Wānaka skier Ben Richards has claimed back-to-back wins on the World Freeride Tour.
Fresh off his win at the Baqueira Beret Pro in Spain, the fearless 25-year-old won at the Val Thorens Pro in France yesterday.
Proving his first victory was no fluke, Richards dropped in last and commanded a challenging slope that bested numerous skiers before him.
His run included two 360s and a double, executed flawlessly, scoring him a 92.
Rookies and seasoned riders alike gathered at the peak of the new Pointe de Thorens face (3200m) in the French Alps. Unpredictable weather earlier in the week meant organisers had to carefully manage a suitable weather window.
Five former world tour champions competed in the men’s ski event but none reached the podium, rookie Joey Leonardo claiming second with a score of 89 and fellow US skier Ross Tester coming third with 84.33.
Richards, who was named rookie of the year after finishing third overall on the 2024 tour, and who came in ranked fifth from the 2025 event with two podium finishes, has multiple elite titles to his name.
Freeride coach and team manager Blake Marshall said 10cm-15cm of fresh powder overnight covered a lot of rocks on the run, contributing to a series of crashes.
"Dropping last played into Ben’s favour. He was able to watch the riders before him and was ready to change his line if needed.
"His freestyle ability and speed are unmatched and he’s really confident when he’s not skiing outside his limits. Though there were a lot of crashes. His run would have stood up to any competition."
New Zealand team-mate Fynn Powell, 23, came off the first stop with a seventh placing but fell on the second set of features on the steep slope at Val Thorens.
Powell was one of several riders who failed to complete the run, ultimately placing 18th. He was the top-placed rookie in the last event.
The freeriders now head to Andorra for the FIS world championships next week. — Allied Media
