Wānaka’s Finn Bilous (24) has finished in third place at the final stop of the 2024 Freeride World Tour, held at Bec des Rosses in Verbier Switzerland overnight (March 22). 

Finn impressed the judges and delighted the crowd with a gnarly 360 over the Hollywood cliff and a huge cross-court 360 on the super exposed face.

“We came here last year, looked at this face for a whole week and never got to ski it, so it has been percolating away in the back of my brain,” Finn said.

“Conditions lined up this year and I had to do it [the 360]. I am glad it worked out, it was pretty scary with the flat light in there and punchy snow but I am stoked with how it turned out.” 

Finn Bilous spinning a 360 off the Hollywood Cliff. PHOTO: Jeremy Bernard / Freeride World Tour

The men’s categories dropped in from the very top of the Bec des Rosses for the first time since 2018, providing some of the most technical and exposed terrain in any freeride competition. 

The conditions on the face over the last five years have been challenging, rendering the top of the mountain unsafe so lower start positions have been used instead. 

“The Bec des Rosses is scary, straight up,” Finn said. 

“I’m really glad to be at the bottom and to see the whole field get down safe and sound is a big win today.”

Finn joined Marcus Goguen (first) of Canada and Germany’s Max Hitzig on the podium.

Men’s Ski Podium [L-R] Max Hitzig, Marcus Goguen, Finn Bilous. PHOTO: Dom Daher / Freeride World Tour

Fellow Kiwi and winner of last week’s Freeride World Tour stop in Fieberbrunn Ben Richards (Wānaka, 24) finished in fifth place. 

This competition was the final event of the 2024 Freeride World Tour. The overall champions were crowned with Max Hitzig taking the title in the Men’s Ski category. Ben finished in third with Finn fourth.