Canadian skier Justine Dufour-Lapointe, the reigning 2023 Freeride World Tour (FWT) Champion and two-time Olympic medalist, made an emphatic return to the Tour by taking top honors in the Ski Women category at the Baqueira Beret Pro by Movistar. With a commanding score of 82.00 points, Dufour-Lapointe proved that her year-long hiatus in 2024 only honed her resilience and competitive edge, reaffirming her status as a leading force in freeride skiing.
From Moguls to the FWT
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, the 30-year-old Dufour-Lapointe successfully transitioned from mogul skiing—where she captured gold at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and silver at PyeongChang 2018—to claim freeride’s highest accolade, the FWT World Champion title, in her rookie season in 2023. Inspired by the creativity and challenges of freeride culture, she embraced the sport’s boundless opportunities. Stepping away in 2024 allowed her to recalibrate her focus before returning in 2025, determined to champion women’s freeride skiing while pursuing personal growth off the snow.
Precision on La Bamba Face
Justine, a Mammut Athlete, delivered a performance built on composure, precision, and creativity while competing on the steep, technical terrain of La Bamba face in the Spanish Pyrenees. Beginning with controlled yet fluid turns high on the exposed lines, she navigated the face’s heavy snow and variable lighting with clarity. Midway through her run, she linked two airs seamlessly, demonstrating instinctive flow and Olympic-caliber confidence under pressure.
The standout moment arrived near the base, where Dufour-Lapointe showcased her freeride flair with a massive backflip off a wind lip—executed with flawless technique and undeniable style. She followed up with a sharp shifty, maintaining speed and momentum to cap the run with a clean final air, stomping her landing with precision. Her masterful blend of skill, athleticism, and artistry earned her the top spot on the podium, narrowly outscoring France’s Astrid Cheylus (7.00 points) and Poland’s Zuzanna Witych (73.33 points)
“At the start, I felt the nerves creeping in, but I trusted in my preparation, followed my instincts, and reminded myself to simply ski with joy,” Dufour-Lapointe reflected.
A Symbolic Victory
This triumph represented more than a competitive win for Dufour-Lapointe—it was a statement of personal and professional resilience. Balancing off-snow commitments with an enduring passion for freeride, she returned to the FWT not just to compete but to inspire. Her victory cements her position as the current FWT 2025 standings leader with 10,000 points and sets an ambitious tone for the season as she chases the goal of reclaiming the championship.
With four events remaining before The Cut, Dufour-Lapointe’s journey is one to watch. Whether carving her path through technical terrain or landing jaw-dropping airs, “Little Tiger” is redefining boundaries for women’s freeride skiing and inspiring the next generation to follow in her tracks
