This is a pre-competition update for FWT26 Val Thorens Pro Event. A new comp face has been chosen, a former champion, Leo Slemmet returns as an event wildcard, we have an injury update and Mark interviews, Max Hitzig and Valle Rainer, Jack Kolesch and Wynter McBride. We also get a quick visit from Michaela Davis Meehan.

01:41 - Intro / Comp Face Update

04:11 - Injury Updates

04:45 - Michaela Davis Meehan Pops in

06:55 - Jack Kolesch

10:16 - Wynter McBride

25:48 - Valle Rainer & Max Hitzig

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_xYCvv-0tTk

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@freerideguide.com

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!

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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

@dfoose

This is the full RECAP of the FWT26 Baqueira Beret Pro by Movistar. Starting the season in Spain, the riders dropped into Baciver Face after an alternate venue last season. This year the rookies made a huge statement on the day with several podium finishes, proving exactly why they belong!

00:00 - Intro

4:30- Backslap Fan Emails

19:20 - SNOWBOARD WOMEN

29:19 - SNOWBOARD MEN

40:10 - HEAD's Up Moment

45:20 - SKI WOMEN

59:14- SKI MEN

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hxvlAJrz1lU

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@freerideguide.com

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

@dfoose

Get to know the FWT 2026 Athletes as we introduce you to this season's Rookies and Wildcards.

We're joined by Rookie, Lochlan Harvey who gives us some insider info on some of the new riders, where they're from and who to keep an eye on during this season's action!

Watch This Episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/EG6BPyaB5FY

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@freerideguide.com

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

@dfoose

The Freeride Guide is back! The long wait is over as the The Freeride World Tour returns for the 2026 season. In this episode Mark and Derek preview the FWT event calendar and the upcoming, inaugural World Championships.

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nFRT9_8IXD0

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@freerideguide.com

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

@thefreerideguide

@red_mark

@dfoose

It's time to talk about all the athletes who punched their tickets to the FWT for 2026. Mark and Derek are joined by IFSA Challenger Series Coordinator, Brennan Metzler and Snowboard Athlete Warren Doyle who will be returning to the WFT after a successful Challenger campaign.

We break down the final rankings from the Region 1 and Region 2 Series, discuss what happened and what's next for this new crop of skiers and riders.

This the season finale of the FREERIDE GUIDE Podcast. We want to make sure you're with us when we return! Please Find, Follow, SUBSCRIBE and listen on your favourite podcast app.

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ARv1ZYNLmCc

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* The Freeride Guide is Supported By*

Surefoot Custom Ski Boots - Ski the Surefoot Difference

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WE HAVE MERCH!! Support the show with a shirt - https://lowpressurepodcast.com/shop/

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Insta360 X5 Action Cam - Get a FREE Accessory on us! w/ Code "lowpressure"

Skull Candy Headphones - 15% OFF w/ Code "WELCOME15"

---

Send us an email to the Backslap Inbox - Tell us your hot take and we might read it on the show. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

---

About the Hosts:

Mark Warner is the Host of 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

@thefreerideguide

@red_mark

@dfoose

We're joined by Freeride World Tour CEO Nicolas Hale-Woods to discuss the big stories of the season, starting with the much-celebrated return of the FWT to Alaska. We also get his take on the loss of the Kicking Horse stop and how that's not the end of the partnership.

Nicolas gives us some clarity into the differing Region 1 and 2 Challenger formats, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the tour is developing its pipeline of future talent. To round out the conversation, Nico lays out the format for the upcoming, and inaugural, World Championships and how riders are qualified.

0:00 Welcome Nicolas

00:12 Surefoot

3:20 - FWT Returns to Alaska

6:00 - Kicking Horse

12:08 - 2 Different Challenger Formats

25:50 - World Championships

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Khl-3nVXWPU

----

* The Freeride Guide is Supported By*

Surefoot Custom Ski Boots - Ski the Surefoot Difference

----

WE HAVE MERCH!! Support the show with a shirt - https://lowpressurepodcast.com/shop/

---

Insta360 X5 Action Cam - Get a FREE Accessory on us! w/ Code "lowpressure"

Skull Candy Headphones - 15% OFF w/ Code "WELCOME15"

---

Send us an email to the Backslap Inbox - Tell us your hot take and we might read it on the show. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

---

About the Hosts:

Mark Warner is the Host of 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

@thefreerideguide

@red_mark

@dfoose

This is the FULL event RECAP for the inaugural YETI Natural Selection Ski Following the footsteps of it's snowboarding origins NST SKI is carving a bold new line into skiing's history books with a new way to approach freeride competition.

12 skiers faced "Priority 1", one of Alaska's most legendary big mountain venues, with a single mission: create a film-quality, freestyle-meets-freeride line in real-time. At the center was the variability and grandeur of Mother Nature herself—who once again proved to be both an inspiration and a formidable challenger.

Stay to the end for interviews with the Men's and Women's Champions

00:00 - Intro / Surefoot Skiing

5:20 - NST Ski Event Format

7:00 - Judging "CREDO" 14:10 - PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

46:55 - ROUND 2

52:15 - SEMI FINALS

1:04:10 FINALS

1:19:44 - Manon Loschi Interview

1:34:29 - Craig Murray Interview

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fntgnxMzQE8

----

* The Freeride Guide is Supported By*

Surefoot Custom Ski Boots - Ski the Surefoot Difference

----

WE HAVE MERCH!! Support the show with a shirt - https://lowpressurepodcast.com/shop/

---

Insta360 4X Action Cam - Get a FREE Accessory w/ Code "lowpressure"

Skull Candy Headphones - 15% OFF w/ Code "WELCOME15"

---

Send us an email to the Backslap Inbox - Tell us your hot take and we might read it on the show. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

---

About the Hosts:

Mark Warner is the Host of 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

@thefreerideguide

@red_mark

@dfoose

Mike Douglas is here to preview the upcoming and inaugural Natural Selection Ski event. Mike, also known as "The Godfather of Freeskiing", has taken the reigns as the Event Director of NST Ski. We discuss how he got the job as well as what went into the creation of NST Ski.

He details the processes of venue and athlete selection as well as the logistics of accommodating 50 people in the backcountry of Alaska and much more.

The event will premiere exclusively worldwide onRed Bull TV starting at 12PM PT/3PM ET/9PM CET on April 17

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fjD_SWLrbbs

----

* The Freeride Guide is Supported By*

Surefoot Custom Ski Boots - Ski the Surefoot Difference

----

WE HAVE MERCH!! Support the show with a shirt - https://lowpressurepodcast.com/shop/

---

Insta360 4X Action Cam - Get a FREE Accessory w/ Code "lowpressure"

Skull Candy Headphones - 15% OFF w/ Code "WELCOME15"

---

Send us an email to the Backslap Inbox - Tell us your hot take and we might read it on the show. backslap@freerideguidepodcast.com

---

About the Hosts:

Mark Warner is the Host of 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

@thefreerideguide

@red_mark

@dfoose