Nendaz, Valais, Switzerland — February 12, 2026
The Nendaz Backcountry Invitational by The North Face, held on February 7, 2026, in a secret high-alpine venue at approximately 3,000 meters above sea level in Nendaz, Valais, will premiere its official live show broadcast on Sunday, February 15 at 18:00 CET on YouTube:
Watch here:
The sixth edition brought together 16 elite athletes (11 men and 5 women) from around the world — including professional skiers, Olympians, Freeride World Tour athletes, and emerging talents — competing in exceptional powder conditions following 10 cm of fresh snowfall and stable snowpack under bluebird skies.
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Elite Performance Meets Community Spirit
Each athlete completed three runs across three rounds in a venue combining freeride terrain with hand-shaped kickers, park features and natural features.
The competition operates under a hybrid Rider Judge Format:
• Athletes reviewed FPV drone footage together after the event.
• Riders voted for the best run of each round, generating a community-driven Top 3.
• Technical judge Malo Jobin scored all runs using defined performance criteria to establish the final ranking and resolve ties.
While the performance level is uncompromisingly elite, the atmosphere emphasises shared progression over rivalry.
“It was amazing. Definitely the best competition I’ve ever done. It would be a pleasure to come back next year.”