ContestHappening 4 2025/26 | It was worth a try.

FWT shows spontaneity in the choice of location

After the snow cover in Georgia was too unstable, the FWT was able to put together a complete alternative event within just a few days in collaboration with the Kühtai ski resort, Innsbruck Tourismus and the Freeride Academy Innsbruck. But it was also thanks to many freeride enthusiasts from Innsbruck and the surrounding area, who painted the picture in the created framework, that this short-term realization was possible at all.

As there was still a lot of material on site from the FWT Juniors event in Kühtai and the athletes had to travel to Tyrol for the competition in Fieberbrunn next week anyway, the decision was also easier from a logistical perspective. Nevertheless, the decision had a somewhat macabre foretaste when you consider that the avalanche situation in Tyrol was still tense in the last few days due to very unstable snow cover. However, thanks to the intensive blasting both before and after the heavy snowfall, "Schöffi's Face" met all the safety criteria of the Freeride World Tour.

Nevertheless, the event was scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. due to the strong sunlight and the increasing risk of avalanches. For many helpers from Innsbruck, this meant that their alarm clocks were ringing at 4:00 a.m. in order to be at the Kaiserbahn at 5:15 a.m. on the dot.

Contest opening did not go as expected

Everything and everyone is ready for the start at 8:30 am. But then the first two athletes, Ben Richards and Joey Leonardo, drop at 9:15 and both fall in terrain where they normally never fall. PowderGuide insider "suizisthenewpow" was on site early in the morning and revealed a lot about the prevailing snow conditions. "A lid about 10-20cm thick, which doesn't support snow sports enthusiasts, and very deep slush snow underneath" don't exactly speak for the finest freeride conditions.

A different kind of happy ending

Then finally comes an announcement from those responsible for the event: unfortunately, the event has to be canceled because the conditions are not "contestable". A murmur goes through the crowd.

But the young gentleman knows how to sell himself and adds the little word "but" to the beginning of his next sentence. "...but the athletes who are already at the top (men's skiers and some women's skiers) want to ski down the slope as a little show for the spectators". The crowd cheers unprompted and everyone puts on their binoculars (except me, I unfortunately forgot mine at home) to look up to the starting point at 2678m, which is followed by a first steeper section with a 45° incline. The slope offers some features, technical terrain and also room for long and easy turns.

And let's put it this way: it was worth the wait! The girls and boys don't owe the spectators a thing. In the upper area, layout backflips with huge airtime and a series of 360° are pulled over the first wind lip. The riders are looking for airtime or slushy shots everywhere to give the loyal spectators a cool finish. Local heroes Valentin Rainer and Max Hitzig then open the first gangshred and drop together, closely followed into the slope and ignite yet another atmosphere bomb. Some of the riders whip up the crowd again before dropping into the lower part of the slope - right in front of the enthusiastic spectators. After all the athletes and staff members enter the finish area to frenetic cheers, wonderful scenes take place. Riders, helpers and spectators merge into one big freeride community before racing down into the valley together.

The next event on the Wildseeloder is expected next week. We look forward to this event once again becoming a celebration for everyone!