The Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5 selections bring the athlete roster to 66 out of 66 ahead of freeride’s historic World Championship debut in Andorra
14 riders qualified through NSA quotas (Group 3), allocated to nations with no qualified athletes (or only one in Ski Men) in Groups 1 & 2
Group 3 quotas were distributed based on the Nations Ranking, with each NSA selecting one eligible athlete per competition
4 wildcard entries (Group 4) were granted by FIS Freeride (one per competition) for media, injury, or national interest reasons
1 host nation wildcard (Group 5) was granted by the Andorran Ski Federation (FAE)
Verbier, Switzerland – October 17, 2025: The lineup is complete for the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships, set to take place in Andorra, in February 2026. Earlier this year, 47 riders earned their spots through Groups 1 and 2, based on FWT Pro Rankings and Continental quotas. With the announcement of Group 3 NSA Quota Riders, Group 4 Wildcards and Group 5 Host Nation Wildcard, the roster now includes 66 of the 66 total athletes who will compete for World Champion titles.
The FIS Freeride World Championships, launching in 2026 under the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), represent the pinnacle of freeride skiing and snowboarding competition. Unlike the Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance, which functions as a season-long circuit, the World Championships will crown official FIS Freeride World Champions in a single-event format. The inaugural edition will run from February 1–6, 2026, bringing the world’s top freeriders to the renowned and challenging terrain of Ordino Arcalís in the Pyrenees.
Groups 1 & 2 – FWT Pro Rankings and Continental Quotas
The first wave of qualified athletes for the 2026 FIS Freeride World Championships was determined through Groups 1 and 2, representing the top freeriders from the 2025 FWT season and the highest-ranked athletes from each continent.
Group 1 – FWT Pro Ranking:
The top-ranked riders from the 2025 FIS Freeride World Tour Pro standings earned direct qualification for the World Championships. All Group 1 athletes meet the official FIS eligibility criteria and were invited by FIS following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Should any athlete be unable to participate, their National Ski Association (NSA) is responsible for selecting a replacement within the same competition category.
Group 1 - Qualified riders:
Ski Men:
Valentin Rainer (AUT)
Martin Bender (SUI)
Weitien Ho (CAN)
Marcus Goguen (CAN)
Benjamin James Richards (NZL)
Oscar Mandin (FRA)
Virgile Didier (FRA)
Ross Tester (USA)
Toby Rafford (USA)
Tiemo Rolshoven (GER)
Abel Moga (ESP)
Carl Regnér Eriksson (SWE)
Ski Women:
Jenna Keller (SUI)
Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN)
Astrid Cheylus (FRA)
Lily Bradley (USA)
Molly Armanino (USA)
Lena Kohler (GER)
Snowboard Men:
Liam Rivera (SUI)
Jonathan Penfield (CAN)
Enzo Nilo (FRA)
Victor de Le Rue (FRA)
Holden Samuels (USA)
Cody Bramwell (GBR)
Snowboard Women:
Noémie Equy (FRA)
Michaela Davis-Meehan (AUS)
Núria Castán Barón (ESP)
Group 2 – Continental Quotas:
To ensure global representation, five continental quotas (Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America) were added to the start list. Each quota was awarded to the highest-ranked rider on the Qualifying Global Seeding List, excluding injured athletes with frozen points. All Group 2 athletes were personally allocated by FIS, in communication with their respective NSAs, which also oversee potential replacements if necessary.
Group 2 - Qualified riders:
Ski Men:
Kristofer Turdell (SWE)
Tenra Katsuno (JPN)
Fynn Powell (NZL)
Kelly Hilleke (USA)
Dante Ginaca (ARG)
Ski Women:
Zuzanna Witych (POL)
Chisato Sasada (JPN)
Zanna Farrell (AUS)
Wynter McBride (USA)
Agostina Vietti (ARG)
Snowboard Men:
Cesar Barin (FRA)
Asato Yoshida (JPN)
Conrad Niven (NZL)
Michael Mawn (USA)
Tomas Castelli (ARG)
Snowboard Women:
Anna Martinez (FRA)
Hana Kinoshita (JPN)
Briony Johnson (AUS)
Natalie Allport (CAN)
Isidora Assler Escala (CHI)
Together, Groups 1 and 2 account for 47 athletes, forming the core of the roster and representing the very best of the 2025 freeride season worldwide.
Group 3 - NSA Quotas: broadening global representation
14 riders have earned their place via National Ski Association quotas, granted to countries that do not already have qualified athletes (or only one in Ski Men) from Groups 1 and 2. These quotas were distributed based on a Nations Ranking, calculated using international results from the top 100 athletes in each discipline.
Each eligible NSA was invited to nominate one rider, who must meet FIS Freeride eligibility criteria. This system ensures increased global representation while maintaining the competition’s elite standards.
Group 3 - Qualified riders:
Ski Men:
Victor Hale-Woods (SUI)
Max Hitzig (GER)
Jacob Muller (AUT)
Jokin Ruiz de Larramendi (SPA)
Koga Hoshino (NOR)
Andreas Bakke (JAP)
Ski Women:
Elly Olsson (SWE)
Jessica Hotter (NZL)
Ulla Gilot (AUT)
Elisabet Marina (SPA)
Snowboard Men:
Vaughn Hardwick (AUS)
Timm Schröder (GER)
Pol Sabidó Juvé (SPA)
Snowboard Women:
Mia Jones (USA)
Group 4 - Wildcards: four athletes added to the lineup
Alongside the NSA Quota Riders, four wildcard athletes (one per discipline) have been awarded a place at the 2026 FIS Freeride World Championships. These Group 4 Wildcards are allocated directly by FIS Freeride to address needs such as injuries, media visibility, or national interest.
FIS Freeride confirmed the allocation of four wildcards, awarded to the following athletes:
Ski Men: Kai Jones (USA)
Ski Women: Manon Loschi (FRA)
Snowboard Men: Blake Moller (USA)
Snowboard Women: Marion Haerty (FRA)
All wildcard athletes must be members of a National Ski Association, and in the event of a withdrawal, FIS Freeride will designate a replacement, potentially from another nation.
Group 5 - Host Nation Wildcard: the final spot
The final and 66th rider spot comes through the Host Nation Wildcard, allocated by the Andorran Ski Federation (FAE). This final selection ensures representation for the host country and officially completes the lineup.
Ski Men: Joan Aracil (AND)
About the FIS Freeride World Championships Andorra 2026 by Mammut
Date: Weather window February 1–6, 2026, with one competition day selected for optimal conditions
Location: Ordino Arcalís, Andorra, a renowned freeride venue in the Pyrenees
Format: Four competitions: Ski Men, Ski Women, Snowboard Men, Snowboard Women / one run per athlete
Total athletes: 66 riders will compete
This landmark event marks the official integration of freeride skiing and snowboarding under the governance of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), establishing freeride as a globally recognized discipline.
About FIS
FIS is the worldwide governing body of snow sports. Since its foundation 100 years ago, FIS has been working alongside the National Ski Associations – currently, 137 of them – to grow and develop ski and snowboard across all levels: from grassroots to elite competition. Our commitment to snow sports goes hand in hand with our mission of reducing environmental impact and using the power of sport to spread awareness about climate change. For more information, visit fis-ski.com and contact us at communications@fis-ski.com.
About Ordino Arcalís Andorra
Founded in 1983 by the residents of the parish of Ordino, the ski resort has become a benchmark for mountain sports enthusiasts over the past forty years. In addition to its 30 km of slopes, it boasts extensive off-piste terrain ideal for freeride skiing, a key reason why it has been a host venue for the Freeride World Tour for nearly a decade. Ordino Arcalís also offers activities for all types of visitors, from the longest green slope in the Pyrenees to challenging runs perfect for expert skiers.
Since 2018, Ordino Arcalís has been part of the Grandvalira Resorts Andorra group, which also welcomed Pal Arinsal in the 22-23 season. Together, Andorra’s ski resorts offer access to a total of 308 km of slopes and are well-accustomed to hosting major sporting events, such as the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals, Ski Mountaineering World Cups, and Mountain Bike World Championships, among others.
About Mammut
Mammut is a Swiss outdoor company founded in 1862 that offers mountain sports enthusiasts worldwide high-quality products and unique brand experiences. For 160 years, the world's leading mountain sports brand has stood for safety and pioneering innovation. Mammut products combine functionality and performance with contemporary design. With its combination of hard goods, footwear, and clothing, Mammut is one of the complete suppliers in the outdoor market. Mammut Sports Group AG is active in around 40 countries and employs approx. 850 people.
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