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. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

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. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

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. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

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