Canadian Women Dominate in Spain

The Freeride World Tour (FWT) 2025 kicked off in Baqueira Beret, Spain, with a brand-new venue—La Bamba—delivering steep, high-altitude freeride action reminiscent of Alaska’s legendary big-mountain lines. At nearly 9,000 feet in elevation with an average 40-degree pitch and sections exceeding 50 degrees, the first stop of the season tested the world’s best freeriders like never before.

And for Canada’s top athletes it was a podium-worthy debut as Canadian Women Dominate!

Justine Dufour-Lapointe Claims Victory in Women’s Skiing
Montreal’s Justine Dufour-Lapointe (@justinedufourlapointe) took gold in Women’s Ski, proving once again that her transition from Olympic moguls to big-mountain freeriding was no fluke. The FTW23 World Champion laid down a precise, fluid, and aggressive run, sealing her spot as a serious contender for back-to-back titles.

“Justine’s ability to transfer her freestyle background into high-stakes freeriding has been incredible to watch,” one commentator noted. “She’s raising the bar for Canadian freeride athletes.”

Audrey Hebert Lands on the Podium in Women’s Snowboard
Canadian freeride snowboarder Audrey Hebert (@audreysnowclimb) secured bronze in Women’s Snowboard, delivering a powerful, controlled run through La Bamba’s technical terrain. The Banff-based rider, known for her aggressive approach in big-mountain riding, now turns her focus to home snow at Kicking Horse.

“Audrey is a force on the North American freeride scene,” said a fellow competitor. “She’s going to be even more dangerous at Kicking Horse, where she knows the terrain.”

Marcus Goguen & Wei Tien Ho Set Sights on Kicking Horse
While Marcus Goguen and Wei Tien Ho didn’t land on the podium in Spain, both delivered strong opening performances and are gearing up for a statement event at Kicking Horse. Goguen, who finished second overall in 2024, is looking to climb the rankings, while Ho aims to capitalize on his wildcard entry and make an impact at home.

“La Bamba was wild terrain to start the season,” said Ho. “I’m stoked to throw down at Kicking Horse and push even harder.”

Stop 2: Kicking Horse – The North American Freeride Showdown
With Stop 1 in the books, all eyes now turn to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, for the only North American stop on the tour. Known for its steep chutes, deep snow, and unpredictable conditions, Kicking Horse is a true proving ground for freeriders.

• Event Location: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
• Competition Period: Thursday, February 14-20, 2025

With home-crowd energy and familiar terrain, expect the Canadian athletes to send it bigger than ever.

With Justine Dufour-Lapointe and Audrey Hebert already making their mark, and Marcus Goguen and Wei Tien Ho hungry for big results at home, Kicking Horse is shaping up to be one of the most exciting stops on the tour.

Stay tuned as the world’s best freeriders battle for the overall title.