Alaska

YETI Alaska Haines Pro 2026: How the World’s Best Conquered Alaska

Published

3 months ago

March 16, 2026

YETI Alaska Haines Pro 2026: How the World’s Best Conquered Alaska

The Freeride World Tour Finals officially kicked off in the most high-stakes arena on the planet: the steep, spine-chilling faces of Haines, Alaska. After an eight-year hiatus from this specific venue, the Tour returned to find a massive 740-meter vertical drop draped in 20 cm of fresh powder. For the riders who made the cut, this wasn’t just another competition; it was a heavy test of survival and style in the world’s most technical big mountain terrain.

Photo: C Arisman // Freeride World Tour

A Historic Return to the Alaskan Spines

The YETI Alaska Haines Pro proved why this location is the “dream stop” for freeriders. The face was a technical maze of vertical flutes and massive cliff bands that demanded absolute focus from every athlete. Competing on a sustained pitch of 45 degrees, there was zero room for error. The legendary Alaskan terrain lived up to its reputation, as the technical descent took its toll on many, with only half of the ski women and half of the ski men making it to the finish corral without a crash.

Ski Men: A Career Milestone for Rafford

The Ski Men’s field delivered one of the closest finishes in history, with only 1.67 points separating the entire podium. In the end, it was American Toby Rafford who left the crowd speechless, securing his first-ever FWT victory.

He showcased incredible speed and precision, navigating a rock field that resembled a World Cup slalom course at Mach 10.
His score of 90.67 propelled him into first place in the overall rankings, earning him the Golden Bib heading into the season finale.
Ugo Troubat (FRA) took second place with impeccable “Air & Style” and a huge 360 of his own, while Ross Tester (USA) rounded out the podium, pioneering a new line on the rider’s right side and stomping two giant 360s.

Ski Women: Blanjean’s Masterful Control

The Ski Women faced an all-or-nothing day on the face, but Sybille Blanjean (SUI) proved that control is king.

Blanjean delivered a masterful performance, lacing her turns avoiding the heavy slough piles that claimed several other competitors.
Her run featured a solid big air, earning her 75.67 points and her first victory of the season.
This win moves her into the top spot just in time for the finals at her home mountain.
Rookies Lou Barin (FRA) and Zoé Delzoppo (FRA) followed in second and third, the next generation of French rippers.

Snowboard Men: De Le Rue’s Masterclass

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In the Snowboard Men’s category, the legend of Victor de Le Rue (FRA) continued to grow. A four-time world champion, de Le Rue used his bag of tricks and experience to dismantle the Alaskan face.

He opened his run with a massive frontside 540 right off the initial cornice, a trick rarely seen in FWT competition.
His ability to manage heavy slough was a masterclass in big mountain control, linking technical freeride sections with freestyle flair.
This dominant performance earned him 91.67 points, securing the victory and reinforcing his position at the top of the overall rankings.

Snowboard Women: Mia Jones Dominates the Deep

Women’s Snowboard saw rookie Mia Jones, part of the Teton Gravity Research family, dominate steep lines.

In her first-ever trip to the Alaskan spines, Jones looked like a seasoned veteran, earning a massive 91.00 points.
She demonstrated excellent sluff management and precise control through the steep terrain, maintaining impressive speed from top to bottom.
Jones’ win on home turf provides a boost to her confidence as she carries the Golden Bib into the title races.

The Road to Verbier: Who Will Claim the Crown?

As the snow settles in Haines, the focus shifts to the final showdown: the Bec des Rosses in Verbier, Switzerland. With the points from Alaska shaking up the leaderboard, the title races are wider open than ever. Toby Rafford and Sybille Blanjean are carrying the momentum (and the Golden Bibs) into the Alps, but with the steep, technical face of the Bec waiting, anything can happen.

Haines reminded us why Alaska is the ultimate proving ground, but Verbier will decide who enters the history books. Stay tuned to TGR as we follow the crew to Switzerland to see who survives the final drop of the 2026 season.

Marlee Knight

Content & Event Coordinator

Marlee Knight is a Content & Event Coordinator at Teton Gravity Research, helping support film premieres, events, and the stories that bring the action sports community together. When she’s not working, she’s usually outside — snowboarding, backpacking, or out with a camera.

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Alaska

Crews continue making progress on Delta Fires

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Crews continue making progress on Delta Fires

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 24, 2026

A White Mountain Crewmember feels for any remaining heat along the Rapeseed Fire (#275) outside of Delta Junction on June 24 2026. Photo/ Sam Porter

#222 Granite Fire– The Clackamas Crew joined the Southwest Type 1 Crew and TCC Squad A on the Granite Fire today. The fire is now 85% contained.
A thermal detection drone was flown over the fire to identify any remaining heat. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place and will continue tomorrow, meaning aircraft and drones that are not supporting firefighting operations are prohibited from flying over or near the incident.
Crews are also checking windrows for remaining heat. Windrows are rows of trees left standing to reduce wind erosion on farmland. Firefighters will pile and burn dead or downed trees, as well as hazard trees with burned roots.

#257 Barley 2 Fire– All personnel have been demobilized from the Barley 2 Fire after it was declared contained and controlled. The fire will remain in monitor status. This will be the last update for this fire unless significant changes occur.

#268 Moosehead Fire– A boat is transporting TCC Squad C to the Moosehead Fire, where they are gridding the interior and checking for any remaining heat.

#275 Rapeseed Fire- The Rapeseed Fire is 80% contained. The White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew is constructing sawline and cold trailing the fire’s edge to locate and extinguish any remaining heat.
A Nodwell continues to provide an effective way to transport personnel, equipment, supplies, and water through the remote, sensitive terrain while supporting suppression efforts.

#223 Pogo and #226 Shaw Fires continue to be in monitor status.

‹ More Firefighters Heading to Ambler for Jade Fire

Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR – Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)

Tags: #FireYear2026 #2026AKFIRESEASON, 2026 Alaska Fire Season, Delta, Granite Fire, Moosehead Fire, Pogo Fire, Rapeseed Fire, Shaw Fire

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Alaska

Characteristics of Leadership: Recklessness – Alaska Business Magazine

Published

16 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Characteristics of Leadership: Recklessness – Alaska Business Magazine

Picture it: an 800-mile engineering marvel traversing Alaska’s rugged wilderness. An immense zinc mine powering Northwest Alaska’s economy. World-class sustainable harvests feeding global markets with seafood.

The Trans Alaska Pipeline System, Red Dog mine, and the Alaska fishing industry: These massive ventures represent high-stakes investments in infrastructure and resources that have transformed Alaska into a powerhouse of global energy, minerals, and food. Today, we call these ventures inspired, but that label masks a fundamental nuance and common misconception: there is a distinction between the risky and the reckless.

That line between bold visionary and reckless gambler is usually written in ink only after the dust settles and the checks clear. Winners are often labeled as geniuses while thousands of leaders who made similar bets but went bust are ignored. When you see any winner in the marketplace, their strategy can look like a guaranteed blueprint for success. This is survivorship bias in action, obsessing over the front-runners while ignoring the graveyard of those who made the same choices. Recklessness is a classic leadership trap, in part, because it is very easy to mistake good luck for repeatable strategy. Our brains are wired to find patterns in chaos, even when they don’t exist, and when a gamble pays off, it is easy to invent a story to explain why it worked. This explains, in part, why high-risk behavior is often rebranded as “visionary” in the business world.

Understanding the mechanics of recklessness can help a leader spot the difference between a smart move and a predictable bad one. It is the contrast between a high-wire artist using a safety net and having practiced the route, versus one who just hopes they don’t fall. The first one is making calculated moves, and the second is wishing for the best.

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Alaska

Smokejumpers, aircraft responding to new fire near Ambler

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Smokejumpers, aircraft responding to new fire near Ambler

By U.S. Wildland Fire Service on June 23, 2026

Smoke from the Jade Fire (#285) to west of Ambler as shown on this FAA Weather Camera at 5 p.m. on June 23, 2026.

9:50 p.m. Update, June 23, 2026: Another load of 12 smokejumpers is en route to join the 11 already working on the Jade Fire (#285), which is burning about 3 miles west of Ambler and west of the Kopshesut Fire. Two single‑engine water scoopers — highly effective in calming the Kopshesut Fire in its early days — along with personnel aboard an air attack platform, are working the incident. The air attack platform is used to coordinate airspace and relay information between aircraft and firefighters on the ground.

The larger multi‑engine water scoopers were requested but were unable to respond due to weather at Ladd Airfield on Fort Wainwright.

At about 8:42 p.m., the fire was reported at 10 acres and was torching and active on all sides. It was burning toward the Kopshesut Fire, which stands between it and Ambler

Use this link for an interactive map to zoom in and out for a closer look at the location of the fire: https://arcg.is/1XLmHm8

8:45 p.m., June 23, 2026: U.S. Wildland Fire Service contracted aircraft and smokejumpers are en route to Ambler after receiving reports of a new fire near the Kobuk River community.

Numberous reports from locals reporting the fire is west of the Kopeshusut Fire (#137) that escaped from the landfill June 4 and threatened the community before being contained last week.

More information will be released when it’s available.

Contact U.S. Wildland Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at elizabeth_ipsen@ios.doi.gov or (907)388-2159 for more information.