Southern Hemisphere Wrap-Up: New Zealand Closes the 2027 Qualifier Season in Style

The Region 1 Southern Hemisphere Qualifier season came to a close across New Zealand this August and September, with a brand-new stop at Treble Cone, a hard-fought battle in Shadow Basin, and a four-star finale on the iconic Alta Chutes, all set against a backdrop of fresh powder and rising talent.

Treble Cone Qualifier 2*

The season opened with a first for the Southern Hemisphere tour: the 2027 Treble Cone Qualifier 2, presented by Atomic, marking the venue's debut on the FWT Qualifier calendar. Long known as a proving ground for professional freeriders, Treble Cone lived up to its reputation, delivering a full day of committed riding on the maunga. The event was made possible thanks to the NZJFT, who brought the competition to life alongside the local sponsor network.

Aiden Fitzpatrick (NZL) took the win on home turf in Ski Men, ahead of Mika Rolshoven in 2nd and Finbar Doig in 3rd. In Ski Women, Harriet Lucas (GBR) topped the podium ahead of Erin Forbes and Mari Henderson. On the Snowboard side, Duke Makani (USA) took Men's gold ahead of Vaughn Hardwick and Keani Wilson, while Johanna Lindqvist (SWE) won the Women's category ahead of Lou Guillon and Angelina Stratton.

Unfortunately, not every stop made it to the start gate. The Mount Hotham Qualifier 2*, originally scheduled for 26–27 August in Australia, was cancelled due to a lack of snow. Organizers made the call ahead of competition to prioritize rider safety, and while it's a disappointing outcome for the athletes who'd prepped for the event, it's a reminder of how unpredictable Southern Hemisphere conditions can be from one mountain to the next.

The North Face Frontier, 2* & 4*

Spirits picked back up at The Remarkables, where The North Face Frontier hosted back-to-back Qualifier events. After a mixed-bag morning, the sun broke through for the 2* on 28 August, with Shadow Basin providing perfect terrain for the field. The Qualifier ranks answered the call with some seriously impressive riding, setting a high bar for the rest of the week to chase.

Four days later, the tour returned for the main event: the North Face Frontier 4*, held on the Alta Chutes on 1 September. Alta Chutes delivered some of the best snow conditions seen at a 4* competition, and the level stayed high from the first drop to the final run, even as high winds and patchy visibility tested the riders throughout the day.

Across the two Frontier events, several athletes doubled up on the podium, most notably Ellery Manning (USA) and Lulu Laird (AUS), who each medaled in both the 2* and 4* Women's divisions, a strong signal of the depth building in the region. Duke Makani and Keani Wilson also crossed paths twice, swapping 1st and 3rd between Treble Cone and the Frontier 2*.

The season's success didn't come together by chance. Huge thanks go to The North Face Frontier and Snow Sports NZ. along with the volunteers, patrollers, judges, and media crews who made the events possible. The Frontier Highlight Film, capturing the best of the 2* and 4*, is now live; watch it here.