Industry News
One of freeriding’s signature events, The North Face Frontier, has officially released its 2026 event plans. The event will be held at The Remarkables in Queenstown, New Zealand, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, with dozens of freeride athletes competing on some of the resort’s most challenging terrain.
The event will include both a two-star and a four-star FWT Qualifier, offering an opportunity for emerging freeriders to earn a spot on the Freeride World Tour. Two-star events are designed for newcomers and amateurs, featuring less extreme terrain, and act as a building block for young athletes. Four-star events are the highest and most prestigious on the pyramid, and are held on challenging, big mountain faces and are one step below the professional level.
With its challenging big mountain terrain and variable snow conditions, The Remarkables is an ideal host for an FWT Qualifier event. The competition kicks off at Shadow Basin with the two-star event before moving to the Alta Chutes for the four-star event. The Alta Chutes are known for steep faces, technical cliff features, and narrow couloirs, making them one of New Zealand’s most exciting freeriding zones.
A Fan-Favorite Making Its Return
The North Face Frontier has existed in some form since 2005, when it began as a part of the New Zealand Freeski Open, which included freeride, slopestyle, and halfpipe competitions. The event later stood by itself as a dedicated freeride competition, becoming a staple on the FWT qualifying circuit.
The competition has seen plenty of freeride legends descend through the terrain, with 17 different countries standing atop the podium at some point. Freeski legends like Lorraine Huber, Elisabeth Gerritzen, and Kiwi legends Jess Hotter and Ben Richards have each claimed victory at the event in the past. Gerritzen, Hotter, and Richards even went on to become FWT champions.
New Zealand freeriders have also come to dominate on their home turf, claiming 33 victories and 88 podium finishes across the event’s history.Â
“One of the things we’ve learned over 21 years is that The North Face Frontier has a habit of showing you tomorrow’s stars before the rest of the world catches on,” event manager Jo Guest said in a Ragtrader article.Â
A Longstanding Partnership with a Leading Brand
The 2026 event is the newest rendition of one of the longest-running partnerships in New Zealand snow sports. Through much of the 21-year history of the event, The North Face has been there to sponsor.
For The North Face, the partnership reflects the brand’s ongoing support for athletes who spend their time pushing progression in the mountains.
“We’re proud to have played a role in delivering this world-class competition, rooted in authentic community connection, and we look forward to carrying that legacy into the future for the next generation of athletes,” The North Face ANZ head of marketing Sarah Hunt said.Â
The Growing Sport of Freeriding
The announcement of The North Face Frontier’s return comes just weeks after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that freeriding will be included in the 2030 Alps Olympics. It also comes after the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s (FIS) purchase of the FWT and freeriding’s recognition as an official discipline. Now, the FWT serves as the primary path to the Olympics, with every event leading up to the 2030 Games having massive roster implications.
Given the significance of each FWT event for making the Olympic roster, The North Face Frontier is sure to bring out some of the best riding from athletes looking to make both the FWT and the Olympics.Â
Fans are encouraged to head up the mountain to catch the action, with live commentary, music, and community atmosphere throughout the event.Â
This article was updated at 12:11 p.m. EST on July 20, 2026 because it contained inaccuracies.Â
