Lena Kohler

The new Freeride World Tour season is already in full swing. An exciting start to the 2026 season, in which the best freeriders in the world will be chosen on one and two boards. PowderGuide will once again be reporting live and up close from the tour this year. This year, we have already had the opportunity to interview one of the absolute high-flyers of recent years and get her in front of the lens. It's about the path away from the pressure to perform in the alpine system, mental low points on the Freeride World Tour and the search for true freedom on the mountain. Lena talks openly about her journey from racing to freeriding. It's about learning from mistakes, process-oriented thinking instead of fixating on results, responsibility in risky sports and why she now skis lines by feel and not by points.

The Fieberbrunn Pro Event in Tyrol is an institution on the Freeride World Tour. The Wildseeloder is feared for its steep and narrow passages, but is also legendary for the Häusle Cliff and the parties afterwards. Unfortunately, not everyone had something to celebrate this time, as Fieberbrunn is always the last stop for some riders. While a few riders seized their last chance, others literally crashed or didn't even get the opportunity to compete, as their event was canceled. Although—or perhaps because—the male skiers were unable to race, there were still some exciting stories worth telling.

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

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!

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.