ContestHappening 7 | Final Part 2 FWT Yeti Xtreme Verbier

Snowboard Men

Once again, the snowboarders had the privilege, or rather the challenge, of being the first athletes to start the face of the Freeride World Tour. The six remaining participants were able to draw on their full potential, as the conditions were once again exceptional at the Bec des Rosses in Verbier. Apart from the two main protagonists, Liam Rivera and Victor de le Rue, nobody felt the pressure to put in a tactical performance. Enzo Nilo, Cesar Barin and Shayne Blue Sandbloom were already spotting and riding big air times in the upper steep, technical and demanding terrain. At the bottom, the snowboarders were able to enjoy the fresh and loose snow and finish off their run with a few long turns in the wider and flatter slope.

Third place went to 20-year-old César Barin, who confirmed his status as one of the strongest rookies of the season. On his debut on the Bec, he showed great courage and a versatile, controlled run, which earned him 73.67 points and his first podium finish on the tour.

But now "butter to the fish"! Who will win the Freeride World Tour in the 2026 season? The whole spectacle will probably be decided between local hero Liam Rivera, who wanted to win on home soil, and the possible record winner (five overall titles) of the FWT, Victor de Le Rue.

Liam started the face first and proved that he seems to know every feature and every pitfall of the slope in Valais. He chose a particularly risky line, opened his run with a high air and then landed a perfect backflip on his Nidecker board. He was rewarded with 96 points, the highest score ever achieved by a snowboarder on the Bec. With this victory, he not only wowed the home crowd, but also impressed me with his mental strength. To put the best run on a snowboard ever seen on the Bec des Rosses into the snow at the decisive moment is world-class. This performance will probably make for another outstanding party night in Verbier.

Now there was only one other snowboarder at the top who could give Liam a run for his money. But it was none other than Victor de le Rue, who, in addition to the world championship title, also has an eternal record in his sights. Victor also put on a huge show, incorporating a 360° into his run alongside a backflip and a huge drop. However, his nose dives into the snow, he does a forward roll and lands straight back on his board. A fall for de le Rue! After this, he continued as if nothing had happened and completed an exceptional run, which earned him 75 points and second place. This means a tie in the points between Liam Rivera and Victor de le Rue and at the same time: Victor de le Rue is the winner of the Freeride World Tour for the fifth time and therefore the sole record holder.

"My fifth title - that's just incredible. That was my goal at the start of the season. The contest was incredibly tough. The snow conditions were fantastic. It's always impressive to ride the Bec because of its steepness and its history in the FWT, so I'm really happy that I managed my run so well."

Victor de Le Rue, winner men's snowboard FWT 2026

Toby Rafford, who impressed once again after his final victory in Alaska, finished in second place. With a stylish run that included a 360 and a challenging double cliff drop, he collected 94.67 points and secured second place in the overall standings. However, he was unable to outdo his rival and best friend on the tour with this run.

Ben Richards crowned his outstanding season with a third victory on the Freeride World Tour, having already triumphed in Baqueira Beret and Val Thorens. On the final day, he produced the strongest run and once again underlined his status as one of the most accomplished riders on the tour with his inimitable relaxed and technically precise riding style.

The New Zealander opened his line with an impressive 360° in an extremely exposed passage, kept the speed high and linked his tricks together fluently. He received 96 points for this near-perfect run, which equated to victory in the Xtreme Verbier and overall victory in the Tour. This crowned Richards' already flawless season, having previously won the world title.

"It's always been a dream of mine to compete at the Xtreme Verbier, but to win is just indescribable. For me, the FWT title is the icing on the cake. It gave me so much energy to hear the crowd cheering from the summit - it really is the best event."

Ben Richards, Winner Ski Men YETI Xtreme Verbier 2026 Ski Men Winner and FWT 2026

Ski Women

This category tells a little fairy tale. Lou Barin, who is starting her first season in the FWT, wins at the Bec des Rosses and overtakes local hero Sybille Blanjean in the overall standings with a courageous run. A clear case of "Courage always pays off!". Lou, who originally comes from freestyle skiing, said in an interview after her victory:

"Three years ago, I would never have dared to ski the Bec. I've gained so much confidence since Alaska. I still can't quite believe what just happened - it's something I've always dreamed of. I'm really happy to have spent this season with my brother."

An overjoyed young skier looks into the camera, you can feel and see from her body language that these are not just empty words.

Defending champion Justine Dufour-Lapointe, who had set out to "show something that will be remembered forever", finished in second place. She connected several rock formations with great speed and precision and performed some impressive jumps. Although she lost both poles after her last big cliff, she was rewarded for her courageous and sometimes somewhat wild run with 79.67 points, putting her in third place overall.

Local hero Sybille Blanjean, winner of the stop in Alaska, opted for a technically demanding and exposed line that demanded a lot of risk. Nevertheless, the playful elements and that certain something were missing from her run. With 78 points, she also put in a strong performance and underlined her class on the Bec.

Snowboard Women

Mia Jones caused a stir at the YETI Xtreme Verbier with an exceptional performance and crowned her debut season with two major successes: victory on the Bec des Rosses and the overall title of the Freeride World Tour 2026. As part of the first parent-child duo to compete on this legendary slope, she followed in the footsteps of her father Jeremy Jones, who had already triumphed here in 2004 before PowderGuide coverage.

Jones was the only snowboarder to start the race from starting house three and opted for a particularly challenging and exposed line. She opened her run with a powerful jump in the upper section, consistently kept up the pace in the steep terrain and combined the individual elements smoothly and precisely. She received 87 points for this technically strong and controlled run, enough to win the event and the overall title.

Jones also made freeride history with her impressive first season. Together with her father, she left a unique legacy on the Bec des Rosses. Like Ben Richards, she secured all the major titles of the season: victory at the YETI Xtreme Verbier, the world title and overall victory on the Freeride World Tour 2026.

"I can hardly believe it. I was pretty nervous because it was my first time on the Bec, but in these conditions the slope was just fantastic. There was an incredible atmosphere at the top, everyone was cheering - it was an unforgettable moment."

Mia Jones, winner of the women's snowboard YETI Xtreme Verbier 2026 and FWT 2026

Anna Martinez finished in second place, continuing her consistently strong season with another podium finish. The athlete from Chamonix chose a direct, technically demanding line on the right-hand side of the slope, which is known for its exposure and variety of obstacles. With several cleanly connected jumps and controlled landings, she scored 79.67 points.

Third place went to Michaela Davis-Meehan, who was able to build on her second place in Verbier last year. With a solid, confident run, she scored 78.00 points and completed the podium.