Snow Sports NZ is excited to announce the team set to represent New Zealand at the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships in Ordino Arcalís, Andorra from 1 - 6 February 2026.
The Team will feature four Kiwi athletes, each bringing an impressive track record of accolades and achievements as accomplished freeriders, including multiple Freeride World Tour podiums and previous World Championship titles.
2022 Women’s Ski Freeride World Champion Jess Hotter (Ohakune, 32) will be representing New Zealand in Andorra, competing in the women’s ski category. Ben Richards (Wānaka, 25), current Freeride World Tour athlete with multiple elite freeride podiums under his belt, and 2026 Freeride World Tour Rookie Fynn Powell (Queenstown, 23) will compete in the men’s ski competition. 2025 Freeride World Tour athlete Conrad Niven (Auckland/Aspen, 32) will be holding down the snowboard category for NZ.
The FIS Freeride World Championships, launching in 2026 under the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), represent the pinnacle of freeride skiing and snowboarding competition. This landmark event is a further step forward in the integration of freeride into FIS as the newest of its winter sports disciplines.
Snow Sports NZ has been working alongside the New Zealand freeride community as the discipline integrates with FIS and is stoked to announce that Blake Marshall has accepted the newly established role of Snow Sports NZ Freeride Coach / Team Manager. Marshall will be working with the World Championships Team both in the build-up and during the 2026 FIS Freeride World Championships.
Marshall said, “I am honoured to have been selected for this role and to contribute to supporting New Zealand’s top athletes at the inaugural World Championships. This is an exciting milestone for the sport of Freeride, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of its ongoing evolution and growth. I’ve got a lot of love for the Freeride community here in NZ, which makes this opportunity even more special.”
Snow Sports NZ Head Coach Park & Pipe Tom Willmott, who will be assisting Marshall in the implementation and delivery of the new role, said; “Blake has competed at the highest level as an athlete, is a well-respected coach and a valuable member of the NZ Freeride community. We are looking forward to having his expertise and knowledge supporting the fantastic Kiwi freeride athletes at the World Championships as Freeride continues to grow and evolve.”
One of the first tasks Marshall has been leading is the Freeride Peak Performance Camp, with support from Mons Royale, Aspiring Helicopters, Aspiring Guides and B.Social Wānaka. The primary aim of the camp is to foster a team environment and create connections for the newly named team and coach, prepare for the specifics of the event in Andorra learning from previous experience at the venue and spend some epic time in the mountains together with a team touring day at Black Peak when the weather clears.
Snow Sports NZ is excited about the future of freeride and is looking forward to cheering the World Championships team on at the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships next February.
5 days ago