2025 Freeride World Tour Val Thorens Cease Two Full Recap

January 30, 2025

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Featured Picture: Jeremy Bernard, Courtesy of the Freeride World Tour | Skier: Marcus Goguen

It’s not every single day that we get a Freeride World Tour cease caked in ft of contemporary snow, however that was the scene right this moment in Val Thorens, France because the riders took to the beginning gate. The realm has reported 35″ of snow over the past 5 days, giving the Lac Noir face a whole makeover and making these large options picturesque with high quality takeoffs and bottomless landings. The tour has been away from France for 9 seasons, however this large storm, mixed with excessive vitality popping out of Cease One, made for a wonderful return. The locals gathered in plenty to look at the competitors and loudly cheer for the 4 French skiers on the right track. Simply have a take heed to the thunderous rumble of voices as Chamonix-based rider Virgile Didier dropped in to shut out the Ski Males’s discipline. There have been highs and there have been lows, with seven skiers unable to complete after getting hung up within the deep finish. However general, Val Thorens offered a completely electrical second cease of the 2025 Freeride World Tour.

Within the Ski Girls’s Subject, we acquired a stellar present, with all riders in a position to end the course in its entirety and over half the sphere scoring above 70. It’s a testomony to the excessive caliber of driving we’re seeing yr after yr. However the battle right this moment was really between Canada’s Justine Dufour-Lapointe and France’s Astrid Cheylus. These two have been neck and neck after Cease One, with Dufour-Lapointe sneaking out the win. It was the identical story in Val Thorens; solely the outcomes have been flipped as Cheylus was in a position to capitalize in entrance of the house crowd.

Each traces included large airs, inventive line choice and enormous backflips. Ultimately, the judges awarded Cheylus a rating of 93.67, three factors larger than Dufour-Lapointe, giving her a better rating within the Approach class. Lena Kohler rounded out the rostrum taking third place. A mechanical engineer and an expert skier, Kohler is barely in her second yr on the Tour and already making massive waves. The German rider pinned it off a big air on the high of the course to start out her run and stored her foot on the gasoline the whole approach down. Shoutout to FWT veterans and world champs Elisabeth Gerritzen and Ari Tricomi for laying down pristine traces as properly, every lacking the rostrum by only a few factors. We’re positive to see extra out of them because the Tour heads throughout the pond to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, British Columbia for Cease Three.

“Profitable at dwelling, in France, with my household and buddies right here, means every part. My line was precisely as I envisioned, and this morning, I used to be so excited to ski it, particularly with these unimaginable snow circumstances.” – Astrid Cheylus, 2025 Val Thorens FWT Professional Ski Girls Winner

Within the Ski Males’s Subject, the rostrum was crammed with contemporary faces from the earlier cease in Spain. After claiming the highest spots the opposite week, Ross Tester, Toby Rafford and Ben Richards landed in twelfth, thirteenth and eighth place, respectively. All three riders put down hearty runs, however the competitors was fierce. Canadian Marcus Goguen made his return to the rostrum right this moment with a wild backflip proper off the preliminary cornice, adopted by a large three and a run that was so fast you’d miss it for those who blinked. The younger gun is in place to capitalize because the Tour heads again to his dwelling nation for Cease Three.

Second place went to Valentin Rainer, the Austrian rider with 4 seasons on the tour below his belt. He kicked off his run by taking an unorthodox entrance into untouched snow, pinning it over a backbone and stomping a giant three within the flat. Rainer trudged his approach over to a different contemporary part of the face, descending into the steeps with sluff chasing after him. He teed up one other massive left three, this time going even farther and rotating simply gradual sufficient to carry it round for an ideal touchdown. It was flawless execution, particularly contemplating none of those riders had ever skied this face earlier than or hit these options.

The general champ at Cease Two was Martin Bender. The 20 yr outdated Swiss rider was the eighth skier to drop within the 21 individual discipline, however no one may high his rating of 91.67. Bender was in a position to safe the lead because of his immaculate line choice and his three 360s, spinning each left and proper. It was an attractive displaying of freeriding in premier circumstances that has us fired up because the 2025 FWT nears its haflway level.

“Profitable my first FWT competitors feels unreal—excellent powder, an incredible face, and nice buddies made it unforgettable. This win was an enormous shock, and it’ll take time to sink in.” – Martin Bender, 2025 Val Thorens Professional Ski Males Winner

Under, you’ll discover the rostrum outcomes, profitable runs and a full picture gallery of the occasion.

Click on right here to look at the total replay of Cease Two on the official FWT web site.