KIDS LAAX OPEN 2026: Freestyle festival for the next generation

From March 6 to 8, 2026, the legendary KIDS LAAX OPEN took place for the seventh time – and it was once again a celebration of freestyle passion! This year, Switzerland's largest freestyle contest for young talent attracted more than 350 children and teenagers from 18 countries, who demonstrated their skills in the disciplines of snowboard slopestyle, halfpipe, freeski slopestyle, and halfpipe.

Young freestyle talents rock LAAX

The atmosphere at Crap Sogn Gion was electric: from Friday to Sunday, the young athletes at the KIDS LAAX OPEN really heated things up. The event, which is considered the counterpart to the renowned FIS World Cup LAAX OPEN for young talent, brought together the youngest members of the freestyle scene. The participants, aged 5 to 17, gathered with a healthy dose of ambition, but also a huge amount of fun. Some just wanted to show what they could do, while others already had bigger goals in mind.

Action, tricks, and that unique freestyle vibe

In spring-like conditions, the kids flew over the rails and kickers. The audience, consisting of friends, families, and local fans, cheered enthusiastically. The mood among the kids and teens was a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and pure enthusiasm as they tried their best moves to secure a place on the podium.

Creativity and energy in kids

The participants demonstrated not only technical precision in their runs, but also creativity and style. "It's incredible how quickly the kids learn new tricks and develop their own styles of movement," says Ivan Capaul, co-organizer of the contest and head of the Freestyle Academy LAAX. The whole atmosphere surrounding the event was like a living freestyle work of art: from the loud laughter of the kids to the wild cheers of the spectators gathered on the slopes.

Strong international mix

As every year, the field of participants was international: athletes from Spain, Australia, China, and many other countries stood shoulder to shoulder with Switzerland's best freestyle newcomers. Particularly noteworthy was the performance of the Freestyle Academy LAAX athletes, who made it onto the podium in various categories. All results are available at www.laax.com/kids-laaxopen.