Well, conditions aren't always what freeriders dream of. While Kappl in the Tyrolean Paznaun Valley, like its neighbor Ischgl further up the valley, offers ideal conditions for carving through the snow off-piste, Mother Nature wasn't exactly generous with snowfall these past few days – and yet the avalanche danger level of 3 shouldn't be underestimated. However, this didn't dampen the spirits at the "YETI FIS Freeride Junior World Championships 2026" in Kappl. It was astonishing what feats were achieved, even on the already tracked-out terrain of the Alblittköpfe North Face (2720 m), which is quite suitable for spectators on other days, as this route replaced the otherwise used "iconic" Quellspitze.
Overall, the rules in the junior category are quite strict: skiing or snowboarding upside down is not allowed. "I think every participant could do a double backflip or cork," says Tom Löffler, one of the organizers. However, in recent years the focus has shifted from dangerous jumps towards flow and skiing technique; the daring tricks remain reserved for the Challenger and Open Faces competitions for adults.
The Kappl ski area itself stretches across 42 kilometers of slopes, offering a wide range of options even for experienced skiers. A network of 10 lifts provides excellent access to the terrain, and the recently opened Diasbahn lift makes getting in from the valley very convenient and quick. The highest point of the developed ski area is almost 2,700 meters, allowing skiers to descend over 1,500 meters on the famous Latten run down to the valley. Thanks to excellent snowmaking and grooming, this is possible well into spring, even though the area is predominantly on the sunny side. Or, as the current Ski Guide Austria 2026 puts it: "Especially in spring, the ideal scenario is: ski on the south-facing slopes in Kappl in the morning, then in See in the afternoon with the same ticket. In Kappl, no one should miss the Blanken run from the Lattenjoch."„
From the atmospheric bib draw onward, the 67 riders (aged 14 to 18) dominated the village scene. The highlight of the youth presence was undoubtedly the awards ceremony for the Freeride Junior World Championships in the village center. How different it was from other similar events! The fans' enthusiasm was even underscored by a projectile thrown at the third-placed Swiss freerider, Nima Janet-Moreillon, which she deflated with the trophy she had just received, as elegantly as she did with a grin. Since then, she's had two half-prizes… Winners were also carried onto the stage by their teammates – where the second-placed Austrian freeskier, Jem Müller, emptied a beer can thrown to him into his ski boot and then drank it all. His mother, an Englishwoman, was less than thrilled with her son's antics: "I've never seen him do that before." Nevertheless, his dedicated parents will certainly continue to invest (and have to invest) a great deal in the careers of their two successful sons.
As with all youth events, parents naturally made up a large part of the audience. A special role was played by the parents of Freeski World Champion Jana Häusl, who successfully defended her title from 2024. The 17-year-old from St. Anton am Arlberg in Tyrol, who landed several 360s in her run, celebrated on the podium less extravagantly, but no less enthusiastically. Her parents, Geli and Stefan, play a special role in the freeride scene, as both were highly successful freeriders, and Stefan Häusl coaches his own international freeride team in Arlberg, which includes the two Austrian medal winners.
Kids who are still learning the ropes of off-piste skiing can find themselves at the Sunny Mountain Adventure Park in Kappl – a specially designed area where they can learn to ski in a playful way. The mascot "Flaxi" provides additional entertainment, as do various child-friendly attractions.