The Silver Belt Classic Is the Wild West of Freeride—And the Next Gen Is Taking Over

The Revolution Will Be Hucked: Silver Belt Classic 2025 Delivers Absolute Carnage at Sugar Bowl

Adaptive skier Jay Rawe put down one of the best runs of the entire competition. With multiple backflips and enough air to fly a zeppelin, Rawe is so much fun to watch. Photo: Chris Segal, Sugar Bowl Resort

It’s not often a ski comp manages to feel like both a grassroots throwdown and a proving ground for the next generation of freeride royalty. But then again, the Silver Belt Classic isn’t your average contest.

Two years ago, big mountain crusher Xander Guldman had a vision: bring back Sugar Bowl’s legendary Silver Belt race—but make it freeride. Enter Bridget Legnavsky, Sugar Bowl’s President & CEO, who gave it the green light. Fast forward to 2025, and the second installment of the reborn Classic just detonated across Mt. Lincoln’s gnarliest terrain.

This isn’t a “send a 3 and hope for style points” kind of event. We’re talking mandatory doubles, cork 7s off cliffs, and stylish grabs thrown into variable snow like it's a Sunday park session. The podium? Teens outscoring veterans. Peer-judged runs. One-ski backflips. Madness.

Let’s break it down.

Men's ski second place finisher Kelly Killeke was the only competitor brave, or creative, enough to attempt a trick off this steep spine and cliff feature at the top of the venue. He landed in a splash of powder, but land he did. The crowd exploded with cheers. Photo: Jake Pollock, Sugar Bowl Resort

The Format: Pure Chaos, Perfectly Packaged

Athletes qualified through a Wednesday throwdown in Sugar Bowl’s off-piste playground. Heats were random, judging was peer-based, and the stoke was high. If you wanted a shot at finals, you had to throw down harder than anyone in your heat. Simple.

Once the 58 finalists hit the Silver Belt venue—an all-natural gully decked out with manmade features—it was game on. Two runs, one judged. It was rowdy, it was raw, and it was all about progression.

The Youth Are Leading the Charge

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Epsteyn threw a double backflip so clean it could’ve been CGI'd. That sealed her win on the women’s ski side, ahead of Indy Boyer’s gymnastic backflips and Ana Eyssimont’s smooth, hard-charging turns. These aren’t future stars—they’re already dominating.

On the men’s side, Norwegian phenom Robert Andre Ruud led the charge, with Kelly Killeke stealing hearts (and second place) thanks to his blend of style, guts, and a one-ski backflip attempt that nearly broke the internet.

Oh, and did we mention adaptive skier Jay Rawe? Dude threw multiple backflips and soared higher than most of the field. A true showstopper.

2025 Silver Belt Classic Women's Ski podium: 1st place: Hanna Epsteyn, 2nd place: Indy Boyer, 3rd place: Ana Eyssimont. Photo: Jake Pollock, Sugar Bowl Resort

The Vibes? Off the Charts

Forget judges in suits and over-produced livestreams. At Silver Belt, the riders judge each other. Everyone watches the best runs together in the lodge post-comp, beers in hand, cheering like it’s the Super Bowl.

It’s freeride in its purest form—rowdy, inclusive, and fully about the love of the game.

Looking Ahead

With names like Ross Tester, Xander Guldman, Jess Hotter, and Elena Messner showing up and throwing down, the Silver Belt Classic is quickly becoming a staple in the freeride calendar. But the real magic? It’s where the sport’s future isn’t just on display—it’s being written.

We’ll be back next year. You should be too.