Athlete Lineup Revealed for 2027 Freeride World Tour
8th October 2026
Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance 2027 roster revealed. A new generation rises as freeride’s elite athletes prepared for a competitive season. NEW
As freeride enters its Olympic era, the 2027 season brings together the sport’s established stars, emerging youngbloods and returning contenders for one of the most anticipated seasons yet.
British snowboarder Cody Bramwell gets a wildcard in the snowboard men.
- 53 riders including 29 qualified riders from last season and 11 rookies will showcase their skills as they compete for the 2027 title.
- Former 2022 reigning Champions Maxime Chabloz (SUI) and Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA) returns in the roster, as well as 2023 champion Katie Anderson (CAN).
- Victor de Le Rue (FRA) comes back with his sights set on breaking his own record as a five-time FWT Champion.
- 5 athletes received their 2027 Season Wildcards, Max Palm (SWE), Astrid Cheylus (FRA), Zuzanna Witych (POL), Martin Bender (SUI) and Cody Bramwell (GBR).
The new season comes with a fresh wave of talent ready to shake things up.
The world’s best freeriders are lining up once again, but they will have to watch their backs as 11 unique riders are coming in hot.
After battling their way through the FWT Challenger events, these rising and returning stars have earned their place among the world’s elite and they are not here to play it safe.
Last season proved that the next generation has what it takes to challenge the established order.
In fact, 13 rookies made their way to Verbier.
But taking the throne won’t be easy as the reigning and 8 former FWT Champions are lining up in the roster, adding even more pressure to an upcoming fierce battle.
The mountains are waiting and only four new Champions can stand on top.
FWT at Verbier. Image c/o @freerideworldtour + LLoye.
Ski Men: Proven winners, rising threats and everything to fight for
Ben Richards (NZL) owned the 2026 season.
From claiming the FWT overall title to becoming World Champion, the smoothest man on skis left the competition chasing his tracks.
But in 2027, the target is firmly on his back.
This year’s category gathers four former FWT champions, just as Marcus Goguen (CAN) comes for his crown, hungry to reclaim the title he once held.
Respectively second and third last season, Toby Rafford (USA) and Ross Tester (USA) are ready to push their limits, and the boundaries of what’s possible, to fight their way onto the top step of the podium.
The battle of the Maxes is also set to ignite the Ski Men category.
With both Maxime Chabloz (SUI), returning from the Challenger, and Max Hitzig (GER) bringing serious experience and proven skills to the table, the question is simple: which Max will come out on top?
This year’s wildcards, Martin Bender (SUI) and Max Palm (SWE) are set to make their return to the FWT stage and shake things up from the very first run.
Ski Men – Qualified riders:
Ben Richards (NZL) – Reigning FWT Champion and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion
Max Hitzig (GER) – 2024 FWT Champion
WeiTien Ho (CAN)
Marcus Goguen (CAN) – 2025 FWT Champion
Joey Leonardo (USA)
Victor Hale-Woods (SUI)
Abel Moga (SPA)
Fynn Powell (NZL)
Jack Kolesch (CAN)
Simon Zwischenbrugger (AUT) – Rookie
Noah Peizerat (FRA) – Rookie
Maxime Chabloz (SUI) – 2022 FWT Champion
Kane Gascoigne (CAN) – Rookie
Kai Morgan (USA) – Rookie
Nathan Pruzan (USA) – Rookie
Tyler Curle (USA) – Rookie
Martin Bender (SUI) – Wildcard
Max Palm (SWE) – Wildcard
Freeride World Tour. Image c/o @freerideworldtour+ D.DAHER.
Ski Women: No clear favorite in a wide-open possibilities category
The 2027 Ski Women roster brings together proven winners, fearless newcomers and athletes ready for their next breakthrough.
Leading the field is defending FWT Champion Lou Barin (FRA), returning after a breakthrough rookie season that saw her claim the title on the Bec des Rosses.
After last season’s unexpected scenario, everyone can stand a chance, including Sybille Blanjean (SUI) ranked second overall, followed by one of the most experienced and decorated skiers in the women’s field, Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN).
The Champions had better watch out, the rookies are coming.
The one to watch is Mila de Le Rue (FRA).
She emerged from the Challenger series alongside Hannah Baldwin (USA) and Mia McNab (FRA).
As Victor de Le Rue’s niece, Mila carries a familiar name into the sport, but she is here to carve out a story entirely her own in the ski women category.
Astrid Cheylus (FRA) and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion Zuzanna Witych (POL) got offered a Season Wildcard to make the cut in 2027.
Ski Women podium at the 2026 Baqueira Beret Pro. Image © FWT/ D Daher
Ski Women – Qualified riders:
Lou Barin (FRA) – Reigning FWT Champion
Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) – 2023 and 2025 FWT Champion
Zoé Delzoppo (FRA)
Agostina Vietti (ARG)
Wynter McBride (USA)
Mia McNab (FRA) – Rookie
Mila de Le Rue (FRA) – Rookie
Hannah Baldwin (USA) – Rookie
Astrid Cheylus (FRA) – Wildcard
Zuzanna Witych (POL) – Wildcard and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion
FWT at Baqueira Beret. Image © @freerideworldtour +JBernard.
Snowboard Men: Can the reigning Champion do it again?
Could 2027 mark another season of supremacy for Victor de Le Rue (FRA) as he hunts a sixth world title?
With five titles already to his name and three straight crowns from 2024–2026, he enters the season as an incredible force in an increasingly competitive FWT roster.
Hot on his heels, Sacha Balicco (FRA) returns with momentum after being named 2026 Rookie of the Year, while 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion Liam Rivera (SUI) and rising talent César Barin (FRA) add even more firepower to an increasingly competitive field.
Kealan Venning (IRL) and Johnny Duty (USA) join the FWT roster with plenty to prove, while Timm Schroder (GER) returns with a wealth of experience.
Alongside returning contender and 2027 Wildcard, Cody Bramwell (GBR), set the stage for a season full of potential surprises.
Snowboard Men – Qualified riders:
Victor de Le Rue (FRA) – Reigning FWT Champion
Liam Rivera (SUI) – 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion
Sacha Balicco (FRA)
Enzo Nilo (FRA)
César Barin (FRA)
Shayne Blue Sandblom (USA)
Holden Samuels (USA)
Johnny Duty (USA) – Rookie
Kealan Venning (IRL) – Rookie
Cody Bramwell (GBR) – Wildcard
GB’s Cody Bramwell. Image © PlanetSKI
Snowboard Women: The rookie reign is over
We started last season asking who could match Noémie Equy (FRA)’s rookie-season breakout.
Mia Jones (USA) didn’t just match it, she surpassed all expectations, powering through the competition to claim the title in seemingly effortless fashion.
But the tornado may face a storm of its own, with French riders Anna Martinez (FRA) and Noémie Equy (FRA) ready to stop it in its tracks, while Australia’s Michaela Davis-Meehan (AUS) brings a twist to the fight.
As 2027 comes in hot, the Snowboard Women category stands out with no rookies entering the field.
Instead, a fresh breeze of déjà vu is also set to sweep through the 2027 Tour, with two former Champions Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA) and Katie Anderson (CAN) returning alongside Audrey Hebert (CAN).
For three straight seasons, a rookie has stormed to the crown.
With no newcomers in the mix this time, that streak is guaranteed to end.
But who will rise above the pressure and seize the top spot?
Snowboard Women – Qualified riders:
Mia Jones (USA) – Reigning FWT Champion and 2026 FIS Freeride World Champion
Noémie Equy (FRA) – 2025 FWT Champion
Katie Anderson (CAN) – 2023 FWT Champion
Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA) – 2022 FWT Champion
Mia Jones, Snowboard women winner at the 2026 Baqueira Beret FWT. Image © PlanetSKI
With champions to chase, rookies ready to disrupt and no shortage of contenders hungry for the top step, the new season has all the ingredients for a full-throttle fight from start to finish.
Next up: the 2027 FWT calendar.
The names are locked in, now all eyes turn to the mountains, where the season’s battlegrounds are about to be revealed.
Stay connected for updates on the 2027 season at www.freerideworldtour.com and follow on social media for all the latest news.
PlanetSKI Reports on FWT:
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel at the 2026 Baqueira Beret FWT. Image © PlanetSKI
About FWT
FWT Management SA is based in Verbier, Switzerland, and has been organizing premier sports events globally in mountain resorts since 1996.
The company founded the Xtreme Verbier, an iconic event in freeride skiing and snowboarding and, in 2008, it turned this single competition into a prestigious series of worldwide events, called the Freeride World Tour (FWT).
The company has since grown to include multiple competition series that fall under the FWT brand – including FWT Challenger, FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior – with events across all formats taking place in Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
Since December 2022, FWT is part of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Discover more at www.freerideworldtour.com
About Peak Performance
Born in the Swedish mountain resort of Åre out of a love for skiing, Peak Performance designs outerwear and apparel with one purpose: to bring the freeride spirit to the world.
Its products are designed with style at the forefront and technicality at the core, to empower the adventurous and equip them to follow their own line.
For more information, please visit www.peakperformance.com
Baqueira Beret Pro 2026. Image © FWT/J Bernard
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