Freeride & Big Mountain

Maude Besse

• Freeride Skiing

Nationality

Switzerland

Hometown

Bruson, Val de Bagnes, Switzerland

Primary discipline

Freeride Skiing

'Tandem' (2025), directed by Alicia Cenci and supported by Arc'teryx, Peak Performance and Verbier, is an intimate portrait of Besse and fellow Swiss freerider Elisabeth Gerritzen, described as 'united by skiing, against all odds.' The bare claim undersells a lot: Besse is a former Junior Freeride World Champion (2013) who grew up in Bruson on her family's organic farm -- they still grow potatoes, produce dairy, and grow medicinal herbs supplied to Ricola -- as the youngest daughter of an alpine ski racer who dreamed of a child on the World Cup. She earned a wildcard invitation to the 2019 Freeride World Tour and immediately podiumed 2nd at the season opener in Hakuba, Japan -- a moment Elisabeth Gerritzen, her friend and fellow rookie that same season, ran over to celebrate with her -- before finishing 9th at Kicking Horse, Canada. Her rookie FWT season was then cut short when she tore her ACL landing a jump back home in Verbier. Beyond skiing, she works as an illustrator and professional surveyor. Sponsored by Arc'teryx and welcomed to Salomon's 'Mountain Collective' freeski roster.

Sponsors: Arc'teryx; Salomon (Mountain Collective freeski team).

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