The 2026 Freeride World Tour season came to a dramatic close on March 28 at the legendary Xtreme Verbier, Switzerland. At the legendary Bec de Rosses in perfect conditions, four new world champions were crowned at one of the most memorable finals in recent years.
Held on the Bec des Rosses above Verbier, the event marked the first time since 2017 that the tour finale returned to the venue that has defined the sport since 1996. Known for its steep, technical terrain and no-fall zones, the Bec once again lived up to its reputation—especially after 50 centimeters (20 inches) of fresh snow blanketed the face in the days leading up to the competition.
By the end of the day, four overall champions were crowned: Mia Jones (USA, Snowboard Women), Victor de Le Rue (France, Snowboard Men), Lou Barin (France, Ski Women), and Ben Richards (New Zealand, Ski Men). Each capped off a season that spanned Spain, France, Alaska, and Switzerland, with the final showdown delivering both event victories and overall titles.
The United States enjoyed a particularly strong showing. Jones led the charge with a historic double victory, while Toby Rafford finished second overall in Ski Men and Ross Tester claimed third. Six Americans competed on the Bec des Rosses — a sign of USA’s strong presence on the freeride scene.
Jones’ performance was one of the standout stories of the season. Competing in her rookie year, the Truckee, California native not only won the Xtreme Verbier event but also secured the overall title and Rookie of the Year honors. Dropping from the highest start gate, she attacked the face with confidence—linking a fluid line of technical turns and airs to secure the win. Her victory carried an added layer of significance. Jones is the daughter of legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones, who won the same event in 2005. 21 years later, she followed in his footsteps on the same face, marking a rare generational moment in freeride history.
In the Snowboard Men field, Switzerland’s Liam Rivera delivered a performance for the ages. The Verbier local posted a near-perfect score of 96.00—the highest ever recorded in the discipline at the event—thanks to a bold line featuring a massive air and a cleanly executed backflip. The home crowd erupted as Rivera secured his first Xtreme Verbier victory.
Yet the overall title went to France’s de Le Rue, who etched his name deeper into the sport’s history by claiming a record-breaking fifth Freeride World Tour title. Despite a fall during his run, he maintained composure, linking together a high-risk sequence that included a huge backflip into a no-fall zone and a backside 360. His second-place finish on the day was enough to secure the overall crown via tiebreaker.
In Ski Men, Richards delivered one of the most complete runs of the competition. The New Zealander charged out of the gate with multiple 360s, big airs, and fluid transitions down the face, earning a 96.00 score to take both the event win and the overall title. It marked a dominant season for Richards, who consistently finished near the top and closed it out with authority.
Rafford, who entered the final as the overall leader, put down another strong run highlighted by a massive cliff drop 360 and a double drop near the bottom. He finished second both in Verbier and in the overall standings, while Tester’s consistency throughout the season secured him third overall despite finishing 10th in the final.
The Ski Women category saw another breakout performance from France’s Barin. In her first year on tour, the former freestyle skier took on the Bec des Rosses for the first time and delivered a technically demanding run that included a double drop and two clean 360s. Her score of 95 points secured both the event victory and the overall title, completing one of the most impressive rookie seasons in recent memory.
Barin’s success was mirrored by her brother, César Barin, who also reached the podium in Verbier in Snowboard Men, marking a rare sibling achievement at the sport’s highest level.
Beyond the individual performances, the 2026 season will be remembered for its depth of talent and the emergence of a new generation of freeriders. Athletes like Jones and Barin demonstrated that rookies can not only compete but dominate, while veterans like de Le Rue continued to push the limits of what is possible on some of the world’s most consequential terrain.
The Bec des Rosses once again proved why it remains the ultimate stage for freeride competition. With steep pitches, exposed lines, and no margin for error, it demands both technical precision and mental resilience. This year’s conditions—deep powder combined with stable visibility—allowed riders to fully showcase their abilities, resulting in one of the highest-quality finals in recent memory.
As the sun set on Verbier, the 2026 Freeride World Tour season closed with a mix of celebration and reflection. Records were broken, careers were defined, and a new chapter in the sport’s evolution was written.
For Jones, Richards, Barin, and de Le Rue, the titles represent the culmination of a grueling global campaign. For the rest of the field, the Bec des Rosses served as both a proving ground and a reminder of what it takes to reach the top.
With the bar raised yet again, freeride now looks ahead to 2027—where the next generation will attempt to match, or surpass, what was achieved on one of the sport’s most iconic faces.
