About
Swiss freeride skier from Martigny, Valais. In the same remarkable year, claimed the Junior Freeride World Championship, the Xtreme Junior title, and the Swiss Junior Downhill Mountain Bike Championship. After a standout 2024 FWT rookie season (10th overall, podium at the Georgia Pro), rocketed to 2nd overall on the 2025 Freeride World Tour. Also a Swiss Junior Downhill Champion in mountain biking, reflecting a dual-sport background.
FWT's own bio confirms Bender finished 2nd overall on the 2025 Freeride World Tour after a 10th-place rookie season in 2024 (with a podium at the Georgia Pro). Faction's own athlete page credits him as a 'triple threat' who won the Junior Freeride World Championship, the Xtreme Junior title, and the Swiss Junior Downhill Mountain Bike Championship all in the same year - a bigger and more specific story than the generic 'rising star' framing suggests. His 2026 season has been quieter by comparison (15th overall on the FWT, 8th at Baqueira Beret).