{"id":2084480,"date":"2026-08-09T03:19:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T00:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2084480"},"modified":"2026-08-09T03:19:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T00:19:43","slug":"falls-creek-hosts-inaugural-freeride-world-tour-junior-2-event-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2084480","title":{"rendered":"Falls Creek Hosts Inaugural Freeride World Tour Junior 2* Event in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Junior FWT event at Falls Creek. | Image: Falls Creek \/ Vail Resorts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Around 120 of Australia and New Zealand\u2019s best young freeriders descended on Falls Creek<\/a>, Australia, this weekend for the resort\u2019s first Freeride World Tour (FWT) Junior 2<\/a> event, throwing down on Rapunzel\u2019s Run as spectators watched from Tower\u2019s chairlift and Blue Brumby. <\/strong>The competition brought together emerging skiers and snowboarders for a day of freeride competition on Falls Creek\u2019s natural terrain, giving the next generation of athletes a chance to compete on the Freeride World Tour Junior circuit.<\/p>\n

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. <\/strong>\u201cIt was an amazing success and the conditions were perfect for athletes to showcase their best,\u201d said Danny Foster, Senior Manager of Skier Services for Falls Creek.<\/p>\n

\u201cKids absolutely threw down!<\/strong> 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\u2019s an awesome platform for our athletes building up to that elite stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Junior FWT event at Falls Creek. | Image: Falls Creek \/ Vail Resorts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

U19 Winners<\/h2>\n

The U19 categories featured four winners across skiing and snowboarding.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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U19 Ski Men:<\/strong> Kobi Woods<\/p>\n

U19 Ski Women:<\/strong> Kyrra Tacilauskas<\/p>\n

U19 Snowboard Men:<\/strong> Gabe Hardwick<\/p>\n

U19 Snowboard Women:<\/strong> Clementine Wall<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

U17 Ski Men<\/h2>\n

The U17 Ski Men category featured 15 competitors, with Howard Barraclough taking the victory with 480 event points. <\/strong>The top 10 finished:<\/p>\n

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  1. Howard Barraclough<\/strong> \u2014 480 points<\/li>\n
  2. Grady Mitchell<\/strong> \u2014 360 points<\/li>\n
  3. Harley Bostock<\/strong> \u2014 280 points<\/li>\n
  4. Hamish Pringle<\/strong> \u2014 230 points<\/li>\n
  5. Max Pearson<\/strong> \u2014 200 points<\/li>\n
  6. Jackson Bayliss<\/strong> \u2014 175 points<\/li>\n
  7. Lachlan Brennan<\/strong> \u2014 160 points<\/li>\n
  8. Matthew Zollinger<\/strong> \u2014 150 points<\/li>\n
  9. Jayden Littlejohn<\/strong> \u2014 140 points<\/li>\n
  10. Harrison Bruce<\/strong> \u2014 135 points<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    No U17 women\u2019s or snowboard categories were contested at the Falls Creek event.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    U15 Winners<\/h2>\n

    The U15 divisions showcased some of the youngest athletes on the mountain, with four more riders taking top honors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    U15 Ski Men:<\/strong> Harlem Pec<\/p>\n

    U15 Ski Women:<\/strong> Sylvie Bostock<\/p>\n

    U15 Snowboard Men:<\/strong> Vinnie Douglas<\/p>\n

    U15 Snowboard Women:<\/strong> Willow Latimer<\/p>\n

    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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Freeriding Comes to the Olympic Stage<\/h2>\n

    The Falls Creek competition comes at an important time for the sport. <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n