Salas, Yanez and Ohaco shine bright as competition season opens south of the equator in Valle Nevado
Aug 04, 2025·Snowboard Park & Pipe
The Andes Mountains provided the perfect backdrop for a multi-day celebration of world-class international freestyle competition from 29-31 July at the Andes Cup presented by Oakley.
Nearly 90 athletes from over 8 countries gathered in Valle Nevado for this event, part of the 2025 FIS Park & Pipe South American Cup circuit, which awards valuable points toward the global circuit, helping athletes to earn quota spots for the World Cup and the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Chilean athletes stood tall in Valle Nevado, with Olympian Dominique Ohaco sweeping top spot in all the women’s freeski events, and the seasoned Antonia Yáñez also taking all the wins in women’s snowboard. Argentina’s Natsumi Kina had a strong showing in women’s freeski, while Chile’s Javiera Rojas also impressed with three podium finishes in women’s freeski competition.
In men's ski, the competition was tight. Cristobal Colombo from Bariloche, Argentina, claimed two victories with outstanding performances, while Dominic Bowler from Brazil and Christian Stokely from the U.S. also reached the podium alongside experienced Chilean skier Francisco Salas. Salas made a strong comeback in the final event, securing a stunning victory in Big Air, positioning himself well on the road to Milan-Cortina 2026.
Men’s snowboard saw fierce battles for the top spot, with the podium hotly contested at every event. Chilean World Cup snowboarder Alvaro Yáñez took one win, while seasoned Argentine Fede Charadio earned two victories. Pedro Pizarro from Pucón also made waves with his performance.
In the youth categories, standout performances came from Chileans Clemente Cuadra (13), Max Perez, Máximo Guevara (from Farellones), and female athletes Trinidad Langer and Pilar Villegas.
These competitions marked the start of the Southern Hemisphere’s freestyle season, delivering an unmissable show for both athletes and spectators — just ahead of a major snowfall set to blanket Chile’s mountains in white once again.
“Freestyle in Chile is at a turning point, with established athletes competing in top global circuits, alongside young talents and emerging clubs that are building the sport’s competitive foundation. Valle Nevado’s support and infrastructure are key to taking the next big step,” said Jorge Mandrú, event director and former Olympic skier.
The international circuit now moves to Ushuaia, Argentina, where events will continue from August 20.
“We’ve built a legacy as a host of major winter competitions, and being home to the Andes Cup — while also driving our mission to get more people skiing — shows that our Snow Park and snow quality are truly world-class,” said Dominique Rudloff, Commercial and Marketing Manager of Valle Nevado.
The Andes Cup By Oakley is organized by Chile’s National Ski and Snowboard Sports Federation, supported by IND (National Sports Institute) and produced by Snow Animal and sponsors including Oakley, Plan Vital, Avene, Thule, Citric Juices, Wanderwarm, LBS, Opinel, Stanley, El Montañés, The North Face, and media partners like Chilenieve, Revista HD Sports, and Global Vía Pública.
Andes Cup by Oakley – Technical Info:
Category: South American Cup – awards points for the World Cup and global circuit.
Disciplines: Ski and Snowboard – Slopestyle and Big Air events.
Participating countries: 8
Location: Valle Nevado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andes.cup/
Press contact: nico@snowanimal.cl
+56985028764
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