A Young Skier Just Revived One of Freeride’s Scariest Lines, and Nailed It
Earlier this week, a cast of elite skiers gathered again for the first stop of the Freeride World Tour in 2026. The competition in Baqueira Beret, Spain, delivered more than a few memorable tricks, lines, and cliff drops as athletes showed off on the Tuc de Bacivèr face.
But one run stood apart from the rest.
Toby Rafford traversed to the far edge of the venue. He signalled to the judges where he was standing. Then, he dropped into the intense exposure, skipping over rocks before launching a massive 360. It all happened in less than 30 seconds.
His well-calculated stunt earned him the second-highest score of the day, and, after the competition, the Freeride World Tour gave him the “Radical Moment” award.
Perhaps more importantly, though, Aymar Navarro thanked Rafford for trying the line. In 2022, Navarro attempted a similar route but couldn’t put it to his feet.
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In an Instagram post after the competition, Navarro explained that Rafford, a young up-and-comer, had approached him about trying the line and asked for advice.
A seasoned freerider turned skilled ski mountaineer, Navarro last competed on the Freeride World Tour in 2023. During his years spent on the circuit, he developed a reputation for trying the scariest, most technical routes. The run Rafford wanted to attempt fit that bill. It started with a rocky chute. At the bottom was a mandatory cliff.
Navarro knows how terrifying the line is as well as anyone. He stepped to it in 2022, but lost control after the first section, flipping through rocks. Luckily, he skied away in one piece. Rafford’s successful take, with the 360, was an homage to Navarro that melded the past and present of freeride.
“I’m sorry but I have to give a special mention to this piece of art that was lived yesterday in our mountains,” Navarro wrote of Rafford’s run. “I love riders looking for something different where exposure and commitment to the line is 10/10 and I appreciate [how] the judges yesterday evaluated it.”
“All local riders know what it’s like to ski this line, but what you did yesterday is next level, mate,” he added.
The congratulations went beyond an Instagram post. In the finish corral, Navarro tracked down Rafford to give him kudos and a hug. The torch had been passed.