Freeride & Big Mountain

Max Hitzig

Freeride Skiing

Nationality: Germany
Hometown: Germany
Turned pro: 2023
Primary discipline: Freeride Skiing

German freeride skier. Named FWT 2023 Men Rider of the Year in his debut season, finishing 4th overall. Went toe-to-toe with rookie Marcus Goguen throughout the 2024 season and clinched the FWT Championship Title with a 2nd-place run at the YETI Xtreme Verbier final. Sustained an injury before the 2025 season and was forced to withdraw entirely, but returned in 2026 on an Injury Wildcard, finishing a solid 6th overall.

Multiple 2024-season recaps (Downdays, Unofficial Networks) describe Hitzig going 5-for-5 on the podium across that season's five FWT events, including two wins early in the year, before sealing the title with a 2nd place at the YETI Xtreme Verbier final (94.67 points) - narrowly beating fellow sophomore-season rider Marcus Goguen, with Ben Richards taking 3rd overall that year. Hitzig then missed the entire 2025 season after an injury forced a withdrawal, and only returned in 2026 via an Injury Wildcard, finishing 6th overall (22,275 points) - a comeback story the plain 'FWT Champion' framing doesn't capture.

Sponsors: K2 Skis

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Setup

1 item

Skis

K2 Mindbender 116C

Off-piste

116mm waist

Hitzig's K2 powder/freeride ski, confirmed via K2's own product page.

116mm-waist powder/freeride ski with updated shape and rocker profile for float and stability.

Reference (opens in a new tab)

Setup verified 19 July 2026

Setup

Skis

Sources