Freeride World Tour Week elevates athlete pathways and community
Published Tue 29 Jul 2025
Photos courtesy Chris Hocking
There was something on offer for everyone during Freeride World Tour (FWT) Week at Mount Hotham, with the inaugural Freeride FUTURES program providing a major highlight. Designed to complement the on-snow Freeride World Tour Qualifier, the week offered a range of activities that supported athlete development and strengthened the broader freeride community.
The Freeride World Tour Qualifier ran across two action-packed days, with the Snowboard division on Thursday and the Freeski competition on Friday. Athletes took on technical terrain under challenging conditions, showcasing high-level performance and progression.
Importantly, results from events like Hotham’s Freeride World Tour Qualifier are critical for Australian juniors with aspirations to compete on the world stage. Invitations to the FWT Junior World Championships are based on the best results from Region 1 Southern Hemisphere competitions, making domestic freeride events essential stepping stones for young athletes aiming to qualify.
Held on Saturday, the Freeride FUTURES program brought together 60 junior freeride athletes for a focused day of on-snow coaching and off-snow learning. Australian freeskier Coen Bennie-Faull led the program with assistance from some of Australia’s leading Freeride coaches and athletes. FWT qualifier champions Charlie Comben (men’s ski) and Vaughn Hardwick (men’s snowboard) joined the FUTURES program as athlete mentors for participants.
Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions over the weekend, the planned Junior and Grom freeride competitions were cancelled. While disappointing for many, the decision was made in the interest of athlete safety.
Throughout the week, coaches, officials, and event organisers also benefited from professional development opportunities delivered by FWT representatives and safety experts.
A key feature was an alpine safety clinic, offering practical guidance on alpine risk management. FWT safety specialist Stephan Skrobar delivered a dedicated session for club coaches, equipping them with tools to lead their own safety training.
The FWT judging session was a standout, with standing room only. Coaches, athletes, and officials gained valuable insights into the five judging criteria used in freeride events: Line, Air & Style, Fluidity, Control, and Technique.
“The off-snow program delivered a strong mix of education and community engagement, designed to be both enjoyable and informative for all participants,” said Snow Australia's Program Operations and Sport Development Coordinator, Johnny Lipzker
“Having access to such high-level expertise from FWT representatives and athletes is invaluable for the sport’s development in Australia. Running these sessions alongside a top-tier event such as The Hotham Peach Bowl gives our local clubs and coaches the chance to see best practice in action,” Lipzker said,