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Review of the 2025–2026 Ski Season Kalavrita Ski Resort
With a strong international presence and an atmosphere that athletes themselves described as “unmatched,” the 2026 FREERIDE CONTEST GR MT HELMOS by THE NORTH FACE concluded successfully, once again confirming Greece’s steady presence on the global map of the Freeride World Tour (FWT).
The official FWT Qualifier 2★ & Junior event took place on February 21–23, 2026, at the Kalavryta Ski Resort, co-organized by WayOut Adventures. The competition attracted both Greek and international athletes who competed for valuable points toward the global ranking.
What set this year’s edition apart was not only the high competitive level, but also the overall mountain experience, perfectly captured in the words of the Ski Men category winner, Matteo Cianciaruso:
“I’ve been competing for a few years around the Alps, but this was by far the event I enjoyed the most – your vibes really are unmatched. I’ll surely be back.”
— Matteo Cianciaruso, 1st SKI Men
Over the three days of competition, the true spirit of freeride came to life: technique, patience, and authentic mountain experience. The first two days were marked by rapidly changing weather conditions, testing the readiness of the safety team, organizers, and athletes alike. The collaboration among all parties proved crucial for the smooth execution of the event and for maintaining the high standards of the Freeride World Tour.
Clean Monday delivered the ideal setting: sunshine, fresh snow, and mild wind conditions created the perfect weather window for impressive runs. Athletes across all categories, from Qualifiers to Juniors, showcased high-level performances featuring technical precision, strategic line selection, and mature risk management. The overall competitive level was exceptionally high, with big drops and clean landings highlighting the continued evolution of the freeride scene in Greece and internationally.
The strong presence of young athletes in the U18 categories was particularly noteworthy. Competing on the same venue, they demonstrated maturity and technical skill that inspire optimism for the next generation of Greek freeride.
Beyond the competition, the three-day event unfolded as a complete mountain culture experience. The ALLWYN Lounge at the Chalet became the main meeting point during waiting periods, while on Saturday BRB (Nepenthe) kept the energy high at Altos Tequila on the Slopes. On Sunday, Myronas Stratis powered up the crowd at the VIKOS Below Zero Sessions Vol.1. Throughout the competition runs, the Red Bull Event Car set the soundtrack at the finish area beneath the iconic THE NORTH FACE arch, elevating both the competitive intensity and the overall experience for athletes and spectators.
…and the winners are
SKI U18
1st – Marinos Panagakos
2nd – Lydia Gizeli
SNOWBOARD U18
1st – Dimitris Tsiros
2nd – Nikolas Karageorgiou
3rd – Penelope Georgiopoulou
SNOWBOARD Women
1st – Iro Panagakou
2nd – Anastasia Pitidi
3rd – Kayla Heliou Le Heux
SKI Women
1st – Andriana Beldekou
2nd – Kayla Heliou Le Heux
SNOWBOARD Men
1st – Fotis Asvestas
2nd – Vasilis Karageorgiou
3rd – Giorgos Stavrakis
SKI Men
1st – Matteo Cianciaruso
2nd – Dimitris Sotiropoulos
3rd – Theodoros Bougioukos
The winners received significant prizes with the support of CLIMBER KLAOUDATOS (Black Crows skis), BOARD GENERATION (Völkl skis), MICROEXTREME (Jones Snowboards board), MORE LIFE Distribution (Smith goggles, Boompods powerbank & speaker), and of course THE NORTH FACE (duffels, backpacks, and participant gifts). The Kalavryta Ski Resort also awarded season passes to the first-place winners of each category.
Warm thanks to the athletes, partners, sponsors, the Kalavryta Ski Resort team, the organizing committee, and the Freeride World Tour. Through the collective effort of everyone involved, FREERIDE CONTEST GR continues to reach new heights — where the mountain, the community, and the sport truly come together.
