KIRKWOOD, Calif. – Kirkwood Mountain Resort is set to welcome top freeride athletes this spring, hosting both a Freeride World Tour (FWT) Challenger event and the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA) Junior Freeride Championships (JFCs). 

On March 29 2025, the FWT Challenger, a pivotal competition for Freeride World Tour Qualifier riders, returns to Kirkwood this season. These Challenger events determine which athletes will advance to the elite FWT pro circuit next season. 

FWT events hold special significance at Kirkwood, as the resort has been home to several athletes who have gone on to compete on its world stage. Notable competitors include Molly Armanino, who finished 5th overall this season and secured 2nd place in 2023, and local legend, Josh Daiek. 

In addition, Kirkwood will host the 2025 IFSA Junior Freeride Championship from April 6 – 13, 2025. This is the largest junior freeride event in the world, bringing together the best athletes from North and South America to compete for the title of Champion of the Americas. The event will determine which athletes qualify for the Freeride Junior World Championships. 

Kirkwood’s junior freeride program has already helped develop athletes who have gained experience at the highest levels of competition. Athletes like Madison Ringham (Freeride Junior World Championships competitor in 2022 and 2023) and Evan Kim (2024 competitor) have emerged from this program and gone on to compete internationally.  

With a long-standing reputation for producing top freeride athletes, Kirkwood remains a premier venue for competitive freeride skiing and riding. With its endless playground of narrow chutes, big cliffs, and steep walls, Kirkwood is known for being a stomping ground for hard-charging freeride athletes. But beyond its legendary terrain, Kirkwood’s unique geographic location atop the Sierra Crest contributes to its famed ‘K-Factor’, a defining characteristic that makes the resort a standout destination for freeride competition. 

Both competitions will take place in The Cirque, a renowned, steep, north-facing, and technically complex zone regarded as one of the best freeride venues in North America. Permanently closed to the public, The Cirque opens only for elite freeride competitions like the JFCs and FWT Challenger events.