The World's Best Freestyle Skiers Are Headed to Japan: Swatch Nines Preview

Swatch Nines, the hallucinatory and boundary-pushing snow sports freestyle gathering, has landed in Tokyu Grand HIRAFU, Niseko, Japan.

It’s the first time the event has come to Asia. But moving continents hasn’t diluted any of what makes Swatch Nines special: huge jumps, wacky rail features, and a stacked roster of invited skiers and snowboarders remain on the menu.

Leading up to the Swatch Nines start date, April 6, 2026, crews have been in Niseko shaping features and prepping for the talent to arrive. That work resulted in an athlete-designed course with views of the looming Mount Yotei. One highlight, a rail that spans more than 150 feet, encapsulates the zaniness of the Swatch Nines.

Check out a rendering of the course below.

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Swatch Nines describes itself as “a friendly antagonist to the world of competitive sports.”

In most competitions, skiers are fighting for points. That can impact the tricks they choose. If you want to win, you’re more inclined to stick to what you know, avoiding moves that you’re less familiar with. 

Swatch Nines takes a different angle, instead asking athletes to show up, get creative, and progress their skills without the pressure associated with the World Cup or Olympics.

For years, that approach has made Swatch Nines an incubator for freestyle’s bleeding edge. Some, like Andri Ragettli, have used the playground to try the most technical tricks possible. Others push the sport in less conventional directions, doing whatever seems fun or unique.

“Swatch Nines is one of the few events where everything feels possible—you can go big and get creative all in one place,” said Momo Maheux, one of the invited snowboarders, in a press release.

Skiers and snowboarders are already getting to work.

Swatch Nines recently shared a clip of Sämi Ortlieb and others testing a rail feature that looks like a traditional Japanese bridge. Tap or click below to watch.

That’s just a small tease of the action to come. This year’s Swatch Nines lasts until April 11, 2026. Between now and then, expect the internet to be inundated with tricks that bend the rules of physics.

And, if you happen to be in Niseko, you can stop by the Tokyu Grand HIRAFU on April 11 for general public viewing. Yes, Instagram reels are cool, but watching the best skiers on the planet do their thing live is much, much better.

Notable Swatch Nines 2026 skiers include: Jay Rawe, Jesper Tjäder, Elena Gaskell, Luca Harrington, Megan Oldham, Matej Svancer, Max Moffat, Avery Krumme, and more!