Around 120 of Australia and New Zealand’s best young freeriders descended on Falls Creek, Australia, this weekend for the resort’s first Freeride World Tour (FWT) Junior 2 event, throwing down on Rapunzel’s Run as spectators watched from Tower’s chairlift and Blue Brumby. The competition brought together emerging skiers and snowboarders for a day of freeride competition on Falls Creek’s natural terrain, giving the next generation of athletes a chance to compete on the Freeride World Tour Junior circuit.
For many of the young competitors, the event represents an important step toward higher-level freeride competition, with the sport set to make its Olympic debut at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. “It was an amazing success and the conditions were perfect for athletes to showcase their best,” said Danny Foster, Senior Manager of Skier Services for Falls Creek.
“Kids absolutely threw down! Some of the up and coming athletes in the freeride scene were there and with the introduction of freeride skiing and snowboarding at the Alpes 2030 Winter Olympic Games, it’s an awesome platform for our athletes building up to that elite stage.”
U19 Winners
The U19 categories featured four winners across skiing and snowboarding.
U19 Ski Men: Kobi Woods
U19 Ski Women: Kyrra Tacilauskas
U19 Snowboard Men: Gabe Hardwick
U19 Snowboard Women: Clementine Wall
The U19 division provides some of the oldest junior competitors with a pathway toward the senior Freeride World Tour, where athletes compete on much larger and more technical terrain around the world.
U17 Ski Men
The U17 Ski Men category featured 15 competitors, with Howard Barraclough taking the victory with 480 event points. The top 10 finished:
- Howard Barraclough — 480 points
- Grady Mitchell — 360 points
- Harley Bostock — 280 points
- Hamish Pringle — 230 points
- Max Pearson — 200 points
- Jackson Bayliss — 175 points
- Lachlan Brennan — 160 points
- Matthew Zollinger — 150 points
- Jayden Littlejohn — 140 points
- Harrison Bruce — 135 points
No U17 women’s or snowboard categories were contested at the Falls Creek event.
U15 Winners
The U15 divisions showcased some of the youngest athletes on the mountain, with four more riders taking top honors.
U15 Ski Men: Harlem Pec
U15 Ski Women: Sylvie Bostock
U15 Snowboard Men: Vinnie Douglas
U15 Snowboard Women: Willow Latimer
The results highlighted the depth of young freeride talent competing across Australia and New Zealand, with skiers and snowboarders from multiple age groups getting the opportunity to compete in a sanctioned FWT Junior event on home snow.
Freeriding Comes to the Olympic Stage
The Falls Creek competition comes at an important time for the sport. Freeride skiing and snowboarding are set to make their Olympic debut at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, opening a potential new pathway for the young athletes currently progressing through junior competition.
Events such as Falls Creek’s FWT Junior 2* provide athletes with experience competing under freeride judging criteria while allowing them to develop their line selection, technique, style and confidence in natural terrain. For Australian athletes, the event also provides an opportunity to compete on home snow rather than traveling overseas to access the international junior circuit.
A New Chapter for Falls Creek
Falls Creek has long been one of Australia’s major ski resorts, but its first FWT Junior 2* event adds a new dimension to the resort’s competitive calendar. With around 120 young freeriders taking part, Rapunzel’s Run became the stage for Australia’s and New Zealand’s emerging freeride talent, while spectators packed the viewing areas around the course.
The combination of favorable conditions and a deep junior field made for a successful debut, according to Falls Creek.
The event also provided a glimpse at the athletes who could form Australia’s next generation of elite freeriders as the sport continues to expand internationally.
