Wānaka’s Ben Richards (25) has opened the 2026 Freeride World Tour in spectacular fashion, taking first place in the Ski Men’s category at the Baqueira Beret Pro in Spain on Friday (January 16).

The win puts him at the top of the standings after the inaugural stop of the world’s premier freeride competition, which attracts the best big-mountain skiers on the planet. 

The event was held in the Spanish Pyrenees, where difficult lead-in conditions were followed by a metre of fresh snow and blue skies on competition day, drawing a crowd of about 3,000 spectators.

“The goal was a clean run, then he switched into another gear,” freeride coach and team manager Blake Marshall said.

“Overall the aim was to put down a line Ben was inspired to ski. When he’s inspired, he skis really well.”

Ben delivered a fluid, controlled run that combined speed with technical difficulty, including a Lincoln Loop backflip and a 360 into a fast, committing drop. His score of 86.67 was enough to edge out American Toby Rafford and Canadian Wei-Ten Ho in a tight contest for the podium.

Ben was named Rookie of the Year in 2024 after finishing third overall, then followed that with a fifth-place overall ranking in 2025, including two podium finishes. He also placed third at the same Spanish season-opener last year.

The Freeride World Tour now moves to Val Thorens, France.

PHOTO: JBernard & DDaher