FIS Freeride World Championships Officially Announced In Andorra For 2026
The inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships is set to take place in Andorra in February 2026. This event reinforces the official integration of freeride skiing and snowboarding under the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), solidifying its status as a globally recognized discipline.
- Dates: A weather window from February 1–6, 2026, with the competition day chosen within this period to ensure optimal conditions.
- Location: Ordino Arcalís, Andorra, renowned for its challenging freeride terrain in the Pyrenees.
- Format: Four competitions: Ski Men, Ski Women, Snowboard Men, and Snowboard Women, with one run per athlete to crown World Champions.
- Qualification: May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025, through FWT Pro, FWT Challenger, FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior series, plus national quotas.
The Championships will feature 67 of the world’s top freeriders, competing in one run across four competitions: Ski Men, Ski Women, Snowboard Men, and Snowboard Women. The competition day will be selected within a six-day weather window (February 1–6, 2026) to ensure the best possible conditions for a fair and safe competition.
Qualification: A Rigorous Path to the To
The qualification process ensures that the world’s top freeride athletes have the opportunity to compete while guaranteeing diverse representation from nations around the globe. Athletes will qualify through one of five groups:
- FWT Pro Ranking: Athletes qualify based on the FWT Pro Ranking 2025, which is determined by their best four results out of six events (or less depending on cancellations).
- Continental Quotas: One qualification quota per competition is allocated to each of the following five regions: Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America—awarded to the highest-ranked athlete from each region on the Qualifying Global Seeding List.
- NSA Quotas: Additional spots are allocated to National Ski Associations (NSAs) based on the Nations Ranking, provided they have limited or no athletes already qualified through earlier categories.
- Wildcards: FIS Freeride allocates one wildcard per competition to address special cases such as injuries, media relevance, or national interest.
- Host Nation Wildcard: One wildcard across the four competitions is granted by the host NSA to a local athlete, who must meet all eligibility criteria and hold citizenship of the host nation.
The qualification period runs from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. Results from the FWT Pro, Challenger, and Qualifier series—as well as Junior events—will contribute to the Qualifying Global Seeding List, which determines athletes and nations rankings. Athletes at the top of this list and those with standout performances in specific regions will secure their places in Andorra. Each National Ski Association (NSA) can send a maximum of 12 athletes (excluding Wildcards), with a quota of up to 3 athletes per competition category. The full roster of qualified athletes will be published on September 16, 2025, following the conclusion of the qualification process.
Event Format
The FIS Freeride World Championships will take place over a single day. Athletes in Ski Men, Ski Women, Snowboard Men, and Snowboard Women competitions will have one run to showcase their skill, creativity, and precision on challenging terrain. Riders begin at a designated start gate and navigate to the finish line, selecting their own line through natural obstacles along the way.
Judges will score each run based on five criteria: line choice, control, fluidity, technique, and air & style. With no room for error, this high-stakes format demands peak performance under pressure, as athletes compete for the prestigious World Champion title.
“This is a defining moment for freeride skiing and snowboarding. The FIS Freeride World Championships represents the pinnacle of our sport, bringing together the best athletes from around the globe to compete for the ultimate title. Andorra’s stunning terrain provides the perfect stage for this historic event, and we’re excited to showcase freeride at its finest.” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, FWT Founder and CEO
“When bringing Freeride into FIS, our intention has always been very clear: to immediately help position it as a world-class, full-fledged discipline. The inception of the FIS Freeride World Championships is a major step in that direction and a testament to the diligent work of our Freeride Working Group. This work now continues with an even more ambitious goal: the Olympic Winter Games in 2030.” added Michel Vion, FIS Secretary General
“It is a great honor for Andorra to make history by hosting the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships. This milestone reflects our deep commitment to freeride, a sport that is embedded in the DNA of Ordino Arcalís and Andorra. Over the years, this dedication has established us as one of the world’s premier freeride destinations. We are particularly excited about the opportunities this historic step will create for young athletes. It will open new doors for them to pursue freeride professionally while balancing their academic and athletic aspirations, much like in other ski disciplines. We feel immensely proud to contribute to the growth of freeride on a global scale and to inspire the next generation through this event.” David Ledesma Torres, Marketing Director, Grandvalira Resorts agreed
Patrick Toussaint, Vice-President of the Andorran Ski Federation waa delighted “Hosting the first-ever Freeride World Championships organized by the FIS in Ordino Arcalís is very important to us. At the Andorran Ski Federation, we continue to provide full support to all major skiing events worldwide, and it is a significant milestone to host this inaugural global championship after all these years of welcoming Freeride World Tour events in Andorra.”
“When we were offered the opportunity to host the first FIS Freeride World Championships, we didn’t hesitate: this opportunity represents much more than hosting a sporting competition. It is also a platform to showcase Andorra to the world, to confirm that we are capable of hosting top-level sporting events, and at the same time, to highlight our identity, heritage, and natural treasures.” concluded Jordi Torres, Minister of Tourism and Commerce of the Gouvernment of Andorra
What to Expect
With freeride becoming increasingly popular globally, the FIS Freeride World Championships Andorra 2026 aims to captivate audiences with breathtaking performances, unrivaled athleticism, and the majestic backdrop of Andorra’s Pyrenean mountains. All eyes will be on the athletes as they take freeride skiing and snowboarding to the next level.
