Featured Image: Courtesy of Freeride World Tour
Editor's Note: The 2026 Kirkwood Challenger competition has been restaged due to snow conditions and will take place at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in addition to the previously scheduled KHMR Challenger stop.
Behold, the Challenger returns for 2026! The path to the Freeride World Tour (FWT) is a long and tiring one, but every year, riders get a chance to punch their tickets to the big show thanks to this competition series. This winter, we'll watch with anticipation as skiers head to three stops across North America for the FWT IFSA Region 2 Challenger by Orage.
In tandem with one of the great non-profits in all of skiing, the International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association (IFSA), these competitions serve as the final gateway for riders seeking to qualify for the 2027 Freeride World Tour.
Last year's Challenger series was overflowing with talent. Wynter McBride and Agostina Vietti rose to the top of the pack and qualified for the Tour in the Ski Women's field, while Kelly Hilleke, Joey Leonardo, Lochlan Harvey and Jack Kolesch qualified in the Ski Men's field.
The 2026 Region 2 Challenger will begin in Whitewater, British Columbia. The freeride season will reach its peak at one of the great steep skiing meccas of North America, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Whitewater and Kicking Horse have been receiving great snow this season, especially compared to totals seen in much of the central Rockies, with KHMR setting a new record for the resort's snowiest December.
Good luck to all the riders looking to stake their claim this winter! Check out the official schedule breakdown below.
Stop 1: Whitewater IFSA Challenger, Canada - March 25–27
The Challenger series heads north to Whitewater Ski Resort, a freeride haven in the heart of British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains. Famed for its deep snow – averaging over 12 meters (40 feet) annually – and a vibrant backcountry culture, Whitewater is a playground of steeps, chutes, bowls and legendary glades. Athletes will need to bring both power and precision to thrive in this terrain as momentum builds heading into the final showdown.
Stop 2 & 3: Kicking Horse IFSA Challenger, Canada - March 30–April 1
The Challenger season wraps up at the iconic Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, a legendary venue in FWT history. After hosting the Freeride World Tour for eight consecutive years, this mountain needs no introduction. Situated in the Purcell Mountains, Kicking Horse offers a high-consequence blend of steep chutes, massive airs, and complex terrain – the perfect battleground for the final qualification push. For many riders, this will be the make-or-break moment to earn their place among the world’s best.
KHMR will host the restaged Kirkwood Challenger event as well, with riders likely competing twice during the weather window.
