: the right decision at the right time.

The night before Sunday brought 15 cm of fresh snow, just enough for an enjoyable exploration tour with local guide Arthur Le Pors-Ebner. And who was suddenly standing at the face check on the "Cime Caron"? None other than the Swedish freeride god Kristofer Turdell, who was already analysing the terrain with a scrutinising eye.

The afternoon was dedicated to safety.
A workshop organised by Recco and Mammut taught the essential rescue and protection techniques - from passive Recco reflectors and avalanche transceivers to life-saving airbags.

Competition Day: a freeride dream comes true!

Wednesday, 29 January: Blue sky. Bright sunshine. Perfect conditions. The ascent to the Face revealed a picture reminiscent of Alaska.
Wide, immaculate powder slopes, razor-sharp ridges, steep spines. An epic day for freeride history!

The atmosphere in the Spectators Area was boiling! The French fans had equipped themselves with banners, oversized likenesses of their favourites, chainsaw engines and Bengalos. 9:30 a.m. - DROP IN! Three different gates provided a veritable firework display of creative lines, daring drops and breathtaking technique.

All the riders put on a spectacular show, but the winners of the competition made a statement with their creative lines paired with the most intense tricks in the steep, technical terrain. Martin Bender won the skiers' competition, impressing the judges with a diverse line and three wide 360s with plenty of airtime.

Tricks are also becoming more and more commonplace in women's freeriding. Second-placed Justine Dufour Lapointe scores with a flowing line and a perfect backflip, but is outdone once again by Astrid Cheylus. Performing tricks is one thing, but doing a backflip in the most demanding part of the line requires a high degree of precision and total commitment. Our personal highlight was the German newcomer Lena Kohler, who catapulted herself onto the podium with high drops and a triple at the end of her run. We were lucky enough to have an interview with her before the competition. [LINK]
The snowboarders also showed what is possible, with Enzo Nilo taking victory in the men's competition with a "Line to the Moon" and a score of over 90 points.
With a clear lead, Marion Haerty rode a "Big Mountain Line" in the women's snowboard category, in which she demonstrated her experience and emerged as the winner in this category.

The winners of the day:

Men's skis:

🥇 Martin Bender (SUI) - 91.67 points (His first FWT win!)

🥈 Valentin Rainer (AUT) - 89.67 points

🥉 Marcus Goguen (CAN) - 88.67 points

Ski Ladies:

🥇 Astrid Cheylus (FRA) - 93.67 points (with a run for the history books!)

🥈 Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) - 90.67 Punkte

🥉 Lena Kohler (GER)

Snowboard Damen:

🥇 Marion Haerty (FRA) - 95.00 points (Pure domination!).

🥈 Noemie Equy (FRA) - 88.33 Punkte

🥉 Núria Castán Barón (ESP) - 83.00 points

Snowboard Herren:

🥇 Enzo Nilo (FRA) - 90.67 points

🥈 Rémi Benamo (CH) - 85.67 points

🥉 Michael Mawn (USA) - 83 points

What a spectacle! Val Thorens has proven itself as a freeride mecca and delivered a real highlight of the FWT 2025 with the conditions, the runs and the atmosphere. The big question: Will freeriding become an Olympic sport? The scene is holding its breath... To be continued!