First Freeride World Championships Set to Take Place

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted January 31, 2026

The Allianz FIS Freeride World Championships Andorra 2026 by Mammut will take place during the weather window of February 1–6, 2026.

The exact competition day will be selected on safety and snow conditions.

This inaugural championship, sanctioned by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), will bring together 65 elite freeriders from 17 nations to compete for the title of FIS Freeride World Champion.

The event marks a significant evolution in the sport, officially integrating freeride skiing and snowboarding into the FIS framework and elevating it to the highest level of international competition.

Athletes will compete across four categories:

Ski Men
Ski Women
Snowboard Men
Snowboard Women

British interests rest with the snowboarder, Cody Bramwell.

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A post shared by GB Snowsport (@gbsnowsport)

The athletes have one run each to deliver their most impressive line and claim a place in freeride history.

In addition to individual titles, the event will feature a Nations Ranking, introducing a medal-based team competition that rewards collective performance.

Points will be awarded to the top five finishers in each category, with a maximum of 100 points for first place, contributing to a Medal Standing that will determine the overall top-performing nation.

For full details see this earlier article on PlanetSKI:

Full details of FIS Freeride World Championships unveiled

Recent snowfall has heightened anticipation, with fresh snow in recent days and additional snowfall forecast.

Avalanche risk in the region is currently high, and the public is advised to exercise caution and strictly follow all safety recommendations when venturing into the backcountry.

Regarding the competition, the organizing team will select the competition day within the weather window (February 1–6) based on snow conditions and established safety criteria, ensuring the highest possible level of safety for athletes and event staff.

Freeride has gone form strenght to strength in recent years and is likely to become an Olympic discipline in the 2030 Games set to be held in France.

Freeride for the Winter Olympics?

Freeride World Tour. Image c/o @freerideworldtour+ D.DAHER.

It is all a long way from the early days of the Freeride World Tour.

PlanetSKI has been following the sport since those days and back in 2009 PlanetSKI editor was on a media judging panel alongside the legendary US skier, Glenn Plake.

FWT, Tignes 2009. Image c/o PlanetSKI.

See more here:

Watch the World Championships live:

Fans around the world can watch the event live at www.freerideworldtour.com/live, and follow athlete stories, highlights, and updates across FWT’s social media platforms at @freerideworldtour.

About Ordino Arcalís Andorra

Founded in 1983 by the residents of the parish of Ordino, the ski resort has become a benchmark for mountain sports enthusiasts over the past forty years.

In addition to its 30 km of slopes, it boasts extensive off-piste terrain ideal for freeride skiing, a key reason why it has been a host venue for the Freeride World Tour for nearly a decade.

Ordino Arcalís also offers activities for all types of visitors, from the longest green slope in the Pyrenees to challenging runs perfect for expert skiers.

Since 2018, Ordino Arcalís has been part of the Grandvalira Resorts Andorra group, which also welcomed Pal Arinsal in the 22-23 season.

Together, Andorra’s ski resorts offer access to a total of 308 km of slopes and are well-accustomed to hosting major sporting events, such as the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals, Ski Mountaineering World Cups, and Mountain Bike World Championships, among others.