Fifty centimetres of fresh snow from New Zealand's biggest storm of the season landed just in time for the 21st edition of The North Face Frontier, the Southern Hemisphere's standout freeride competition, held at The Remarkables ski field near Queenstown across late August and early September. The timing could hardly have been better: 110 skiers and snowboarders got a primed Shadow Basin for the 2-star event, then 70 of the world's best rode the Alta Chutes after an overnight 20cm dump for the 4-star finale.

Freeride works differently from most competitions — there's no set course. Athletes pick their own line down the face, and judges score creativity, difficulty, technique, control and style. Commit to an ambitious route and deliver it cleanly, and the points follow. Hesitate or slip, and you tumble down the rankings fast.

The 2-star event doubled as a Freeride World Qualifier, giving emerging riders a shot at ranking points and a pathway to bigger events. Kiwi Hamish Henderson took Men's Ski by riding fast and hard through the heavy snow, throwing a floaty 360 and landing the biggest double of the day, with Finbar Doig second and Sam Hewitt third — earning a wildcard to the 4-star. Australia's Lulu Laird dominated Women's Ski with a 94.00 for a technical run through Shadow Basin's steep central section, ahead of New Zealand's Ruby Hewitt (Sam's sister) and Britain's Phoebe Hughes.

In the board divisions, American Ellery Manning won Women's Snowboard with a fast, controlled charge through the main chute, beating France's Lou Guillon and Japan's Sayuki Aida. Men's Snowboard was decided by a single point, Kiwi Keani Wilson edging out American Duke Makani with a 360 off the famous Breakfast Rock.

Manning then backed it up by winning the Women's 4-star too, with Australia's Angelina Stratton second. Haruki Takeuchi of Japan took Men's Snowboard thanks to an opening frontflip and a double drop on the Dive cliff. Britain's India Cairns used raw speed and clean linking to win Women's Ski ahead of Laird and Japan's Mika Imai, while Germany's Mika Rolshoven produced a monstrous triple drop to claim Men's Ski from American Zebedee Schreiber and Switzerland's Leo Flett.

Why should a traveller care? Freeride is officially heading to the 2030 Winter Olympics, so events like this are where the next Olympic names are being made. The Frontier is also a genuinely fun spectator day — live commentary, music and a high-energy crowd in spectacular alpine terrain. And Queenstown in late winter is a superb base: several ski fields within an hour, a lively town, and the chance to watch world-class riding for free. If you're planning a snow trip to New Zealand's South Island, timing it around the Frontier is a smart way to combine your own days on the snow with front-row access to the sport's rising stars.

For full results and highlight reels, head to The North Face Frontier's own channels.