Freeride Talent Shines at The Remarkables for The North Face Frontier 4 & 2-Star Events
Mountainwatch | Press release
The 2026 season of The Freeride World Tour Qualifier continued on New Zealand snow on the weekend, with The Remarkables Ski Area once again providing the venue for The North Face Frontier. Elite skiers and snowboarders lit up the iconic Alta Chutes, charging the steep, exposed terrain in pursuit of podium places as well as crucial points which could see them advance to the elite FWT Challenger roster.
A feature on the international freeride calendar since 2009, The North Face Frontier is renowned for attracting a competitive global field alongside a fierce contingent of NZ athletes gunning for victory on home snow. This weekend’s podium featured a dynamic mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars from both hemispheres.
Creativity, control, and commitment were the name of the game, and the judges awarded top scores where style, technique, and line choice came together in one fluid run.
August 23rd– 4-star Event
Competition opened with the women’s snowboard category. With the conditions still icy to start, Japan’s Hana Kinoshita stood out as the clear winner thanks to her strong technique and control. Keeping the run fluid as she linked turns down the face, Kinoshita also scored highly for air and style.
“It was pretty icy and a bit nerve-wracking, but mostly I was excited and I wanted to have fun,” explained Kinoshita. “I felt like I could have pushed myself a little more, but mostly I’m pretty satisfied with my run.”
2024 winner Jaimie Figueira (CAN) also showed good speed and control in her run to finish in second place, followed by Sweden’s Johanna Lindqvist, another familiar Frontier face, in third.
The North Face athlete Vaughan Hardwick (AUS) was the standout rider in men’s 4-star snowboard event, taking place on scoring 97.33 points and the win. After crashing in last year’s edition of the Frontier, Hardwick was keen to stay on his feet this time around but was also determined to hit the Pipeline feature, knowing that would be the place to go for points. Coming fast out of the gate and through the rock section up the top of the course he landed a huge double, managing to hold his heel edge coming out of the chute before finishing with a 360 at the bottom of the course.
“The run went to plan and I did everything I wanted to do, making sure I got Pipeline in this time,” explained Hardwick. “It was very icy up the top which made it hard to close down speed but the snow was softer further down so I could slow down a bit. It was pretty challenging but fun as always.”
In a repeat of his 2024 result, second place went to New Zealand’s Mitchell Davern with one of the most stylish runs of the day incorporating a back 3, front 3 combo, and fast, confident riding.
Japan’s Temma Tamai rode his way to a strong third-place finish, setting a fast pace through the top of the course and demonstrating fluid riding through the coulouir before finishing with a backflip at the bottom of the course.
Britain’s Harriet Lucas opened the women’s category and immediately set the bar, earning a score of 88.67 and never relinquishing the hot seat. The only woman to hit the Pipeline chute and landing a big air out of the bottom, Lucas stood out with her solid technique and speed through the course.
“My aim was to get into Pipeline, and when I got it there it was way bigger than I thought it was going to be but I managed to hold all when I landed and skied out. I just tried to ski as smoothly as I could. I’ve never dropped first before so I was feeling the pressure but in the end, I think it helped me. I didn’t have anyone else to compare myself to so I just went for it.”
NZ’s Jessie Violet, winner of the 2024 and 2023 Frontier 4-star events, finished her day in second place, starting her run with an air off the top features, and demonstrating aggressive skiing with a big backflip to finish her run.
Fellow Kiwi, Jess Hotter skied a similar line, starting with an air at the top of the course, slightly slower than Violet through the exposed top section before settling into a fluid, efficient pace and landing two backflips for third place on the podium.
After crashing in last year’s Frontier competition, New Zealander Luke McConnell had been putting some hard work into his skiing and came into his run looking for redemption.
“Last year, I came here and my head was just not in the game. This year, I’m so into it, I’ve been doing lots of gym training, lots of skiing, and I was fired up, ready to go,” explained McConnell. “I made a last-minute call to go into Pipeline and it paid off, I’m so happy with my run”.
The judges shared the Kiwi’s enthusiasm, awarding him first place for his unique line and fast, well-controlled skiing. Starting with a 360 at the top of the course, McConnell headed skier’s left to hit a double drop before making his way to the Pipeline chute, risking a big air with a massive amount of exposure below it, before stomping another double to finish his run.
Australian Coen Bennie Faull was also quick on his feet and showed exceptional ski technique, finishing a very close second just over a point behind McConnell. Starting his run with an air at the top of the course, Bennie Faull was fast and fluid through the rocky section up top before taking air into the main couloir. He opted for the more challenging line on the skier’s left of Pipeline, turning it into a big double and landing clean.
Ben Leifer (USA) landed the biggest move of the day with an enormous double in the middle of the couloir, and finished in third, just one point behind second place.
August 24th – 2-star Event
Day two delivered more high-octane action at The Remarkables Ski Area as a packed field of 110 hard-charging skiers and snowboarders competed in the 2-star Freeride World Tour Qualifier event.
Returning to the Alta Chutes but with different course options from the previous day’s 4-star event, competitors were on the hunt for bold lines and a way to impress the judges by delivering the right combination of fluidity, control, style and technique. Hanging in the balance was not only a spot on the podium, but valuable qualifying points for the FWT Challenger as well as the FIS Freeride World Championships.
Joshua Bull (USA) started his day excited to compete and was even more excited to finish in first place, improving on his third-place finish in 2024. Coming hot out of the start gates, he showcased good technique with strong turns before spinning tricks every way possible – including right and left 360s, a front flip and off-axis backflip – down the rest of the venue. The judges were impressed not only by his tricks, but the fact that he hit some of the biggest features on the course and nailed clean landings.
“I was stoked to put it to my feet,” said Bull at the finish. “I came in super excited and a little nervous but it all worked and I’m hyped.”
Local skier, Lach Powell (NZ), who’s no stranger to freeride podiums at this venue, once again showed his mastery of the Alta Chutes and finished his day in second place, scoring well for air and style and strong technique.
Fellow Kiwi Ethan McLean finished in third place, also demonstrating strong technique with his turns at the top of the course before stomping big airs on his way to the finish line.
Another New Zealander on top form for today’s competition was Jess Hotter, stepping up from her third place in the 4-star competition to win the women’s 2-star ski category. The judges rewarded her for confident skiing and showing excellent technique and control. Hitting a cliff feature that no one else had tackled that day, the commentators referred to this as the ‘Jess Hotter Cliff’ for the rest of the competition.
“I’m pretty stoked with how my run went all in all. It’s hard to get through the rocks to where you want to go at the moment, but I managed to do everything I wanted to in my run so I’m happy,” explained Hotter.
Last to drop was the men’s snowboard category with 4-star winner Vaughn Hardwick claiming victory again. Earning 97.33 from a possible 100 points, there wasn’t much to fault in Hardwick’s run, with stylish front and backside 360s and a backflip off the wind lip to finish.
“I’m really happy to have a good run again and doing well is a bonus,” said Hardwick. “I got a couple of tricks in and made it down safely so I’m happy. I was feeling pretty stoked after yesterday.”
Second place went to New Zealander James Thompson who opted for a more traditional big mountain line, heading into the exposed rock sections on course and dropping the cliffs with solid landings and control.
Japan’s Haruki Takeuchi was third, standing out to the judges with a unique line and an impressive 360 in the fall line.
Canadian Jaimie Figueira, back for her fifth edition of The North Face Frontier and no stranger to the podium, took out the win in the women’s snowboard division. Sticking in the fall line and getting good air time, she linked fast, fluid turns all the way to the finish line.
“It was pretty spicy up the top, icy and rocky up there,” explained Figueira. “I was hoping to get through it just as fast as I could, and once I was in the main chute, I had some good flow and momentum. I hit the two airs at the bottom which I was really happy with. I was nervous about hitting them so I’m pretty proud of myself for that.”
Taking out second place in yesterday 4-star event, the Canadian said she’d enjoyed a relaxed approach to competition today. “The pressure was off which meant you could push yourself but still have fun.”
Italy’s Stefania Canclini, competing in just her fourth-ever competition was also delighted to finish her day in second place. She stood out for her strong technique and speed on course, incorporating small airs at the top of the course and finishing up with a stylish nose grab off the wind lip near the finish line.
Third place went to Angelina Stratton (Australia) who also put down a confident run, not holding back and hitting features with solid landings.
With standout performances across all categories and a deep field of international talent, the 2-star event at The Remarkables proved once again why The North Face Frontier remains a cornerstone of the freeride calendar.
4-Star Results
Women’s ski
- Harriet Lucas (GBR) 88.67
- Jessie Violet (NZL) 85.33
- Jessica Hotter (NZL) 81.00
Men’s ski
- Luke McConnell (NZL) 86.33
- Coen Bennie-Faull (AUS) 85.00
- Ben Leifer (USA) 84.00
Men’s snowboard
- Vaughan Hardwick (AUS) 97.33
- Mitchell Davern (NZL) 95.00
- Temma Tamai (JPN) 89.67
Women’s snowboard
- Hana Kinoshita (JPN) 82.00
- Jaimie Figueira (CAN) 75.33
- Johanna Lindqvist (SWE) 71.33
2 Star Results
Women’s ski
- Jess Hotter (NZL) 87.67
- Harriet Lucas (GBR) 84.33
- Carmela Olmo (ESP) 82.00
Men’s ski
- Joshua Bull (USA) 97.67
- Lach Powell (NZL) 95.67
- Ethan McLean (NZL) 93.67
Men’s snowboard
- Vaughan Hardwick (AUS)85.67
- James Thompson (NZL) 83.33
- Haruki Takeuchi (JPN( 78.33=
Women’s snowboard
- Jaimie Figueira (CAN) 80.00
- Stefania Canclini (ITA) 75.67
- Angelina Stratton (AUS) 73.00
