Everything you need to know about the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy – St Anton

What is the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy?

At its core, the Freeride Academy is about learning – just not in a classroom sense. Instead, it brings world-class athletes, certified mountain guides and a bunch of properly motivated snowboarders together for four days of hands-on clinics, shared laps and off-mountain sessions, all built around real terrain, real conditions and real decisions.

The Academy’s programme covers snowboarding, splitboarding, avalanche safety and photography, with options for all experience levels. Whether you’re starting to venture beyond the ropes  or looking to refine big-mountain technique in serious terrain, the Academy is designed to meet you where you’re at – and help move you forward with confidence.

For 2026, the Academy expands to over 500 clinic spots, with a significant increase in intermediate-level clinics – the point where things start to get interesting on a freerider’s journey, and where good guidance can make the biggest difference. There’s also a continued and strengthened focus on women-only clinics, across multiple disciplines and ability levels.

Decades of experience, shared properly

One of the defining features of the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy is the calibre of people leading it. Clinics are run by professional mountain guides and globally recognised athletes – folks who’ve spent years in the field figuring stuff out the hard way, offering Academy participants valuable insight and access to hard-earned knowledge and experience.

Signature athlete-led clinics return in 2026, with confirmed names including Elena Hight (snowboard),, backed up by a stacked roster of freeride, backcountry and avalanche safety specialists. These sessions aren’t about watching from the sidelines or chasing selfies with your heroes. They’re about understanding how the best in the world read terrain, manage risk, move efficiently and make decisions when it actually matters.

Just as importantly, the Academy keeps things deliberately approachable. Group sizes are small, feedback is personal, and the emphasis is always on progression rather than performance for performance’s sake.

On-mountain clinics: what’s involved?

Each clinic is designed around real-world on-the-mountain application. That might mean finessing on freeride technique in variable snow, learning how to choose safer lines, developing efficiency in the skin track, or working on snow safety skills when travelling in avalanche terrain.

There’s a super-strong emphasis on decision-making and developing high mountain awareness – aka why you choose certain lines, when to step back, and safe backcountry travel. 

The focus is on practical, hands-on learning that makes complex topics accessible without dumbing them down.

The Freeride Village: the heart of the scene

At the centre of the event sits the Freeride Village, based in the heart of St Anton. This is the Academy’s social and cultural hub – where athletes, guides, participants, locals and partners naturally collide.

It’s also where you’ll find the Arc’teryx Gear Library, offering hands-on access to the latest kit, and the ReBIRD Repair & Care Centre, providing free repairs and insight into how Arc’teryx keeps gear in play for longer.

New for this year – and launching alongside the 2026 Academy – is an expanded Off-Mountain Program, adding another dimension to the freeride experience.

Running throughout the event, the Off-Mountain Program brings together talks, workshops, films and community sessions, offering space to slow down, absorb knowledge and connect beyond the slopes. Expect athlete-led discussions, storytelling sessions, educational workshops and creative content that digs into life in the mountains – celebrating both the highest of highs and the hard-earned lessons that keep us moving forward.

It’s a welcome addition that makes the Academy feel even more inclusive, opening up learning and inspiration to those who may not be booked onto clinics, or who want to balance on-snow time with something a little more reflective.

Whether you’re deep in clinic mode or simply soaking up the vibe, the Freeride Village is where the Academy’s sense of community really comes alive.

Who is it for?

The Arc’teryx Freeride Academy is intentionally broad in its appeal. It’s for:

• Riders looking to take their first-steps in the backcountry
• Intermediate riders wanting structured guidance
• Experienced big-mountain riders keen to refine decision-making
• Women of winter seeking supportive, female-only learning environments
• Anyone curious about splitboarding or avalanche awareness
• Mountain lovers who value education, community and connection

You don’t need to be a hard-charging, cliff-hucker. You just need to be curious about the big mountains and be ready to learn.

How to get involved

The full Clinic Program is live, and tickets are on sale now. Clinics can be booked directly via the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy St Anton website, where you’ll find detailed descriptions, ability guidelines and scheduling information.

Spots are limited, and demand is high – particularly for the women-only clinics and intermediate progression sessions – so early booking is strongly advised.

To stay up to date with announcements, athlete line-ups and the full Freeride Village programme, follow @arcteryxacademy and @arcteryxuk.

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