PowderPeople | Flo Orley and Stefan Häusl

A little input first:

Young skiers and snowboarders who want to learn to freeride better or even become freeride pros have various options in Austria. There are several initiatives, especially in Tyrol. First-hand information is provided by snowboarder Flo Orley and skier Stefan Häusl, who have both successfully competed in the Freeride World Tour for many years. Orley is Vice Freeride World Champion and Stefan Häusl was considered one of the best freeriders on the tour for 9 years and is listed as FWT event winner.

After ending their active competition careers, both pass on their valuable knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. Orley as co-founder of the Freeride Academy Innsbruck and Häusl as supervisor of the Freeride Team Skiclub Arlberg, but above all as a coach for young freeride pros. Another parallel is the offspring of the two athletes: Stefan's daughter Jana Häusl was crowned FIS Freeride Junior World Champion (ski) for the second time in January 2026 and is also well on her way to joining the world elite. Flo's daughter Momo Orley also became two-time European Champion U14 in March 2026 with her snowboard victory in Fieberbrunn.

The interview:

Eliane: Flo, what is the Freeride Acacemy Innsbruck and what is your goal with the FAI?

Flo Orley:
The Freeride Academy Innsbruck is the first and largest non-profit freeride association for skiing and snowboarding in Austria with currently almost 400 members. The aim of our association is to awaken enthusiasm for the sport of freeriding and to teach the skills needed to practise it as safely as possible. The focus is on youth work for youngsters from the age of 8, mainly in popular sport, but also to a small extent in top-class sport. Young adults and parents are also very welcome. Club members can take part in the "One day wonder" taster session for just 30 euros. There are also various coaching sessions, events and targeted contest preparation - always with a focus on safety, risk management, technique and fun in the community.

Stefan, what other opportunities do young skiers have to learn to freeride professionally?

Stefan Häusl:
In addition to the activities of the FAI association, there are already several initiatives: in Kirchberg the Bergside club, in Vienna the Union Four Elements club, the Arlberg ski club, the ski club in Montafon, something is being done in Alpbach and Kitzbühel, in Fieberbrunn and also in East Tyrol - to name just a few examples. Most of them are clubs that work with local kids. One thing is clear: there are more and more.

I only found the "Instructor Ski Touring" at the Ski Austria association. Is there no freeride-specific training?

Stefan Häusl:
There is the "Instructor Freeride" at the Federal Sports Academy in Innsbruck. We have trained 20 instructors there who are now coaching freeriding in their clubs. Another 20 are currently in training. These instructors are then authorized to coach in clubs - just like race coaches. The training lasts two years. It's about freestyle elements, snow and safety, guiding kids in the terrain, freeride-specific knowledge and methodology, training theory, etc. ...
The training is very well received and the participants are full of enthusiasm.

Flo Orley:
In cooperation with the Tyrolean Ski Association, we have set a milestone this year: since February 2026, freeriding has been officially established as a recognized sport in Tyrol in the disciplines of skiing and snowboarding, both for men and women. We are thus leading the way for the Austrian ski association Ski Austria, which has not yet considered it worthwhile to include freeriding in its program or even recognize it as a sport.

On the subject of freeriding and the Olympics: Ski and snowboard freeriding is considered a possible candidate for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. The IOC has yet to make a decision. Whether the sport will actually be included in the Olympic program depends on further coordination between the IOC, the FIS and the organizing committee of the 2030 Winter Games.

Concert of wishes: At best, what do you expect the development to do to the sport?

Stefan Häusl:
Some of the athletes are trained really well at a young age. They learn tricks on the trampoline, on airbag systems and then in the snow. You can integrate a great methodology into everyday training. It's very cool to observe and help develop this. I think we will see more freestyle, but there will always be the classic freeride approach in alpine passages.

Flo Orley:
The FIS bought the FWT several years ago, even though it's still the same professional team around Nicolas Hale-Woods that handles the FWT. In recent years, we have already seen the professionalization of freeride sports, both on the provider side in terms of the harmonization of rules in the sport, as well as the professionalization of the pyramid from the Junior Tour to the Qualifier and Challenger level, right up to the World Tour.

At the same time, a lot has also changed on the athlete side: Athletes are preparing more and more professionally and now train all year round with the exception of a short summer break. That's why the leap to the Olympics won't change the freeride sport that much now. Of course, it gives institutions like us the platform to say: Hey, the sport is Olympic. That's why I hope that this decision will be made in June 2026. Because as an association, we will then have other opportunities to acquire funding and make even better use of our expertise in cooperation with existing institutions such as Ski Austria.

Apart from Jana and Momo , which promising young German or Austrian freeriders should we keep an eye on?

Stefan Häusl:
Well the Müllers from Vorarlberg, Jem and Jake are certainly at the top of the list. Jem came second at the Junior World Championships this year. Simon Zwischenbrugger is currently leading the Challenger Ranking. As for the snowboarders, you'll have to ask Flo (winks).

Flo Orley:
We have really great guys in the Freeride Academy, one is 19-year-old skier Matthias Narr, one of the youngest qualifier riders in Europe, who is really stylish and in a good mood. Then we have Laurin Orley, my sister's son, who is one of the best U18 skiers and has just won the 3-star contest in Kühtai. He is well on his way to qualifying for the Freeride Junior World Championships 2027.

And then we have another hot prospect: snowboarder Luke Herbert. Although he is only 12 years old and is still U14, so he can't yet qualify for the Junior Tour, he trains with the Tyrolean Ski Association's freestyle team as well as freeriding. Luke can make it to the top if he wants to, because he has huge talent.

And also my daughter Momo Orley. She was European champion in the U14 category last year at the age of 12 and is also among the best this year. Momo won the Junior 3-Star Contest in Fieberbrunn in March. This makes her a two-time U14 European champion this year with the best result after four contests. And if she feels like it, I'd be happy to accompany her on her way to the top. But she has to enjoy it.

Jana, what are your plans for the 26/27 season?

Jana Häusl:
I'm competing in my last Junior World Championships this season and after that I'll try to get onto the Freeride World Tour as quickly as possible (laughs). To make that happen, my parents and I are flying to New Zealand in the summer. I can train really well there and of course go on vacation too.

About the Freeride World Tour

FWT Management SA, based in Verbier (Switzerland), has been organizing top-class sporting events in mountain destinations worldwide since 1996. The company founded the legendary Xtreme Verbier and developed this individual competition into the renowned Freeride World Tour (FWT) in 2008. Today, the FWT comprises several series, including the FWT Challenger, FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior, with events in Europe, North and South America and Oceania. Since December 2022, the FWT has been part of the International Ski Federation (FIS).
www.freerideworldtour.com

The integration of freeriding into the FIS

The first edition of the Allianz FIS Freeride World Championships Andorra by Mammut took place in February 2026 in Ordino Arcalís, Andorra. Each of the world's 65 best skiers and snowboarders from 17 nations had a run to impress on the challenging face in Andorra. This event marks the full integration of freeriding into the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and strengthens the status of freeriding as a globally recognized winter sports discipline. The winners were skiers Benjamin James Richards (NZ) and Zuzanna Witych (POL) and snowboarders Liam Rivera (CH) and Mia Jones (USA). The German Timm Schröder achieved 8th place.

YETI FIS Freeride Junior World Championships in Kappl

Small but mighty: Kappl has earned a good reputation in the freeride world, as the small ski resort has hosted the Junior Freeride World Tour (FWT) several times since 2022, most recently in January 2026. Background: The Junior World Championships do not take place at the same location every year - they "return" to tried and tested locations. Kappl is now a regular venue due to its terrain, face and infrastructure. Depending on the snow conditions, the iconic Quellspitze or the equally challenging Alblittköpfe north face at 2,720 meters can serve as the face, i.e. the descent for the Junior Tour skiers and snowboarders.

On the way to the Pro

In 2026, 67 of the best young athletes from 13 countries took part in the Junior Freeride World Championships in Kappl. Before the riders start, the respective slope is explicitly tested for its snow conditions and, above all, safety. This time, the Alblittköpfe north face was chosen instead of the Quellspitze - a face with a special terrain shape that offers numerous creative jumping options. With a slope gradient of up to 40 degrees and technical terrain, the north face is very demanding, but also offers creative line options. This is what makes freeride competitions so special: every athlete memorizes the exact face before the start and thinks about an individual line that is not judged on speed.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Jana Häusl and Cem Müller.

The jury evaluates the runs according to five criteria:

Line choice - Creativity and difficulty of the chosen route.

Control - How safe and stable the rider is.

Fluidity - How seamless the run is.

Technique - The technical precision of turns, jumps and landings.

Air & Style - The execution of jumps and tricks in the air.

The 14 to 18-year-old participants collect points beforehand via the FIS Junior Freeride Tour in order to qualify for the World Championships. These can be regional or national freeride events. No snowboarders from Germany or Austria competed in Kappl in 2026, but the successful Austrian skiers Cem Müller, who took second place, and Jana Häusl, who became Junior World Champion for the second time, did.

Both train with Jana's father in the "Stefan Häusl Freeride Team" and their success is no coincidence: Stefan Häusl skied on the Freeride World Tour for around 9 years and achieved several top results, including a victory at an FWT stop in Fieberbrunn (2011). As one of the best skiers in Austria, he has obviously passed on his special qualities to his protégés: Bold, fluid yet controlled, technical off-piste skiing. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Jana Häusl and Cem Müller.