FREERIDE WORLD TOUR KICKING HORSE RECAP

The world’s premiere freeride lineup took advantage of a fresh dusting of snow at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C. for the third stop of the 2023 Freeride World Tour (FWT) earlier today, delivering memorable performances in front of a deafening local crowd. The competition went down on the Ozone Face, which provided the perfect theatre for the 2023 world title race to continue.

Here’s a look what happened today in the picturesque Purcell Mountains…

SNOWBOARD MEN
Mexican rookie sensation Liam Rivera (MEX) was the first to drop, setting the bar too high for the rest of the field to reach. Riveria pointed it straight for the cold, deep pow, linking 360s in both directions to take the win. Ludovic Guillot-Diat (FRA) cemented his overall rankings lead with a second place finish, followed by Jonathan Penfield (USA) in third.  

 “I don’t think I quite believe it yet. I came here just wanting to make the cut, and now I have taken the win. I’m very happy!” —Liam Rivera 

Snowboard Men Results

1) Liam Rivera
2) Ludovic Guillot-Diat
3) Jonathan Penfield
4) Holden Samuels
5) Michael Mawn
6) Enzo Nilo
7) Hans Mindnich
8) Camille Armand

SKI MEN
Max Hitzig (GER) threw potentially the biggest backflip in FWT history, sending it so deep it can only be seen to be believed. His entire run was fluid and fast, linking a couple of airs at the top into the historic backflip to finish first. Local rookie Marcus Goguen (CAN) shot up the rankings and secured his place in the FWT Finals with an exhilarating run to earn second place, with Valentin Rainer (AUT) backing up his win in Andorra with a third.

 “I wasn’t sure if it [the backflip] was going to work. I saw Yu Sasaki send the pyramid cliff three years ago, which is why I went for it today. I’m so stoked!” —Max Hitzig

Ski Men Results

1) Max Hitzig
2) Marcus Goguen
3) Valentin Rainer
4) Finn Bilous
5) Andrew Pollard
6) Carl Regnér Eriksson
7) Ross Tester
8) Xander Guldman
9) Manu Barnard
10) Reine Barkered
11) Max Palm
12) Ralph Welponer
13) Maxime Chabloz
14) Leif Mumma
15) Jedidiah Kravitz
16) Oscar Mandin
17) Jack Nichols
18) Simon Perraudin
19) Abel Moga
20) Craig Murray
21) Jamesa Hampton

SKI WOMEN
Megane Betend (FRA) delivered a career-defining performance to take first place, ensuring she made the cut for a chance at the world title. Betend didn’t take her foot off the pedal with a fast and powerful display of freeriding, which included an insane triple drop into the finish line. Elisabeth Gerritzen (SUI) finished in second place with a fluid run, and Addison Rafford (USA) rounded off the podium to take the overall rankings lead.

“I knew I would have to finish first or second to qualify for the finals, so I said to myself, ‘go big or go home!’ I am stoked that it worked.” —Megane Betend

Ski Women Results

1) Megane Betend
2) Elisabeth Gerritzen
3) Addison Rafford
4) Justine Dufour-Lapointe
5) Olivia McNeill
6) Sybille Blanjean
7) Jessica Hotter
8) Delila Quinn
9) Molly Armanino

SNOWBOARD WOMEN
Michaela Davis-Meehan (AUS) put down a huge run under pressure to take the win, but, unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough to make the cut. Davis-Meehan dropped first and sent two massive airs in the steep, exposed section of the course, boosting out with speed into some fast, powder turns. Estelle Rizzolio (FRA) and Anna Orlova (RUS) finished second and third, respectively, both throwing down solid runs.

“It was amazing. The snow was so good. I had a backup run that I was going to do, but I blew that one off—I wanted the rockstar run, and I am glad I did it.” —Michaela Davis-Meehan

Snowboard Women Results

1) Michaela Davis-Meehan
2) Estelle Rizzolio
3) Anna Orlova
4) Tiphanie Perrotin
5) Katie Anderson

Relive all of today’s action at freerideworldtour.com, and be sure to follow the FWT’s social media channels (@freerideworldtour) for all the latest news as it drops. The FWT Finals are next folks, with the riders who made the cut heading back to Europe and the famed and intimidating slopes of Fieberbrunn, Austria and Verbier, Switzerland. Stay tuned… stop four of 2023 Freeride World Tour is not far away.