The Freeride World Tour (FWT) is set to return to the United States in March 2027, with Utah’s Snowbird hosting one of the two tour Finals stops on Mount Baldy. This event marks the first time since 2014 that the tour has taken place in the lower 48 states, showcasing the sport’s growing prominence in the U.S. The competition will run from March 16 to 22, and is part of a broader expansion of freeride skiing and snowboarding as the discipline prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. Snowbird, known for its steep and technical terrain, has hosted freeride competitions since 1998, making it a historic and fitting venue for this milestone event.

Recent developments underscore the rapid growth of freeride skiing and snowboarding in the U.S. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has officially integrated the discipline, launching the inaugural Stifel U.S. Freeride Team for the 2026-27 season, which includes thirteen athletes. The team features top competitors such as Mia Jones, the reigning FWT Snowboard Women’s champion and first FIS Freeride World Champion, along with ski medalists Toby Rafford and Ross Tester. Stifel’s sponsorship as the team’s title partner provides crucial corporate support as the sport gains international momentum with its upcoming Olympic inclusion.

Hosting the FWT Finals at Snowbird also offers significant benefits to American athletes and fans, providing a rare chance to compete at the sport’s highest level on home snow. The event draws the global freeride community to one of the U.S.’s most iconic venues, allowing local supporters, friends, and family to witness the world’s best freeriders in action. This is only the second recent U.S. stop, following an Alaska event in 2026, reflecting an intentional effort to raise the sport’s profile domestically and cultivate a stronger U.S. presence in the international freeride scene.

Snowbird’s longstanding legacy in competitive skiing complements the strategic efforts by U.S. Ski & Snowboard to boost mountain sports visibility through premier events held on U.S. soil. The broader push includes alpine skiing’s FIS World Cup Finals hosted in Sun Valley in 2025, highlighting a commitment to showcase elite competition at domestic venues. As freeride enters the Olympic stage, the challenge remains to sustain the sport’s core values of individual expression and respect for natural terrain while capitalizing on the increasing attention and growth opportunities before 2030.