2027 FWT Challenger Region 1 Calendar and Roster announcement: Six European stages bringing together the next best generation in freeride

The Freeride World Tour (FWT) is delighted to reveal the 2027 FWT Challenger Region 1 calendar and athlete roster. The circuit is the final proving ground for athletes aiming to qualify for the prestigious FWT 2028.

● 6 events across iconic freeride destinations in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France

● 62 riders set to compete in Region 1, only 9 athletes will qualify for the FWT 2028

● 10 athletes coming from the 2026 FWT Pro will fight to qualify to get back to the top competition circuit

Spanning six stops across two competitive regions, the Challenger series is a crucial stepping stone for emerging talent and a second chance for established riders determined to reclaim their spot among the sport's elite.

Recap of the competition format

Now in its third year under the updated format, the FWT Challenger continues to prove its value, delivering strong competition and a clearer pathway to the FWT Pro level. The two-region structure ensures accessibility, and fosters deeper regional rivalries.

● Region 1 (Europe-Asia-Oceania): Six events from January through April. Riders’ best four results count toward their final ranking.

Each region will host approximately 60–80 riders, including top finishers from the FWT Qualifier Series and FWT Pro Tour athletes who missed the 2026 Cut, all vying for limited spots on the FWT 2028 roster.

Only the very best will make the jump:

● Top 4 Ski Men

● Top 2 Ski Women

● Top 2 Snowboard Men

● Top 1 Snowboard Woman per Region will qualify for the FWT 2028.

An additional Snowboard Woman may also be selected at the discretion of the organization, based on performance and potential.

In addition, FWT riders who do not make the 2027 FWT Pro Cut will be invited to compete in the Challenger Series for the rest of the season. They can choose to join the remaining Challenger events, with their Pro results carried over into the Challenger rankings, or save their spot for the following season. If they choose to defer, they will automatically be placed at the top of the Challenger Qualifying Ranking.

2027 FWT Challenger Region 1: Roster Overview

Former FWT Champions, ambitious newcomers and seasoned competitors make up a stacked Region 1 field, setting the scene for a fiercely contested season. With its growing depth and increasingly high level of riding, the Challenger Series has established itself as a true battleground, where the intensity and standards come closer than ever to those of the FWT Pro Tour.

Ski Men

From returning riders to former FWT Champions, the Ski Men category is packed with exciting action. Having missed out on making the Cut during last season’s Pro Tour, Paul de Pourtalès (SUI), Virgile Didier (FRA) and Oscar Mandin (FRA) are back in force. Adding another layer of intensity to the mix, former FWT Champion Valentin Rainer (AUT) will push the younger generation to their limits, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.

Qualified riders:

• Paul de Pourtalès (SUI) FWT 2026 rider

• Virgile Didier (FRA) FWT 2026 rider

• Oscar Mandin (FRA) FWT 2026 rider

• Valentin Rainer (AUT) FWT 2023 Champion

• Nemo Plagne (FRA)

• Alex Hackel (USA)

• Arno Vuarnier (SUI)

• Alex Williams (SUI)

• Noé Vouillamoz (SUI)

• Johan Bachofner (SUI)

• Gabin Siau (FRA)

• Mathys Fornasier (FRA) FWT 2025 rider

• Mickaël Bimboes (FRA) FWT 2019 rider

• Xavier Scherwey (SUI)

• Paul Dentan (SUI)

• Arnaud Reymond (SUI)

• Jonathan Hauss (AUT)

• Lach Powell (NZL)

• Ben Buratti (FRA)

• Max Zimmermann (GER)

• Macéo di Giorgio (FRA)

• Tenra Katsuno (JPN) FWT 2025 rider

• Simeon Pavlov (BUL)

• Federico de Michiel (ITA)

• Andreas Bakke (NOR)

Ski Women

The Ski Women category is set for a generational battle, bringing together 2025 YETI Xtreme Verbier by Honda winner Jenna Keller (SUI) and two-time Freeride Junior World Champion Jana Hausl (AUT). The roster promises an exciting mix of experience and emerging talent, with rising riders ready to challenge established names and stand out on the Challenger circuit.

Qualified riders :

• Jenna Keller (SUI) FWT 2026 rider

• Eva Battolla (SUI)

• Zanna Farrell (AUS)

• Maria Castellví Bono (ESP)

• Léa Chapuis (FRA)

• Elly Olsson (SWE)

• Elisabet Marina (ESP)

• Elfy Rouiller (SUI)

• Kelly Berthon (FRA)

• Lucinda Laird (AUS)

• Ingrid Walhberg (SWE)

• Jessie Violet (NZL)

• Vilde Fimreite (NOR)

• Jana Hausl (AUT) 2x Freeride Junior World Champion

Snowboard Men

The Snowboard Men field brings together young and experienced riders ready to grab the top spot. Leading the pack is Kea Chretien (FRA), a three-time Freeride Junior World Champion, alongside former FWT rider Rémi Benamo (SUI). The category is shaping up for a fiercely competitive season, where experience and the next generation will go head-to-head.

Qualified riders :

• Rémi Benamo (SUI) FWT 2026 rider

• Nicolas Huber (SUI)

• Vaughn Hardwick (AUS)

• Kéa Chretien (FRA) 3x Freeride Junior World Champion

• Gabin Bouzanne (FRA)

• Marc Robert (SUI)

• Pol Sabidó Juvé (ESP)

• James Veitch (GBR)

• Arvid Gustavsson (SWE)

• Fabian Knozinger (GER)

• Cédric Giraudeau (FRA)

• Hugo Serra (FRA) FWT 2024 rider

• Leon Vockensperger (GER)

Snowboard Women

The season is set to be an exciting one, with two former Pro Tour riders completing the line-up. Sarah Bacher (AUT) and Núria Castán Barón (ESP) return to the Challenger circuit with plenty to prove and a place back among the elite in their sights. But with a strong field of women eager to make it to the highest level of competition, the 2027 Challenger series is set to be fierce from the very first stop.

Qualified riders :

• Sarah Bacher (AUT) FWT 2026 rider

• Núria Castán Barón (ESP) FWT 2026 rider

• Gosia Śniegórska (POL)

• Giulia Bottazzin (ITA)

• Celina Weber (GER)

• Elly Dalton-Richard (FRA) 2026 Freeride Junior World Champion

• Briony Johnson (AUS)

• Leire Pérez Saeta (ESP)

• Dora Kuentz (FRA)

• Sayaka Kato (JPN)

2027 FWT Challenger Region 1: Calendar overview

Crossing four European freeride nations, the 2027 Region 1 tour will feature six stops, with a diverse selection of mountain venues, each defined by its own terrain and riding challenges. Every stop brings a new playground and another opportunity to collect valuable results on the road to the FWT Pro Tour.

Stop 1: Open Faces Silvretta-Montafon Challenger, Austria - January 26–29, 2027

Back for its third year, this Vorarlberg venue boasts diverse alpine terrain: exposed ridgelines, wide powder fields, and steep technical zones, set in one of Austria’s most scenic valleys.

Stop 2: Nendaz Freeride Challenger, Switzerland - February 27 – March 2, 2027

In the heart of the 4 Vallées, Nendaz’s big-mountain terrain and ever-changing snow conditions make it a vital test of adaptability and line choice for all riders.

Stop 3: X Over Ride Kitzsteinhorn Challenger, Austria - March 12–15, 2027

A legendary glacier venue offering everything from powder bowls to narrow couloirs. With reliable snow and 3,000-meter summits, it’s a highlight of the Challenger season.

Stop 4: Monterosa Freeride Paradise Challenger, Italy - March 19–22, 2027

Surrounded by the towering Monte Rosa massif, this stop features high-altitude ridges, steep bowls, and technical chutes, demanding strategy and skill from every rider.

Stop 5: Le Sauze South Line Series Challenger, France - March 27–30, 2027

Le Sauze brings the soul of French freeride into the Challenger mix. Its dynamic terrain and vibrant freeride culture make this a thrilling stop to the Region 1 season.

Stop 6: Open Faces Obertauern Challenger, Austria - April 5–8, 2027

Now a Challenger staple, Obertauern delivers a potent mix of consistent snow, complex lines, and big drops, ideal for a high-drama finale.

Don’t miss a moment

Follow the full roster of FWT Challenger freeriders throughout the 2027 season at www.freerideworldtour.com and on social media channels. Stay tuned for updates on Region 2 Calendar and Roster, and catch the action at www.freerideworldtour.com.

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