The Freeride Guide

This is the final 2026 Freeride Guide episode of the season!  We recap all the news and highlights from a challenging year for the Freeride World Tour. Cancelled events, rookie domination and rulebook controversy are all on tap.
We're also joined by 2023 FWT Snowboard Champion Katie Anderson to talk about the confusing Wildcard selection process, and how more SB Women should be added to the tour.  Thanks for tuning in this season and enjoy getting into this one!
00:00 Welcome 
3:30 - Surefoot
5:55 - FWT Event Cancellation
13:10 - FWT Return to Alaska & Toby Rafford
16:53 - Rookie Domination
20:00 - Season Highlights 
21:14 - Agostina Vietti
23:43 - Verbier
 28:50 - Has Derek almost missed a comp?
32:39 - World Championships
45:57 - NST Ski
56:20 - Thoughts on Wildcards
1:05:17 - Welcome Katie Anderson
1:36:38 - Mark and Derek's Seasonal HEAD'S UP Riders Award
BACKSLAP Inbox
1:40:00 - Finishing Runs with No Poles?
1:44:45 - Why Aren't More South Americans on Tour?
1:50:20 - Mark Backslaps
1:51:47 - Will Judging Become Harmonized Across Regions?
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g3xPiTYbqQI
The Freeride Guide is Supported By:   
Surefoot Custom Ski Boots 
HEAD -Tyrolia KORE Collection
Send us an email to the BACKSLAP INBOX - Tell us what your hot take is and we might read it on the show. [email protected]
 If you like the show, please SUBSCRIBE and Listen to every new episode!
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About the Hosts: 
Mark Warner is the Host of the Low Pressure Podcast: The Podcast for Skiers.  Derek Foose is the FWT Broadcast Announcer and Head Coach at Whistler Freeride Club and both are huge Freeride Fans.
Follow on Instagram
@freeride_guide
@red_mark

This is the Full RECAP of the second edition of Natural Selection Ski. NST originally planned on holding the competition on, "Spine Cell", a gnarly, big mountain Alaskan face. Due to weather, and an avalanche, the organization had to do a hard pivot to a safer, rolling venue that resembled a backcountry terrain park set up. The shift from a freeride venue to one more suited to freestyle worked perfectly as the athletes put on a show to remember. 
We're joined by guest host and former FWT rider Tom Peiffer to break down all the action! 
00:00 Welcome Special Guest Host - Tom Peiffer
5:24 NST Ski - Venue Changes 14:09 - Super Sessions - Palisades Tahoe
19:40 - NST Alaska Judging - "CREDO"
25:10 - Competition Format
44:48 - Ski Men - Rounds 1&2
59:36 - Ski Women - Rounds 1&2
1:10:09 -Ski Women Final
1:16:28 - Ski Men Final
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zuaqMte6Rvs
The Freeride Guide is Supported By:   
Surefoot Custom Ski Boots 
HEAD -Tyrolia KORE Collection
Send us an email to the BACKSLAP INBOX - Tell us what your hot take is and we might read it on the show. [email protected]
 If you like the show, please SUBSCRIBE and Listen to every new episode!
--------
About the Hosts: 
Mark Warner is the Host of the Low Pressure Podcast: The Podcast for Skiers.  Derek Foose is the FWT Broadcast Announcer and Head Coach at Whistler Freeride Club and both are huge Freeride Fans.
Follow on Instagram
@freeride_guide
@red_mark

The 2026 IFSA FWT Region 2 Challengers by Orage were condensed into 5 days, 3 events, 3 venues and 2 towns in British Columbia. Its where the riders who have been competing and building points all year on the qualifier circuit and the FWT riders who got cut, meet for a final showdown to find out who will make it to the Freeride World Tour in 2027. This is the RECAP of the overall series.
4:30 - Intro to the Region 2 Challenger Events
9:30 - The Venues
16:00 Hand Signals 
24:35 - Explaining Dual Panel Judging System
33:00 - Stop #3 - Kicking Horse & Ozone Face
35:18 - Ski Women
41:20 Judging hypotheticals
52:03 - Snowblades & Telemark Skis
55:12 - Back to Ski Women
59:50 - Snowboard Women 
1:04:30 - Ski Men
1:10:25 - Cornice Break
1:13:46 - Back to Ski Men
1:16:54 - Snowboard Men
1:20:00 - 1st Ever Snowboard DNF?
1:22:33 - 2027 FWT Qualified Riders 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z9VD6PUmIH0
The Freeride Guide is Supported By:   
Surefoot Custom Ski Boots 
HEAD -Tyrolia KORE Collection
Send us an email to the BACKSLAP INBOX - Tell us what your hot take is and we might read it on the show. [email protected]
 If you like the show, please SUBSCRIBE and Listen to every new episode!
--------
About the Hosts: 
Mark Warner is the Host of the Low Pressure Podcast: The Podcast for Skiers.  Derek Foose is the FWT Broadcast Announcer and Head Coach at Whistler Freeride Club and both are huge Freeride Fans.
Follow on Instagram
@freeride_guide
@red_mark

The 2026 YETI Xtreme Verbier was everything we hoped it would be. The final event of the FWT26 season bucked the trend of cancelled events, shortened events and unfortunate weather. The riders were welcomed with sunny, blue skies, cold temps and 50cms of fresh snow on the famous Bec des Rosses.  They took advantage of these perfect conditions to battle for the right to be crowned the FWT 2026 World Champion... and they put on a show!
0:00 - INTRO x Event Set Up & Weather
9:05 - SNOWBOARD MEN
21:11 - SKI MEN
31:27 - BACKSLAP Inbox
44:07 - SKI WOMEN
57:30 - SNOWBOARD WOMEN
1:03:00 - HEADS Up Moment
1:06:00 - Fun Bet Results
1:09:53 - Challenger Series Updates
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lj5SK9HMuHE
The Freeride Guide is Supported By:   
Surefoot Custom Ski Boots 
HEAD -Tyrolia KORE Collection
Send us an email to the BACKSLAP INBOX - Tell us what your hot take is and we might read it on the show. [email protected]
Join our Freeride Guide Podcast FUN BET League: https://peakperformance.pronosticgames.fr/tribe/fac0332d-6096-469c-8859-08dd35506ec2
-Go to link above  -Click Leagues -Find the The Freeride Guide League -Join in and play along!
 If you like the show, please SUBSCRIBE and Listen to every new episode!
--------
About the Hosts: 
Mark Warner is the Host of the Low Pressure Podcast: The Podcast for Skiers.  Derek Foose is the FWT Broadcast Announcer and Head Coach at Whistler Freeride Club and both are huge Freeride Fans.
Follow on Instagram
@freeride_guide
@red_mark

The Freeride World Tour returned to Haines Alaska for the first of two final events. This is the full EVENT RECAP. 
The riders here have not only qualified for the final two events this season but they've also punched their tickets to the tour in 2027. For some, the pressure was off so they could really push their limits. For others the possibility of becoming FWT Champion has only added more pressure. This is the first time in 8 years the FWT riders had a chance to prove themselves on a true Alaskan Face. They did not dissappoint!
3:30 - Comp Day Conditions
12:55 - Snowboard Men
19:00 Snowboard Women
23:07 Derek's Head's Up Moment
28:53 - Ski Women
41:15 - Ski Men
1:00:00 Mark's Head's up Moment
1:02:07 BACKSLAP Inbox
1:08:00 FUN BET
1:09:40 IFSA / Challenger Series Updates 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/X6JZkStsGPQ
The Freeride Guide is Supported By:   
Surefoot Custom Ski Boots 
HEAD -Tyrolia KORE Collection
Send us an email to the BACKSLAP INBOX - Tell us what your hot take is and we might read it on the show. [email protected]
Join our Freeride Guide Podcast FUN BET League: https://peakperformance.pronosticgames.fr/tribe/fac0332d-6096-469c-8859-08dd35506ec2
-Go to link above  -Click Leagues -Find the The Freeride Guide League -Join in and play along!
 If you like the show, please SUBSCRIBE and Listen to every new episode!
--------
About the Hosts: 
Mark Warner is the Host of the Low Pressure Podcast: The Podcast for Skiers.  Derek Foose is the FWT Broadcast Announcer and Head Coach at Whistler Freeride Club and both are huge Freeride Fans.
Follow on Instagram
@freeride_guide
@red_mark