Freeride World Tour

From a short film by a couple just beginning their filmmaking journey to the search for hidden lines in the Alps and a snowboard best-of from Alaska—it's all here. Plus, creative projects beyond the ski world and the grand finale of the first stop of the Jib League.

We at PowderGuide had the pleasure of interviewing the two rising freeride stars with Innsbruck as their home base in Val Thorens.

I am very happy about the breath of fresh air that Hannes Hemper brings to the videos of the week. As always, you’ll get the latest clips from the heroes of my generation and the best picks from my YouTube subscriptions. Today, Xavier de le Rue makes a comeback with a new VLOG, Sam Anthamatten is honoured, Candide Thovex shines once again in a 47-second video and Gerhard Wiedemann tells us about his last ski tour in a relaxed manner. I never get enough of these guys!

The weather window is open: Friday morning is competition time. Thursday remains for arriving and exploring. The snow conditions? Okay, but better on the face than in the rest of the area - thanks to weeks of closures. This year, it's back to the Ozone Face, right next to the top chairlift and accessible via the so-called Stairway to Heaven. Short, crisp and radical - so get ready for one-hit wonder lines and fast charging!

Welcome to February, dear friends of snow sports! Snowfall brings joy to the whole world again after a dry January. Time to get inspired - with creative comp skiing, short films that capture the emotions of snow sports and a bit of learning material to round things off.

An interview with Nadine Wallner (born 1989) about her sports away from skiing, her preference for cheese dumplings and the basics of sluff management. And how she once discovered climbing for herself during rehab...

Val Thorens welcomed the PowderGuide press team on Saturday morning, 24th of January 2025, with bright sunshine and an impressive backdrop at an altitude of 2,300 metres. The largest interconnected ski resort in the world, the "Trois Vallées", beckoned with countless possibilities, but it was already clear when exploring the highest mountain stations: this FWT stop was going to be a challenge! The wind tugged at the peaks, drifting snow piled up in hidden hollows, while bare rocks peaked out of the snow cover. The weather forecast? Uncertain - a first indication that flexibility and patience would be required.

Spectacular season opener of the FIS Freeride World Tour 2025 in Baqueira Beret. The FIS Freeride World Tour 2025 by Peak Performance kicked off with an impressive event at the Baqueira Beret Pro by Movistar in Spain. Freeride stars and up-and-coming talents delivered top performances on the newly introduced "La Bamba" competition slope. The challenging east-facing slope with a gradient of up to 53 degrees provided the perfect stage for spectacular freeride action and set the tone for an exciting season.

Winter is just around the corner - and with it the biggest freeride event of the year. In less than 20 days, this year's Freeride World Tour (FWT) kicks off in Baqueira Beret, Spain, probably on 19th of January 2025. New riders and venues, legendary comebacks and changes to the contest format promise pure excitement. So buckle up, because the freeride elite is waiting in the wings, ready to thrill us with epic lines and wild moments.

December has it all! This week makes skiers' and snowboarders' hearts beat faster. The long-awaited film projects of many riders finally appear online. Let yourself be carried away by a spell of style and fun.

Georgia is known for its hospitality, culinary delights and plenty of powder snow. Nevertheless, there are only a handful of ski resorts in the hundreds of kilometres of the neighbouring Caucasus. One of them is Tetnuldi. A real insider tip for freeriders who are not afraid of the long journey.

Last week's anticipation was followed by joy about the winter that has now begun both north and south of the main Alpine ridge, and about a very remarkable film. In the Dolomites, Marco Bassot puts the powder into moving images, and last year a Japanese ski and snowboard expedition travelled to the Karakoram and has just released the film. Ski film of the year? See for yourself! And the well-known Scandinavians Nikolai, Antti, Jacob and Krister also deliver!