Nendaz Freeride Challenger celebrates 20 years with a spectacular second stop as rankings begin to take shape

The Nendaz Freeride Challenger delivered a thrilling second stop of the FWT Challenger season, celebrating the event’s 20th anniversary on the legendary Mont Gond face in Switzerland’s 4 Vallées. With a 367-meter vertical drop starting at 2,667 meters, the venue provided the perfect Swiss battleground, featuring steep terrain, technical couloirs, cliffs, and abundant natural features. As the season progresses, rankings are beginning to take shape, adding intensity to every run.

The competition showcased a compelling mix of classic big mountain riding and freestyle progression, highlighting the depth of talent fighting for qualification to the Freeride World Tour.

Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA), Maxime Chabloz (SUI), Elly Olsson (SWE) and Timm Schröder (GER) claimed victory on this technical venue of Switzerland’s 4 Vallées

Snowboard Women

Tiphanie Perrotin (FRA), 2022 FWT Snowboard Women Champion, secured victory with a commanding and aggressive performance. Charging confidently down the technical face, she combined speed, fluidity, and multiple big airs with solid stomps. Her composed lower section demonstrated her experience and control, earning her 86.33 points. After finishing second at the season opener, Perrotin now firmly positions herself as a leading contender.

Gosia Sniegorska (POL) claimed second place with 83.33 points. She immediately set the tone with a large stomped feature straight out of the start gate before riding a fast, direct line and confidently sending the massive final cliff.

Estelle Rizzolio (FRA) returned to Challenger competition after narrowly missing last year’s Pro Cut and rounded out the podium with 75.33 points. Opting for a creative line toward riders’ left, she linked multiple features, including a clean double, demonstrating strong technical execution.

Ski Men

Maxime Chabloz (SUI), 2022 FWT Ski Men Champion, delivered a statement run in Nendaz. After a challenging 2025 season that saw him return to the Challenger level, Chabloz showcased his full skill set. Opening aggressively with a 360 straight out of the start gate, he followed with another massive 360, two big airs in the steep couloir, and capped his run with a perfectly executed backflip off the venue’s final major feature. His fluidity and control earned him 86.00 points and the win.

Simon Zwischenbrugger (AUT) impressed with a dynamic run, opening with a 360 before attacking the mandatory cliff with speed. He added two backflips on large features in the lower section. Despite a slight instability on his final landing, he secured second place with 84.67 points.

Alex Hackel (USA) completed the podium with 84.00 points. Starting with strong speed and a stylish 360, he confidently dropped the mandatory cliff and finished with a massive final 360, maintaining control throughout his run.

Ski Women

Elly Olsson (SWE) translated her recent experience from the FIS Freeride World Championships in Andorra into a winning performance in Nendaz. She opened with two clean drops at the top of the face before choosing a more original line through relatively untouched terrain. A perfectly stomped large cliff in the final section sealed her victory with 81.00 points.

Léa Chapuis (FRA) took second place with 77.33 points, executing the top features with precision before confidently linking the mandatory cliff and an additional drop in the lower section.

Eva Battolla (SUI), who finished second at the season opener, continued her strong form to place third with 76.33 points. Drawing on her familiarity with the 4 Vallées terrain, she navigated the technical upper section with confidence and closed her run with a clean landing on a major riders’ right cliff. Her consistency now puts her in the overall lead in the Ski Women rankings.

Snowboard Men

Timm Schröder (GER) returned to the Challenger circuit in style, claiming victory with 81.67 points. He opened with a backflip in the upper section, added a grabbed feature shortly after, and continued riders’ left with another backflip before finishing with a double in the lower face.

James Veitch (GBR) secured second place with 80.33 points after linking multiple strong drops in the upper and mid sections and finishing with a well-executed double in steep terrain.

Marc Robert (SUI) completed the podium with 79.00 points, choosing a technical riders’ left line and combining clean cliff drops with solid grabs throughout his run.

Celebrating 20 years of freeride in Nendaz

The event concluded with a special tribute marking the 20th anniversary of freeride competition in Nendaz. Ten riders who have shaped the history of the event gathered at the finish area, honoring two decades of progression, passion, and community in one of Switzerland’s most iconic freeride venues.

What’s next

With two events completed, the Challenger rankings are tightening as athletes push to secure their spot on next season’s Freeride World Tour.

The FWT Challenger heads to Austria for the X Over Ride Kitzsteinhorn Challenger, taking place March 14–17, where the battle for qualification will intensify at the third stop of the season.