Arc’teryx Freeride Academy 2026: A mountain experience like no other
Photo by Henrieke Ibing
From February 5 to 8, the 5th edition of the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy turned the town of St. Anton am Arlberg into a playground for powder chasers, safety enthusiasts, and everyone in between: a growing community that continues to evolve with intention and depth, year after year.
The numbers tell part of the story. For the first time, the clinic program surpassed 500 spots, welcoming 350 individual participants from 28 nationalities. Sixty guides and twenty athletes delivered the program across the weekend. Most importantly: zero injuries. Not just good planning, but a reflection of the care embedded in every clinic design.
Gallery by Philipp Siefken
The energy extended far beyond the mountain. The expanded Freeride Village attracted over 5,000 visitors over the weekend, with 13 events drawing over 900 attendees, including film nights, talks, and workshops. The music program alone brought 1,000+ people together, thanks to Laurence Guy, Logic1000, Berf, and more. The ReBIRD Service Center handled countless repairs while over 200 rental products moved through the Gear Library.
The Women's programming saw meaningful expansion, with 17 women-specific clinics, including two new offerings. One of them was First jumps in the Backcountry with Coline Ballet-Baz, where three participants hit their first backflips. The women's community panel brought together Tonje Kvivik, Coline Ballet-Baz, Lucy Sackbauer, and photographer Layla Kerley, sharing their experiences and passing on knowledge.
Gallery by Henrieke Ibing
Philipp Siefken, longtime Pleasure contributor described the weekend like this:
“Thursday kicked off with product presentations, a media workshop, followed by dinner, and sledding under the night sky. Friday brought the Advanced Freeride Snowboarding clinic, hangouts in the Brand Village, and a panel talk. Saturday brought the clinic “Interpret Nature through your own Perception” with Severin van der Meer, paired with more hangouts and a proper party. The Brand Village itself became its own draw: Test booths, the Arcteryx X Gore-Tex ReBIRD Center for free gear repairs, the Gear Library, a goodie truck from YETI, and a DJ booth.”
What's striking is how this event mirrors something you see in the best grassroots gatherings, the willingness to expand thoughtfully while keeping the vibe intact. The numbers grow. The programming deepens. The community widens. But the soul of it remains: people showing up to share knowledge, celebrate progression, and take care of each other on and off the hill.
Gallery by Matt Georges