Conditions Report
Industry News
Report from March 20-23, 2025
We were on the ground in Verbier for all four days of the 30th anniversary of the Freeride World Tour Finals weekend—boots in the snow, camera in hand, and full access to the competition, the riders, and the events. From pre-dawn visual inspections to the final podium celebrations, we witnessed everything that makes the Yeti Xtreme Verbier the most iconic stop in competitive freeride skiing and snowboarding.
This year’s finals were shaped by unpredictable snow conditions and a narrow weather window. The competition was moved up two days—a rare occurrence—to take advantage of a fleeting high-pressure system. A decision that proved critical to completing the competition in the best snow quality during the weather window.
As men’s snowboarder Michael Mawn told us, “Conditions weren’t great, but each day forward would’ve been worse. We were lucky to run when we did.
Even with variable snow, the Bec des Rosses delivered on its reputation: steep, exposed, and unforgiving. Athletes had just one day of visual inspection and one run to lay it all down. No practice. No second chances. Most riders only ride the face once per year, and many spend 4–6 months off snow in the offseason—making the level of performance all the more impressive.
Ski Men: Wei Tian Ho’s Dual-Sport Breakthrough
Top 3:
- Wei Tian Ho (CAN)
- Ross Tester (USA)
- Toby Rafford (USA)
At just 20 years old, Wei Tian Ho is emerging as one of the most dynamic athletes in the freeride world—not just for what he does on snow, but what he does off it. After laying down one of the most technical and composed lines on the Bec des Rosses to take the win in Verbier, Ho heads into the offseason as a rising dual-sport star.
Born and raised in Whistler, British Columbia, Ho has been skiing since age two and begin freeriding at 11 through the Whistler Freeride Club.
“That’s when I saw a path,” he said. “I wanted to be like the guys I watched at Junior Worlds.”
During the off-season, Ho competes at the elite level in mountain biking, racing in the UCI Enduro World Cup series, where he recently took first place in the U21 category in Leogang, Austria.
“It doesn’t leave much time for other hobbies,” he admitted. “Though I play squash sometimes when I can.”
He balances two careers with a meticulous mindset.
“Verbier has so many layers of complication. It’s about instilling confidence—I knew what I came here to do and did what I came here to do.”
Ski Women: Jenna Keller Claims the Crown at Home
Top 3:
- Jenna Keller (SUI)
- Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN)
- Lena Kohler (GER)
It was a storybook win for Jenna Keller, who grew up just an hour from Verbier in Morgins, Switzerland. After skiing one of the most technical and confident lines of the women’s field, she became the 2025 Verbier champion in front of a roaring home crowd.
“The ultimate dream,” she said. “If I was going to win a comp, I didn’t expect it to be here.”
Keller was introduced to skiing by her mother, a ski instructor, and later inspired by her stepbrother Blake Marshall, a tour veteran.
“He made me believe freeride was something I could actually do,” Keller said.
She admits nerves still hit hard at the top.
“I get really stressed,” she said. “But I remind myself it’s just skiing. I don’t listen to music. Just the sound of the mountains.”
Off the snow, she grew up a classic “pony girl,” obsessed with horses from riding at summer camps—”fitting,” she said, aligning with her mom’s British heritage.
Snowboard Men: Cody Bramwell Closes with Conviction
Top 3:
- Cody Bramwell (GBR)
- Liam Rivera (SUI)
- Victor De Le Rue (FRA)
Cody Bramwell delivered a massive backflip and fluid, fast riding down the Bec to claim a powerful win—capping a turbulent season that almost didn’t happen.
Originally from Åre, Sweden and a British parent, Bramwell grew up in one of the world’s most renowned freeride towns, home to legends like Kristofer Turdell.
“Åre shaped me,” he said. “It gave me the terrain and the community to learn how to ride like this.”
He didn’t start snowboarding until his mid-teens, making the transition from moguls and slopestyle skiing while following in the footsteps of his father and brother.
“Once I switched, I was hooked.”
Earlier in the season—not in Verbier—he dropped into a comp run without goggles after they iced up at the start gate.
“Definitely not ideal,” he said. “But I just went for it. I was close to quitting,” he admitted. “Airline lost my bags and I rode a comp on borrowed gear. Crashed the first three events. But I pulled it together—1st, 2nd, 1st to close the season. Wild ride.”
When he’s not freeriding, Bramwell lives in Greece half the year, where he and his family run a watersports business.
Snowboard Women: Noémie Equy’s Rookie Season Ends in Gold
Top 3:
- Noémie Equy (FRA)
- Michaela Davis-Meehan (AUS)
- Núria Castan Baron (ESP)
In her first official year on the Freeride World Tour, Noémie Equy won four out of six stops—including Verbier—and walked away as the undisputed leader of the women’s field.
A former member of the French national freestyle team, Equy made the switch to freeride in 2021.
“I wanted to be in the backcountry more,” she said. “That’s where I feel at home.”
She rides with Freeski Belleville out of Val Thorens and said the team atmosphere there pushed her to go bigger than she thought she could.
In Georgia, she bonded with fellow riders after a long layover turned into a team vacation.
“It was kind of a fiasco,” she said, “but it felt like a big freeride family holiday.”
Equy is also passionate about cooking.
“When I stop competing, I want to work in food,” she said. “That’s the other dream.”
Ross Tester Stays Fast
Ross Tester claimed second place with a strong, fast line and smooth airs. Raised in the freeride-rich terrain of Palisades Tahoe, he transitioned from racing to freeride in his teens and is now a four-year tour veteran.
“I got tired of racing against the clock. I wanted to be creative,” Tester said.
His Verbier strategy was to stay calm and trust his instincts.
“If I don’t have my line fully dialed, it can be stressful,” he said. “This time, I just reminded myself—it’s another day of skiing. That helps keep me present.”
Tester also shared a highlight from Georgia:
“Abel and Matisse hit a jump behind the hotel at 2 a.m.—both did backflips and caught their tips the exact same way. Same takeoff, same crash. It was hilarious.”
Off the hill, Tester trail runs, scrambles low-grade rock, and has an unexpected hobby:
“I hunt for crystals,” he said. “Not seriously—I just tend to stumble upon them.”
Molly Armanino’s Return
Molly Armanino returned to skiing in her mid-20s after walking away from racing as a teen (due to a stunt involving a streaking incident). She became serious about coaching, then qualifying—and lost a toe to frostbite in Montana while chasing a spot on the tour.
Still, she earned a wildcard spot last year but ended up qualifying through the challenger series anyway.
“I was going through a lot, and the tour gave me another chance. That meant everything.”
She builds confidence around lines she knows she can execute.
“The ones where I hesitate? That’s when I back off.”
In Georgia, she made friends with the heli pilots then hitched a ride back from Mestia to Tbilisi to avoid the 8 hour drive.
“We flew over the occupied zone. Super windy. Totally sketchy—but hilarious.”
A former environmental consultant, Armanino is now turning her focus to wildlife conservation and hopes to resume advocacy work this summer.
The Event Village: Brands, Safety, and Stoked Fans
For three days, the base area at Verbier was home to the Freeride World Tour Village, where fans mingled with athletes, tested gear, and explored the latest innovations in freeride. With steady spring sunshine, energetic crowds, and a full schedule of activations, the village pulsed with the same energy as the comp face above.
Mammut, joining the tour this year as the official safety partner, was front and center—hosting live beacon searches, avalanche airbag demos, and educational talks. With avalanche safety being a cornerstone of the freeride world, Mammut brought both technical expertise and practical knowledge to athletes and fans alike. Their presence was elevated by team athletes including freeride legend Jérémie Heitz, who was on site giving demonstrations and interacting with fans throughout the weekend.
SCOTT, the official Goggle, Helmet, and Back Protector Partner of the FWT since 2023, showcased the same protection gear trusted by top riders on the tour. From impact-ready helmets to back protectors and optics, SCOTT’s impressive activation semi truck stayed packed all weekend, with staff walking fans through the tech behind every piece of equipment.
Across the village, iconic freeride brands like Yeti, Quicksilver, Sun God, and Pit Viper hosted demos, gear walkthroughs, and athlete meet-and-greets—reinforcing the deep connection between thoughtful design, performance, and mountain culture.
A Season for the Ages
With six stops spanning three continents—from the soft, freestyle-friendly terrain of Baqueira Beret, to the bulletproof steeps of Fieberbrunn, the wild cliffs of Georgia, and the unforgiving final test on the Bec des Rosses—the 2025 Freeride World Tour offered a complete showcase of the sport’s depth and demands. Riders faced every type of snow and terrain imaginable, requiring not just skill and style, but adaptability, composure, and the mental toughness to perform on the world’s biggest stages.
The tour wrapped with more than just podiums and trophies—it concluded in classic freeride fashion: with connection, gratitude, and celebration. On Saturday night, athletes, sponsors, staff, and tour veterans such as the first event winner in 1994—Steve Klassen gathered for an FWT-sponsored dinner at Pub Mont Fort, Verbier’s legendary après-ski bar. It was a chance to unwind, share stories, and enjoy one final send-off after three months of traveling the world competing side by side across the six tour stops.
More than just a competition circuit, the Freeride World Tour remains a tight-knit global community—one that deeply values its people. The evening was a heartfelt reminder that behind every line skied and every trick stomped is a network of coaches, media, judges, and supporters who make the tour what it is. From laughter over drinks to speeches of appreciation, the night captured the soul of the freeride world: not just a sport, but a family.
2025 Season Tour Stop Highlights:
The season opener kicked things off under bluebird skies and fresh snow. The terrain at Baqueira favored creativity and freestyle flair, with natural hits scattered across a playful face. Riders wasted no time going big—throwing spins, flips, and stylish grabs right out of the gate.
The French stop swapped flow for strategy. Wind-affected snow and exposed sections made line choice everything. Riders who succeeded here did so with smart, controlled skiing—linking turns with confidence and avoiding crusty landings and hidden sharks.
Deep powder, steeper trees, and playful terrain allowed riders to show off a mix of freeride power and freestyle creativity. The home crowd energy gave North American athletes a visible boost—and set the stage for momentum mid-season. We had the chance to cover this event live here.
A technical face that demanded surgical line choice. Narrow corridors, firm snow, and no-fall zones made this a defining stop. Riders who stayed composed here surged in the rankings.
Remote, raw, and unique, Tetnuldi gave off full backcountry energy. Delays, long travel days, food poisoning, and unfamiliar terrain made it a mental challenge, but the riders responded with some of the most creative and committed lines of the season.
The grand finale. The Bec des Rosses remains the crown jewel—exposed, intimidating, and iconic. Variable snow made landings unpredictable. Several riders attempted doubles—but none landed. Still, standout performances across all categories cemented this year’s champions in freeride history.
2025 Freeride World Tour Champions:
- Men’s Ski: Marcus Goguen (CAN)
- Women’s Ski: Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN)
- Men’s Snowboard: Victor de Le Rue (FRA)
- Women’s Snowboard: Noémie Equy (FRA)
These four riders demonstrated not only raw talent, but the versatility, decision-making, and consistency it takes to win the overall title after battles across six dramatically different venues.
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