Last Sunday, spurred by the talents of Astrid Cheylus and Mila De Le Rue, freeskiing took a big step forward during the 2025 Nendaz Backcountry Invitational.
The event, held in Nendaz, Switzerland, combines big mountain powder skiing with backcountry freestyle. In plain English—the event organizers selected a rolling off-piste run, peppering it with handcrafted jumps and allowing athletes to show off their freeride and freestyle chops. Whoever can throw down the hardest wins.
The day of the competition saw soft snow and clear skies, allowing Cheylus and De Le Rue, among others, to flex their skills. The skiers landed in first place and second place, respectively, after their first runs. Then, during the second run of the day, Cheylus upped the ante with a double backflip.
“You are becoming a legend at this right moment,” announcer Elise Boeuf said as Cheylus rode away from the double. Tap or click to watch the video below.
While women have attempted double backflips during backcountry freestyle events—namely Veronica Paulsen at the Kings & Queens of Corbet’s—Cheylus, according to the Nendaz Backcountry Invitational organizers, is the first to land one mid-competition.
One world’s first is enough for one competition, but De Le Rue, during her third run, backed Cheylus up, also launching—and stomping—a double backflip.
According to this post from The North Face UK, it was De Le Rue’s first double backflip. Tap or click to watch the video below.
The trailblazing didn’t stop there. Jake Müller of the men’s Nendaz field stomped another mind-blowing move: a triple backflip. Tap or click to watch the video below.
For Cheylus, the Nendaz Backcountry Invitational may prove to be a warmup for her primary competitive arena of choice— the Freeride World Tour. Last winter, she claimed second overall on the Tour. In the coming days, she’ll face off against former Freeride World Tour champions Elisabeth Gerritzen, Arianna Tricomi, and Justine Dufour-Lapointe in Baqueira-Beret, Spain.
With an equally talented men’s roster that includes the likes of Ben Richards and Marcus Goguen set to drop at Baqueira-Beret, maybe we’ll get to see some more doubles across the male and female competitive fields.
I wouldn’t hold your breath for another triple, though—the Freeride World Tour, unlike the Nendaz Backcountry Invitational, doesn’t construct manmade jumps on its venues. Going upside down three times without a perfect cheese wedge is a tall order.
Related: Jackson Hole Releases Stacked 2025 Kings and Queens of Corbet’s Roster
Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.
