Kappl remains a hotspot for the next generation of freeriders – as the venue for one of the most important junior events in international freeride sport.
The Freeride Junior World Championships are among the most important junior events on the international freeride calendar, and since 2012, the world's best young freeriders have gathered here annually – by invitation only. In 2022, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) took over the Freeride World Tour and integrated the competition more closely into the international winter sports structure. Now, during the Freeride World Tour stop in Fieberbrunn, a new contract for hosting the YETI FIS Freeride Junior World Championships was signed. Freeride World Tour founder and CEO Nicolas Hale-Woods, Martin Ladner (Kappl Mountain Lifts), and Thomas Köhle (Paznaun-Ischgl Tourism Association) extended the event for another five years until 2032. This underscores the region's long-term commitment to promoting young freeride talent.
The competition is aimed at athletes between 14 and 18 years old. At the 2026 event in Kappl, junior athletes from 13 nations demonstrated their skills, and four new FIS Freeride Junior World Champions were crowned in the categories of women's skiing, men's skiing, women's snowboarding, and men's snowboarding. Martin Ladner, authorized signatory of the Kappl mountain lifts, explains: „The Freeride Junior World Championships have proven to be a great success for the Kappl mountain lifts right from the start. The event has allowed us to attract freeriders from all over the world as a new and very enthusiastic group of visitors to Kappl. Many athletes now return regularly – a lasting effect from which we benefit every year. With the Quellspitze and the Alblittkopf, we have two mountains that offer almost perfect faces for freeriders throughout the entire winter. The Alblittkopf, in particular, offers exceptionally long and varied descents with numerous line options and striking cliffs. This combination makes Kappl especially attractive for freeride competitions and gives the area a special status in the international freeride scene.“
And Thomas Köhle, The managing director of the Paznaun-Ischgl Tourism Association emphasizes: „With the signing of the five-year contract until 2032, we are sending a strong signal for the future of freeriding in the Paznaun Valley. The YETI FIS Freeride Junior World Championships 2026 in Kappl once again impressively demonstrated the potential of the next generation of this sport. Numerous athletes from five continents showcased their skills here, impressively highlighting the international appeal of this discipline. For us at the Paznaun-Ischgl Tourism Association, it is both a great pleasure and a responsibility to actively support this development. Freeriding has long been a defining element of alpine winter sports culture and stands for adventure, experiencing nature, and sporting innovation. This long-term partnership provides planning security and allows us to continue positioning Kappl and the entire region as a stage for young talents from around the world. Such events are not only significant from a sporting perspective but also relevant to tourism: They strengthen the international perception of the Paznaun Valley as a modern winter sports destination and simultaneously demonstrate how closely the region is connected.“ Elite sport, the promotion of young talent and sustainable tourism can be linked together. We are therefore very pleased to be able to further advance the development of freeriding together with our partners in the coming years.”