Beijing 2022 Olympian Finn Bilous (Wānaka, 23) has finished in fifth place at the second stop of the 2023 Freeride World Tour overnight held in Ordino Arcalís, Andorra. Bilous was the top performing Kiwi in what is his rookie Freeride World Tour season.
“It was a beautiful day once again, I pieced together a line that I am happy with and found something that felt pretty true to me and the type of riding I like to do.”
The event was bought forward two days with unfavourable weather on the forecast, which proved to be the right decision. Competition went down on Ordino Arcalís’ Pic De Les Planes face, which proved the perfect playground for Bilous to unleash his tricks and big mountain turns
Bilous started his run by entering an ultra-technical section of the face, a place no one else had dared to enter at this point of the competition. He stomped a huge 360 out of that section with a perfect landing.
As Bilous made his way down rest of the face he laced together big airs, 360’s and even a switch 180 with his trademark flair and style, impressing the judges and the commentators alike.
Bilous, who is more well known for his prowess on the Slopestyle and Big Air courses, has the ability to bring the tricks and style from Freeskiing and blend them into the big lines and exposure of Freeride.
There were five Kiwi’s competing in Ordino Arcalís today, Bilous finished in 5th, Craig Murray in 14th, Jamesa Hampton in 17th and Manu Barnard, also competing in his rookie season on the Tour, in 20th.
Reigning World Champion, Jess Hotter, was putting together a fantastic run, but a head over heels landing off a cliff drop beside a large rock buttress resulted in her receiving a no score for losing her equipment.
Athletes will now head across the Atlantic for stop three at Kicking Horse Golden BC, February 17 to 22, for their last chance to secure points before the cut, where the top-ranked riders will advance to the FWT Finals.
15 months ago
Finn Bilous