American rookie Tams Marvell will not compete again on the Freeride World Tour (FWT) this season after sustaining knee and shoulder injuries.
Marvell appeared in the FWT’s first event of the 2025 season—the Baqueira Beret Pro—but had his run cut short after over-rotating a backflip above exposed terrain. He lost his footing before cartwheeling through a rocky portion of the La Bamba venue. Marvell skied away from the crash but, in a video statement posted on the Freeride World Tour Instagram account, later revealed that he’d hurt his knee and shoulder.
“Super bummed; I was super excited to qualify for the Tour and be able to showcase my skiing, but stuff happens,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting surgery done with and getting healed up, and hoping to come back stronger than ever,” he added. “Hopefully, I’ll be back next season … I’ll be watching and cheering everybody on.”
Photo: Freeride World Tour
Marvell’s departure isn’t the first roster shake-up for this season’s FWT. The male and female fields saw two season-long injury withdrawals ahead of the Baqueira Beret Pro.
Max Hitzig, the 2024 FWT champion, was sidelined after injuring himself in December.
“I’m not mentally or physically prepared to compete on the FWT,” Hitzig said in a statement announcing the competitive hiatus. “It’s a difficult decision, but my focus remains on recovery. Thank you for your understanding and support!”
The women’s roster lost Sybille Blanjean, who hurt her back. Former champion Elisabeth Gerritzen took Blanjean’s place after being awarded a season wildcard.
“This last-minute invite was completely unexpected and, of course, bittersweet as it comes due to my friend Sybille being out with an injury,” said Gerritzen.
The Freeride World Tour next convenes for the Val Thorens Pro tomorrow at 8:15 CET (2:15 a.m. EST). Coordinators for the event have selected Lac Noir as the competition’s venue. The 1,600 vertical foot face has seen several rounds of recent snowfall, according to the FWT, which should allow competitors to perform at their best.
“Feedback from forerunners has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the snow quality and the variety of features,” the FWT wrote in a press release shared with POWDER, describing Lac Noir.
The event can be watched for free as a live stream or replay on the FWT’s website.
Related: One The Year’s Best Big Mountain Ski Films Just Dropped for Free
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.
