The FIS Freeride World Tour (FWT) 2026 brought an unforgettable season to a close with the 30th edition of the legendary YETI Xtreme Verbier. Against an unbeatable backdrop, with 50 cm of fresh snow and glorious sunshine, the Bec des Rosses once again demonstrated why it is the most demanding and prestigious face in world freeriding, crowning new legends and cementing records that seemed unbeatable.
Victor de Le Rue: A five-star legend
The star of the day was French rider Victor de Le Rue from Saint-Lary, who made history by becoming the first snowboarder to win five FWT world titles. De Le Rue, who had already equalled the record of four titles last season, secured his fifth crown following a masterful performance in which he landed a huge backflip in an extremely challenging ‘no-fall’ zone, followed by a flawless backside 360. Although he finished second in the event with 75 points, his consistency throughout the circuit secured him the overall title.
Victory in the snowboard event went to local hero Liam Rivera. A product of the Verbier Freeride Team, Rivera thrilled the crowd with a high-risk run that earned him 96 points – the highest score ever recorded in the men’s snowboard category in the history of the competition.
Ben Richards and his mastery of the ‘triple’ in skiing
In the Men’s Ski category, New Zealander Ben Richards capped off a perfect season. By winning at Verbier with a technical run that included a massive 360 on an exposed section and a high-speed transfer, Richards achieved a historic hat-trick: victory at Xtreme Verbier, FIS World Champion and 2026 FWT Champion. Richards had previously dominated at Baqueira Beret and Val Thorens.
For his part, Spain’s Abel Moga once again earned the respect of the circuit. The rider from Baqueira Beret chose the steepest line of the day, executing a double cutback and a backflip without pause. With a score of over 80 points, Moga secured a creditable 8th place in the event, finishing 11th in the overall standings.
The Year of the Rookies: Lou Barin and Mia Jones
The women’s categories saw the meteoric rise of two newcomers who dominated the Bec des Rosses with the poise of seasoned veterans:
Lou Barin (Women’s Ski): The former French freestyle rider overcame her initial fear of the imposing mountain to claim both victory in the event and the world title in her rookie year. Her run, which earned 95 points, included two technical 360s that made all the difference.
Mia Jones (Snowboard Women): The American not only won in Verbier and claimed the world title on her debut, but also completed an epic family legacy. She is the daughter of legend Jeremy Jones, who won on this very face in 2004, becoming the first father-daughter duo to conquer the Bec des Rosses.
Three decades shaping freeride
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Verbier Xtreme, an event which, since its creation in 1996 by Nicolas Hale-Woods, has evolved from a local snowboarding event to the pinnacle of the sport, now under the umbrella of the FIS. Resilience has been the key to 2026, a season marked by the cancellation of two previous events but which has culminated in a world-class spectacle that secures the future of freeride.
YETI Xtreme Verbier 2026 results:
Snowboard Men: 1. Liam Rivera (SUI), 2. Victor de Le Rue (FRA), 3. César Barin (FRA).
Ski Men: 1. Ben Richards (NZL), 2. Toby Rafford (USA), 3. Tiemo Rolshoven (GER).
Ski Women: 1. Lou Barin (FRA), 2. Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN), 3. Sybille Blanjean (SUI).
Snowboard Women: 1. Mia Jones (USA), 2. Anna Martinez (FRA), 3. Michaela Davis-Meehan (AUS).
