Champion Max Hitzig Returns to 2026 Freeride World Tour After Lost Season

After a season away, the big mountain wunderkind Max Hitzig is back on the Freeride World Tour, having claimed a 2026 season wildcard.

The 23-year-old German skier last appeared on the FWT in 2024 when he won the overall title with numerous podium finishes. You may also remember his huge, jaw-dropping backflip from the Kicking Horse competition the year prior. 

But Hitzig was injured ahead of the 2025 season. That left him unable to compete on the Tour or defend his title last winter, as other male competitors like Marcus Goguen, Toby Rafford, and Ben Richards claimed their positions in the spotlight. 

“The level is super high this season again, and there are some serious battles ahead with strong riders like Marcus. But I had a strong summer of training, and I feel ready. I’m excited and fully motivated to get back on Tour,” Hitzig said.

In addition to his 2026 wildcard, Hitzig has earned a position in the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships in Andorra Ordino Arcalís this coming February. 

Alongside Hitzig, Switzerland’s Sybille Blanjean has joined the 2026 FWT roster as a women’s wildcard. She, too, was left sidelined last winter by an injury. The wildcard offers her another chance to bolster her freeride bonafides, which already include a fifth-overall finish and a win at the 2022 Xtreme Verbier. 

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“I’m so happy to be back on Tour this season and really grateful for the injury wildcard,” Blanjean said.

“Now I’m fully recovered and ready. I can’t wait to travel, ride, and enjoy the experience with everyone again. With new destinations on the calendar, it’s going to be a really exciting season,” she added.

With the addition of the FIS Freeride World Championships to the calendar, this winter will see seven professional-level freeride competitions. 

The FWT season is scheduled to start in January 2026 with the Baqueira Beret Pro in Spain. The circuit has also revived its Alaskan competition, slated for March. 

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