Press release -
Agostina Vietti Makes FWT History
First Argentinian woman to win on the Freeride World Tour
Val Thorens delivered one of the most challenging and unpredictable competition days of the season. After days of waiting, multiple venue changes, and constantly shifting weather, the Freeride World Tour finally went ahead in classic high-alpine conditions. Strong winds, fresh snow, and a heavily featured north-facing venue forced riders to adapt on the fly. Smart decisions, clean execution, and confidence mattered more than ever.
As the day came down to the final category, Ski Women, Agostina Vietti made history.
A historic win for Agostina Vietti
Competing in just her second Freeride World Tour event, Agostina Vietti became the first Argentinian woman ever to win on the Freeride World Tour. Backing up her fourth-place finish from the opening stop in Baqueira Beret, the rookie delivered a performance that confirmed she belongs at the highest level.
From the first drop, her ski-racing background was clear as she charged the steep upper section with speed, confidence, and style. A controlled landing off the first feature set the tone for a fast, committed run.
With judges rewarding decisive, fall-line skiing, Vietti delivered the fastest run of the day in Ski Women. Her 77.33 points sent her straight into the hot seat and sealed a historic victory for Argentina.
Solid performances across the HEAD Ski Women team
Jenna Keller once again showed why she finished second overall last season. After a tough crash at the opening stop in Baqueira, the HEAD athlete focused on putting down a clean, controlled run in Val Thorens. Strong skiing up top, composed turns through chopped-up couloirs, and smart speed management saw her safely through conditions that caught out many riders. Her 65.67 points earned a fifth-place finish and brought her up on the overall rankings.
Lena Kohler came into Val Thorens looking to bounce back after a tough day in Spain. The German skier delivered one of the strongest technical runs of the day, opening with a big air and skiing confidently through the upper section. A fall on the final feature resulted in a no score, but the run itself clearly showed where her level is at.
Huge cliffs and tricks in Ski Men
In the Ski Men category, conditions proved even more punishing. After several riders were caught out by blind landings and unstable snow, Max Hitzig delivered one of the most impressive runs of the day. The reigning World Champion showed why experience matters on a venue like this. Instead of forcing tricks, the HEAD athlete focused on line choice, massive cliffs, and clean execution. His smart approach earned 83 points and a fourth-place finish, a solid result early in the season.
Abel Moga brought his trademark creativity to the face, taking a completely different approach than the rest of the field. Skiing far skier’s right into untouched snow, the Spanish freeride hero linked a unique line and stomped a clean front flip in a zone no one else had touched. With all landings clean and skis on, Moga’s originality and commitment earned 71.67 points, placing him seventh and underlining his ability to read terrain differently when conditions demand it.
Jack Kolesch, one of the standout rookies this season, pushed hard from the start. The Canadian showed flashes of his potential with a massive 360 at the top followed by a backflip, but a backslap landing caused him to lose control and crash. Despite the mistakes, his run was enough to place him 11th with 50 points and showed how strong the new generation is coming through.
Carl Regner Eriksson opened his run with a stylish 360 straight out of the start gate showing clean execution in the top part. In the lower section, a blind feature proved tricky, and going a bit too big on the landing cost him control and valuable points. Despite the setback, he pushed through and finished the day with 44 points in 12th place.
Snowboard team holding it together
In Snowboard Women, Nuria Castán Barón once again showed resilience in difficult conditions. After early mistakes and a quick recovery, the HEAD rider earned 58.33 points and a solid top-five result on a day where completion was far from guaranteed.
Unfortunately, Cody Bramwell was unable to compete in Val Thorens after sustaining an injury while freeriding between events. The HEAD team wishes him a speedy recovery and hopes to see him back in action soon.
Next up are the first-ever Freeride World Tour Championships in Andorra.
With Val Thorens in the books, the Freeride World Tour now moves on to its next challenge. The World Championships in Andorra promise to be something special, and we’ll be cheering on the HEAD team every step of the way.
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