PlanetSKI is in France for the Freeride World Tour

28th January 2025 | Jane Peel, Val Thorens, France

Last modified on January 29th, 2025

Skiers and snowboarders launching themselves off precipitous rocks.

Maybe throwing a backflip or some other impressive trick.

Landing on steep, hopefully powdery, terrain.

It’s the stuff of dreams for the world’s top freeriders as they aim to impress the judges with their line, control, technique, fluidity, air and style.

The stuff of nightmares for most of us.

The Freeride World Tour – FWT for short – has come to Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens, for the very first time.

And it’s making a very long-awaited return to France.

PlanetSKI has been invited along to the Val Thorens Pro, the second stop on the 2025 FWT.

FWT Media Accreditation. Image © PlanetSKI

On my first morning in resort, it’s a perfect bluebird day with around 15 to 20cm of fresh snow having fallen overnight.

The omens are good for the FWT.

Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Even some of the pistes have several centimetres of powder on them.

Powder on a red run in Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Along with a posse of fellow journalists, I am taken to inspect the competition face.

It takes us around 45 minutes to ski over to Cime Caron.

The direct route is impossible following an accident in November that put the cable car out of action for the winter.

• Val Thorens Cable Car Out of Action for Whole Season

Finally, we arrive, at 3,105 metres.

With Val Thorens visible in the distance, the competition face is, I am told, down there, just below where I’m standing.

I’m not that keen to look.

At Cime Caron, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

Some of the others scope it out.

Inspecting the Cime Caron face in Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

As we ski back – via a conventional route – our ESF guide, Arthur, points out the drop-in zone we’ve just left.

Looking towards the Cime Caron freeride face in Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

And here’s the whole face.

Cime Caron, Val Thorens. Image © Júlia Miralles

By this stage, we know that the competition will not take place the next day – Monday – as we originally hoped.

Forecast snow, high winds and poor visibility for the next couple of days, push it back to Wednesday at the earliest.

But the opening ceremony goes ahead in Val Thorens on Sunday night, as planned, before a large crowd.

Freeride World Tour, Val Thorens, Opening Ceremony. Image © PlanetSKI

Freeride World Tour Val Thorens opening ceremony. Image © PlanetSKI

Freeride World Tour, Val Thorens, Opening Ceremony. Image © PlanetSKI

On Monday morning, it’s announced that the competition will take place on Wednesday.

On the Lac Noir face.

I beg your pardon? Not Cime Caron?

No.

And where is Lac Noir?

In Les Menuires.

So the Val Thorens Pro will not be in Val Thorens?

It seems not.

Oh well, never mind. Les Menuires is just next door, shares a home in the Belleville Valley with Val Thorens and both resorts are part of the world’s largest ski area, the Les3Vallées.

The change has been made to provide the best conditions for the athletes.

“After days of scouting with our team and local mountain guides, we’ve determined that Lac Noir is the perfect fit right now,” the FWT announces.

Sadly, I can’t check it out for myself as the forecast high winds have closed the lift that I’d need to take to get back to my base in VT.

Instead, I’m provided with photos showing Lac Noir in all its glory.

The face is huge, giving the riders numerous options for possible lines.

Lac Noir, Les Menuires. Image © Freeride World Tour

Lac Noir, Les Menuires. Image © Freeride World Tour

The summit of Lac Noir is at 2,500 metres and the finish line will be at 2,010m.

The average steepness is 37 degrees with a maximum pitch of 43 degrees.

“Rollovers and terrain transitions create moments of difficulty, requiring precise navigation and control,” says the official blurb.

“Starting with an immediate jump off the ridge, competitors will have to bring their A-game from the very first moment.

“For snowboarders, the conditions are particularly thrilling and many have expressed their excitement about leading the competition on this face.”

One of the snowboarders who’ll be dropping in is Cody Bramwell.

He’s the only British athlete and has been given a wildcard entry.

GB’s Cody Bramwell. Image © PlanetSKI

Cody has had some success on the Freeride World Tour.

His best results include a win in Andorra in 2021, 2nd in Fieberbrunn in 2022 and 3rd place overall in both 2021 and 2022.

He spoke to PlanetSKI ahead of this week’s competition.

Here’s Cody’s winning running in Andorra in 2021.

THE COMPETITION

The Val Thorens Pro went ahead on the morning of Wednesday 29th January.

More than 40 male and female skiers and snowboarders competed.

There was bright sunshine and deep, deep powder which produced some exceptional riding.

Val Thorens Pro. Image © J Bernard/Freeride World Tour

Val Thorens Pro. Image © J Bernard/Freeride World Tour

French athletes dominated the podium on home snow.

The winners were:

• Snowboard Men – Enzo Nilo (France)
• Snowboard Women – Marion Haerty (France)
• Ski Men – Martin Bender (Switzerland)
• Ski Women – Astrid Cheylus (France)

Val Thorens Pro. Image © J Bernard/Freeride World Tour

Cody Bramwell finished 7th in Snowboard Men.

If you missed it, you can watch the whole thing on replay below.

The drop-in order was ski men, ski women, snowboard women, snowboard men.

The 2025 FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance has 5 stops followed by a final in Verbier at the end of March for the riders who score highly enough to make the cut.  Their best 3 results from the 5 events count.

Next up, the Freeride World Tour heads to Kicking Horse, Canada.

HEADLINE PHOTO:  © J Bernard/Freeride World Tour

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