His path to glory was not the most direct, but Wei Tien Ho claimed his first Freeride World Tour (FWT) gold medal at none other than the Yeti Xtreme Verbier.
The Whistlerite took his inaugural run on the Bec des Rosses as if he were already a veteran. He confidently navigated the face's steep upper portion before stomping a giant backflip, an emphatic 360 and an outside-the-box double pop through the icefall for 84.33 points.
"It's an honour to win the Xtreme Verbier," Ho said in a press release. "I can't believe it, and I couldn't have asked for a better end to the season—it's the cherry on top!"
Freshly-dethroned Verbier king Marcus Goguen had to settle for fourth (69.17), but clockwork-like consistency through the season vaulted him atop the overall men's ski rankings nonetheless.
"This title means the world to me; it's been a childhood dream, and achieving it alongside my friend Wei Tien Ho, who won today, makes it even more special," Goguen told the media. "I couldn't have asked for a better outcome."
Ross Tester, who like Ho qualified for the 2025 FWT as a wildcard entrant, clinched silver (76.67). Tester's fellow American, Rookie of the Year Toby Rafford, earned bronze (72.67).
Rafford also found himself third overall, with Swiss ace Martin Bender in the runner-up hole behind Goguen.
Back to her winning ways
Justine Dufour-Lapointe cemented her second FWT title with silver in Verbier (77.00). The former Canadian Olympic moguls queen displayed versatility and experience with a run that only one ladies' skier could beat.
That individual was Jenna Keller of Switzerland, who ended her scintillating rookie year with a masterclass (82.00). Germany's Lena Köhler encoutered more difficulty on the Bec des Rosses, but still did enough for third (48.33).
"Winning this second title feels even more special after the challenges I have faced," Dufour-Lapointe explained in a release. "I went into this season just wanting to enjoy the ride, but I love to push myself and perform at my best. This win reminds me how incredible life is and that anything is possible when you commit with your heart and mind. I feel so proud and grateful to be part of this amazing freeride community, and this is a moment I will cherish forever."
Keller remarked: "I am shaking all over. It is crazy to think that I never had many wins in my freeride career, and now winning this competition feels like a dream come true."
Frenchwoman Astrid Cheylus locked up third in the overall behind Dufour-Lapointe and Keller.
Historic finish
Freeride snowboard fans know the name Victor de Le Rue well, and for good reason: he just laid claim to his fourth FWT crown. In so doing, he tied French compatriot Marion Haerty's all-time record and superseded older brother Xavier de Le Rue's trifecta of titles.
Victor notched 89.00 points to wind up third, but even he wasn't able to match the outstanding performance of triumphant British athlete Cody Bramwell (92.67). Liam Rivera snuck onto the podium in second place after an excellent run of his own (90.00).
As a result, the men's overall standings go: Victor, Bramwell and Rivera in that order.
"I am incredibly happy to make history with this title," Victor said. "It was a goal from the start of the season, but the competition was tough, and conditions were challenging. It all came down to the final run, and I am grateful for how everything played out."
Then there was Noémie Equy, who took her victory lap in style. She'd already made France proud by locking down the campaign title in Fieberbrunn weeks ago, but won yet again (89.67). Michaela Davis Meehan's silver medal effort (83.00) put her into overall runner-up position, and Núria Castán Barón took bronze on both the day and the season (74.00).
"Winning the title and the Xtreme Verbier in my rookie season is more than I could have ever expected," said Equy, one of the world's most dominant big-mountain snowboarders. "I am really happy with how everything turned out, and now I am looking forward to celebrating and working on getting even better for next winter."
Click here for more details from the 2025 FWT finale in Verbier.
