Bluebird Conditions Launch the 2026 FWT Challenger by Orage Season at Silvretta Montafon

Bluebird skies and fresh powder welcomed riders to the 2026 Open Faces Silvretta Montafon Challenger, the first event of the FWT Challenger by Orage series in Region 1 this season. Held on the demanding Zamangspitze face at 2,380 metres, the venue once again proved to be a true proving ground, offering 340 metres of vertical drop and steep pitches reaching 45 degrees. With fresh snowfall in the days leading up to the competition, Silvretta Montafon delivered outstanding conditions for an exciting opener, where Nemo Plagne (Ski Men), Elisabeth Gerritzen (Ski Women), Kea Chretien (Snowboard Men) and Giulia Bottazzin (Snowboard Women)** claimed the first Challenger victories of the season and important early points.

Ski Men

The Ski Men competition set a high standard from the outset. France’s Nemo Plagne took the win with an aggressive and fluid run, opening with a straight line into a double on the first cliff before stomping a big backflip on the mandatory feature and maintaining a strong fall-line all the way down for 80.00 points. Sweden’s Edvin Olsson, dropping back into Challenger competition, followed closely in second with a fast, controlled run featuring a high-speed straight line, a double at the top and a clean, focused backflip, scoring 79.00. Noé Vouillamoz (SUI), just 19 years old but already with extensive Junior experience, rounded out the podium in third after committing to a big line and landing a solid 360 at the bottom to score 78.00.

Ski Women

The Ski Women competition saw a strong statement from Elisabeth Gerritzen, who kicked off her Challenger season with a decisive win, scoring 80.67 points. One of the most experienced athletes in the field, Gerritzen delivered a technical yet high-impact run, featuring a big straight-line drop, a massive mandatory air from the top and clean, confident landings throughout, underlining her goal to prequalify back to the Freeride World Tour. Switzerland’s Eva Batolla followed in second with a smart and composed run, riding fast out of the start gate before linking controlled stomps through the middle section and finishing with smooth, flowing turns in fresh powder to score 78.00. France’s Mia McNab, from Chamonix, completed the podium in third after a confident and stylish performance, carrying speed from the top and committing to a strong double in the bottom section before straight-lining into the finish for 75.00 points.

Snowboard Men

The Snowboard Men competition delivered a mix of speed, creativity and experience. France’s Kea Chretien, a three-time Freeride Junior World Champion, claimed the win with a fast and committed fall-line run, keeping momentum from top to bottom and confidently navigating an exposed upper section with a clean landing to score 69.33 points. Ireland’s Kealan Venning, based in Chamonix, followed in second after linking two well-executed frontside 360s, including a big, cleanly landed rotation in the top section, for a strategic and composed run worth 67.33. Switzerland’s Marc Robert, the most experienced rider on the podium at 38 years old, rounded out the top three with a smooth and playful line, combining flowy hits, powder turns and a final air with long hang time to score 66.67.

Snowboard Women

The Snowboard Women competition saw a breakthrough performance from Italy’s Giulia Bottazzin, who claimed her first-ever FWT Challenger by Orage victory with a confident and committed run to score 77.00 points. Bottazzin set the tone early with a big, clean stomp in the top section, followed by a strong middle section featuring a large cliff and two additional features executed with speed, aggression and control. France’s Tiphanie Perrotin, a former Freeride World Tour champion and one of the most experienced riders in the field, finished second with a fast and creative run, opening up new features and linking solid cliff drops before charging into the finish for 74.33 points. Fellow French rider Lou Ruiz completed the podium in third after a creative and fluid performance, committing to big cliffs and exploring a new rocky section before flowing into the main couloir for a strong middle section, scoring 68.33.

What’s Next

The FWT Challenger by Orage series now moves on to Stop 2: the Nendaz Freeride Challenger, taking place from February 28 to March 3, where the battle for Challenger points and Freeride World Tour qualification continues.