Freeride World Tour

The world's best riders in our mountains

Thursday, March 14, 2024, a date to remember, a stage of the Freeride World Cup circuit, the FWT Challenger, is coming to Gressoney for the first time.

The Freeride World Tour is an international circuit of professional freeride, big mountain skiing and snowboarding competitions that has been held annually since 2008 in various mountain locations around the world.

It originated in 1996 as part of the Verbier Extreme competition.

The first series of events under the name FWT took place precisely in 2008 at the initiative of Nissan and the organizers of several European freeride competitions, 5 stages were set and the largest amount of money ever established for an off-piste ski competition was allocated as a prize.

Since 2013 the FWT has been sponsored by Swatch and The North Face, also in that year merging with the older Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding, combining all 3 events into one global Tour.

In 2022 under the presidency of Johan Eliasch the FWT is purchased by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

There are 4 competitions organized within the FWT:

FWT Pro

World snowboard and freeride ski circuit.
The best athletes in the world participate; sometimes limited wild cards (permission to participate) are offered to established athletes that allow them to compete without going through qualifying.

FWT Challenger

The final step toward qualifying for the FWT Pro.
The top FWT qualifier riders compete against the FWT Pro runners-up to earn a spot on the next year's major circuit.

FWT Qualifier

This is the world qualifying circuit designed to develop the talent and skills of up-and-coming riders.

Riders accumulate points through 60 events held around the world, including 40 in Europe.

The scoring system is based on the star ranking of the qualifying events and the event regions, Region 1 (Europe-Asia-Oceania) Region 2 (United States-Canada-Chile-Argentina).

The best from each region advance to the FWT Challenger.

FWT Junior

This is the circuit dedicated to young people up to the age of 18, with the aim of developing future talent and encouraging young people to participate in the sport.

FWT Challenger 2024 Gressoney

How the Competitions are Held

Skiers and snowboarders compete in two separate disciplines, in turn divided into men's and women's categories.

Each leg of the Tour sees each category competing neatly according to a free course that starts from a gate at the top of the chosen mountain face all the way down to the valley.

Riders are free to choose the line they prefer without being allowed to try it before the race.

Upon arrival, judges determine a score from 0 to 100 for each athlete by evaluating the downhill line, jumps and stunts performed, fluidity, control and technique.

At the end of the tournament, prizes are awarded to the athletes in each category with the best total score from the four best runs.

Edizione 2025

Preparatevi per l’evento dell’anno!

Adrenalina, neve fresca e performance al limite: il Freeride World Tour sta per arrivare nel comprensorio del Monterosa Ski! Uno spettacolo di pura potenza e talento, con i migliori rider al mondo pronti a sfidare le vette mozzafiato di questo leggendario scenario alpino. Una tappa che promette linee epiche e discese che resteranno nella storia.

Non perdete l’occasione di vivere questo evento unico e immergervi nell’atmosfera elettrizzante del freeride mondiale. Restate sintonizzati per ulteriori dettagli!

Scoprite tutte le novità sull'evento

Edizione 2026

Freeriding returns to Monte Rosa, and Monterosa Freeride Paradise is preparing for one of the most intense moments of the season. From March 26 to 29, 2026, the Gressoney Valley will host one of the stages of the FWT Challenger by Orage – Region 1, the circuit that represents the last gateway to the Freeride World Tour.

The Challenger is not just a competition: it is the point where ambition and adrenaline truly meet. Every line chosen on the mountain can change an athlete's destiny, which is why the technical and mental level required is so high. The tour will pass through some of the most iconic locations in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France, testing riders with ever-changing terrain and conditions.

The 2026 roster promises to be spectacular. Established names looking to return to the top will be joined by young talents ready to make their mark. Among the expected protagonists are athletes who have already graced the stages of the Pro Tour and promising newcomers determined to write their own story, creating a mix of experience, speed, and vision.

In the heart of the Monterosa Freeride Paradise, between Val d'Ayas and Valle di Gressoney, Monte Rosa will once again offer its unique terrain: wide slopes, technical lines, and an authentic environment where the mountain remains the true protagonist. The final venue will be confirmed shortly before the event, but the spirit is already clear: pure freeriding, without compromise.

Follow the season, experience the athletes' stories up close, and stay up to date on the official FWT channels and those of the local area. March 2026 is just around the corner, and freeriding is coming home once again.