Skier
Ben Richards
“The mountains are really my happy place. When I am in the mountains all my other cares and worries seem to not matter and I feel completely relaxed. What excites me most about skiing is that there are no rules. There's no right and wrong way to ski down a mountain, you just do what feels best for you.”
Clipping into a set of skis means more than a competition for Ben Richards. For him, skiing is a form of expression, it’s a place where boundaries cease to exist, it’s home.
Ben grew up in awe of big mountain skiers and the breathtaking terrain they played in, hoping that what he saw on the big screen would one day become his reality.
It’s safe to say the up-and-coming Kiwi skier is now living that dream, as the world takes a front row seat and prepares to watch him change the face of freeskiing.
Ben was born in California and on skis from the age of 2, but it wasn’t until his family made the move to New Zealand’s skiing mecca, Wanaka, later in his childhood, that his passion for snow sports began to develop.
Ben has a rock-solid ski racing background, spending his teenage years chasing back-to-back winters and competing in events worldwide.
After 6 years, an urge to break away from the competitive world of racing landed Ben in Revelstoke, Canada, where he began to search for ways to redefine his skiing.
It didn’t take long before the majestic mountains of British Columbia had Ben convinced he was born for the world of freeski. Since making the transition, we’ve watched him perfect his effortless, and unrivalled style on some of the world’s biggest faces. Add his racing roots and inherent need for speed to the mix, and you’ve got a force to be reckoned with.
Ben launched into the Freeride World Qualifier Tour in 2019, shortly before the world went into lockdown, forcing his career into an unsolicited break. Back and ready to take charge, he’ll continue to compete at the Freeride World Tour qualifier events this winter in the hope of scoring a spot on the tour.
Ben is off to a strong start in 2022, winning the Verbier FWQ 4* event and placing second on home soil at The North Face Frontier FWQ 4* event at the Remarkables.
Stay up-to-date with Ben on Instagram.