"Known as one of the best heliskiing destinations in the world, Haines features steep spines, deep powder, and faces that redefine the term big mountain. The Freeride World Tour has previously visited Haines in 2015, 2016, and 2017, but ran into unsuitable conditions, even with extended weather windows. Alaska is a freeride stage like no other, and the reintroduction of the venue this season will add an extra dose of the drama and mind-blowing skiing the Freeride World Tour is known for."
"The return of a U.S. venue to the tour is accompanied by a strong showing of American athletes on the tour roster. Of the fifty athletes that will compete this year, twelve are from the U.S., with three female and four male skiers, and one female and four male snowboarders. Five of the athletes from the U.S. contingent are from the Lake Tahoe area, with Colorado, Montana, and Utah represented by the remaining seven."
"Between the second and third stops on the tour, Ordino Arcalis, Andorra, will host the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships in the days leading up to the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics. Athletes primarily qualified based on their Freeride World Tour Ranking, with additional spots for wildcard athletes and continental quotas. Wildcard spots are typically reserved for athletes unable to qualify based on rankings because of injuries during the previous season."
Freeride World Tour 2026 begins mid-January in the Catalan Pyrenees and includes six stops, notably returning to Haines, Alaska, after nine years. Haines features steep spines, deep powder, and big-mountain faces; prior visits in 2015–2017 met unsuitable conditions despite extended weather windows. Fifty athletes will compete, twelve from the U.S.: three female and four male skiers, and one female and four male snowboarders; five are from Lake Tahoe, and seven represent Colorado, Montana, and Utah. Ordino Arcalis, Andorra, will host the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships between tour stops, with qualification based on Freeride World Tour rankings, wildcards, and continental quotas. Nineteen-year-old Kai Jones received a wildcard after breaking both legs in 2023 and returns after a March 2024 Alaska trip.
Read at SnowBrains
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