The FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance has announced that the Baqueira Beret Pro by Movistar is officially confirmed for Thursday, January 15, 2026. The world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders will gather in Spain’s Pyrenees to launch the 2026 FWT season on the legendary Tuc de Bacivèr face, a venue that hasn’t hosted competition since 2023.
Last year’s FWT Baquiera Beret Pro had the U.S.A.’s Ross Tester of Truckee, Calif., and Toby Rafford of Sun Valley, Idaho, in first and second places in the Men Ski category, impressing the crowd with big tricks, fluidity, and creativity. Both are returning with hopes to do it again. Rounding out the U.S. athletes are experienced returners, Molly Armanino of South Lake Tahoe, Holden Samuels of Big Sky, Montana, and Warren Doyle of Bozeman, Montana, plus five new U.S. rookies who will take their first FWT runs. Lake Tahoe’s Shayne Blue Sandblom and Truckee’s Mia Jones are two of those rookies.
Armanino, who calls Kirkwood her home resort, was the second-place winner (Vice World Champion) of the FWT in 2023 in her debut season. She returned for the 2025 season with a wildcard slot. She took an impressive 1st place at the 2025 Kicking Horse BC Pro, and qualified for the finals with an ultimate 5th place season finish. Armanino is known for her incredible creative in line choices and fearlessly skiing where others won’t. When not on the slope, Molly heads up the Tahoe Climate Change Action Network. She is also an alumnus of Dancing With the Tahoe Stars.
The Venue: Tuc de Bacivèr
The 2026 FWT season opener will take place on Tuc de Bacivèr, a striking west-facing face with a summit elevation of 2,644 meters / 8,675 feet. Last used in 2023, this venue is renowned for its dynamic terrain and exceptional visibility, offering a compelling stage for both riders and spectators.
With a vertical drop of 424 meters / 1,391 feet and an average gradient of 40 degrees, Bacivèr provides an excellent mix of challenge and creativity. The left side of the face offers smoother lines and accessible entries, encouraging fluid, freestyle-inspired runs. Meanwhile, the right side presents steeper, more technical terrain.
Its west-facing orientation (unique on the FWT calendar) ensures preferred light for filming and judging, while the face’s proximity to the resort allows spectators to enjoy the action from remarkably close range. The combination of natural features, diverse terrain, and electric crowd energy makes Bacivèr one of the Tour’s most anticipated venues.
With strong local energy, and a technically diverse mountain face, all elements are in place for an explosive start to the season.
“I am so honored and so grateful for the opportunity to be able to compete alongside my snowboard and ski idols and legends in the same competitions. It’s hard to believe that I’m now going to be included on this stage; competing on the Freeride World Tour (FWT) has always been the goal. I’m so excited for all of it – the people and the tour stops!” explained Mia Jones upon getting her confirmation into the FWT.
Despite the competition day being held on Thursday, the weekend activities at the resort will go ahead as planned, including the Event Village and the Beret ski and snowboard test, which will feature more than 20 participating brands. In addition, the FWT Junior event is also confirmed for this weekend, further underlining Baqueira Beret’s continued commitment to all levels of freeride progression.
For the schedule, visit HERE.
For more on the athletes, visit HERE.