Destination Heritage. Baqueira Beret – Val d’Aran, Pyrenees.

Baqueira Beret is where the Freeride World Tour season begins — and for good reason.

As the only Pyrenean stop on the Tour, Baqueira holds a unique place in freeride history, blending distinctive terrain, deep-rooted mountain culture and a passionate community that has helped shape generations of riders.

Why Baqueira Matters

Baqueira Beret is where the Freeride World Tour season begins — and where the tone for the entire winter is set. As the only stop in the Pyrenees, it carries a unique identity: a meeting point between Atlantic storms, big-mountain freeride and a deeply rooted local culture.

Set in the Val d’Aran, Baqueira sits at the crossroads of Spain and France, both geographically and culturally. This position, combined with a strong Atlantic influence and predominantly north-facing terrain, delivers some of the most reliable snow conditions on the Tour — a key reason why freeride has flourished here for decades.

But Baqueira’s importance goes far beyond snow quality or elevation. The surrounding peaks — including iconic mountains like Montardo and Tuc de Ratera — create a natural freeride playground that is steep, varied and inviting. The terrain encourages creativity as much as commitment, making it a place where different riding styles can truly shine.

It’s this balance — between accessibility and challenge, tradition and progression — that has made Baqueira Beret a cornerstone of freeride culture, and a natural home for the Freeride World Tour.

The Face: Tuc de Baciver

At the center of Baqueira’s freeride identity stands Tuc de Baciver (2644m) — one of the most distinctive competition venues on the Freeride World Tour.

• It is the only west-facing competition face on the Tour
• Easily accessible and fully visible from the Baqueira resort
• A perfectly shaped, triangular face that offers clear line readability for both judges and riders

What makes Baciver truly special is its versatility:

• Rider’s left offers more accessible entries and creative options
• Rider’s right opens into steeper, more technical big-mountain terrain

This balance allows riders of different styles to express themselves — from technical freeride to freestyle creativity. The face is playful, feature-rich, and consistently delivers some of the best snow conditions of the season, thanks to its shape and varied exposure.

Just as importantly, the crowd is exceptionally close to the action, creating a rare, direct connection between riders and spectators.

Iconic Moments on an Iconic Face

Over the years, Tuc de Baciver has been the stage for some of the most memorable moments in FWT history:

• Max Palm’s first-ever double backflip, landed as a wildcard — before going on to win the event and earn a Tour wildcard.
• Abel Moga’s front flip, marking one of the first front flips on the FWT since Hank Bilous in Japan (2016–17).
• Landmark performances from riders like Finn Bilous, Cody Bramwell, Leif Mumma, and Michael Mawn, including back-to-back victories.
• Emotional turning points, such as Aymar Navarro stomping his final double and announcing his retirement at home — passing the torch to the next generation.

Baqueira is where careers are launched, styles are defined, and legacies are sealed.

Culture & Crowd

Baqueira’s energy is unmistakable.

Set at the crossroads between Spain, France and the Atlantic coast, the Val d’Aran carries a distinct surf-meets-freeride culture. Surfers chase storms here. Riders chase lines. The result is a relaxed but electric atmosphere that brings the freeride community together.

The Baqueira crowd is widely regarded as one of the most passionate and vocal on the Tour, creating a competition atmosphere unlike anywhere else.

Riders, Legacy & Passing the Torch

Baqueira has long been home to iconic riders like Aymar Navarro, a true legend of the Freeride World Tour, whose career both peaked and concluded on Baciver’s slopes. In 2023, in front of 5,000 people, Aymar chose Baqueira to say goodbye to competition — a symbolic farewell at home, forever part of freeride history.

Today, that legacy continues through riders such as Abel Moga, Maria Castellví, and a new generation raised on these mountains — riders who grew up watching the Tour and now stand on its start gates.

A Freeride Hub for the Future

FWT Academy & Local Development

Baqueira has evolved into a true freeride hub.

With the rise of local freeride academies and development programs, the valley is actively shaping the future of the sport.

The FWT Academy, alongside initiatives like Escuela Emotion plays a key role in training and inspiring the next generation of freeride athletes, as well as FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior events presence.

From grassroots development to world-class competition, Baqueira Beret remains deeply woven into the heritage of freeriding.