• Basser Negre offers a magnificent setting for the premiere of the FIS Freeride World Championships, with exceptional snow conditions.
    • Liam Rivera (SUI), Mia Jones (USA), Ben Richards (NZL) and Zuzanna Witych (POL) make history in world freeriding
    • Podium finish for Núria Castán Barón and a top-level performance from Joan Aracil, hampered by a fall at the end

Last Tuesday was a landmark day for freeriding: freeriding now has its own World Champions.

The premiere of the Allianz FIS Freeride World Championships 2026 by Mammut brought together, for the first time under the FIS umbrella, the world’s elite freeride skiers and snowboarders on the same slope: the imposing Basser Negre (2,687 m) in Ordino.

Heavy snowfall in recent hours – more than 30 cm overnight – has left the terrain in optimal condition. After a cloudy morning, the competition was able to start at 1:00 p.m., with sufficient visibility and deep, challenging snow.

The atmosphere at the finish line was worthy of such a historic moment: an enthusiastic crowd, flags, contained excitement and a shared feeling of witnessing the dawn of a new era for freeriding.

The performance of the Spanish riders in these World Championships also confirms the excellent form of Spanish freeriding this season. After the high level shown weeks ago in the Freeride World Tour in Baqueira Beret 2026, where the Spanish representatives already showed clear signs of ambition, technical solidity and competitive maturity, the team once again performed at a high level on the world stage and on extremely demanding terrain.

Liam Rivera signs the first gold page for Switzerland in men’s snowboarding

Liam Rivera (SUI) was the star of the show in the men’s snowboard event. With a solid and fluid run, the Swiss rider combined his reading of the terrain, control in rocky areas and a powerful final double trick to earn 84.33 points and the first world title in history in this discipline.

“Becoming the first FIS World Champion is a dream come true. Today, all I could think about was nailing the run. This victory belongs to my entire team.” – Liam Rivera

Victor de Le Rue (FRA), last to start and under maximum pressure, responded with an aggressive line and a textbook opening 360 that secured him second place (80.00). American Michael Mawn completed the podium after a committed and very clean run, scoring 69.00 points in a performance that was as brief as it was memorable.

Mia Jones confirms her dominance and Núria Castán shines once again in the Pyrenees in women’s snowboarding

Mia Jones (USA) has once again demonstrated why she is one of the biggest sensations in freeriding today. With a decisive entry at the top, consistent speed and absolute control on extreme slopes, the American took gold with 84.00 points.

France’s Noémie Equy came second (81.33), while Núria Castán Barón (ESP) once again delivered one of those runs that connect with the audience: direct line, technical difficulty and solidity, to earn herself a well-deserved bronze medal (79.00).

Ben Richards dazzles and gives New Zealand its first world gold medal in men’s skiing

Ben Richards (NZL) delivered one of the most complete runs of the day. Technique, speed, amplitude and absolute control in a line that bordered on perfection and earned him the highest score of the championship: 91.67 points.

“I still can’t quite take it in. Representing New Zealand in this way is a huge honour.” – Ben Richards

France’s Ugo Troubat came second (86.00), while young Kai Jones (USA) completed the podium with 76.67 points, sharing the spotlight with his cousin Mia Jones on a historic day for the family.

Abel Moga finished in eighth place (68 points) after a very committed run that bore the hallmarks of the rider from Aran. The Spaniard chose to descend a narrow, rocky corridor, finally crowning his performance with a tremendous, perfectly executed backflip.

Zuzanna Witych makes history for Poland in women’s skiing

The women’s skiing event had to be interrupted due to poor visibility, but as the regulatory threshold for completed runs had been exceeded, the results were validated.

“Representing my country and winning here is something I will never forget.” – Zuzanna Witych

Zuzanna Witych (POL) managed the increasingly complex conditions better than anyone else, delivering a smart and powerful run that earned her 80.33 points and the world title. Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) was second (76.33) and Molly Armanino (USA) completed the podium.

France tops the Nations Ranking

In addition to the individual crowns, these first FIS Freeride World Championships served as the debut stage for the Nations Ranking, a format that focuses on collective performance and the strength of national teams across all disciplines.

The scoring system took into account the top five finishers in each category, awarding progressive points based on final position. This approach rewards not only medals, but also consistency, team depth and the ability to place riders at the top of the rankings, even in demanding conditions and on high mountain terrain such as Basser Negre.

In this context, France has been the most consistent nation in the championship. Beyond the podiums, the French team has demonstrated a constant presence in the finals, with riders capable of taking risks, reading the terrain intelligently and maintaining a high technical level in all categories. This confirms the structural work that the country has been developing for years in freeriding, from the grassroots to the international elite.

The United States finished in second place, thanks to some impressive performances – particularly in snowboarding and women’s skiing – and a new generation of riders who combine creativity, power and a clear culture of competitive freeriding. Canada, meanwhile, rounded off the podium thanks to its technical strength and the experience of its representatives in high mountain settings.