In 2023, Tess Ledeux performs at the Laax Open snowboarding event in Laax, Switzerland, showcasing her skills on a rail feature against a stunning mountain backdrop.
Tess Ledeux poses for a portrait at the Red Bull Performance Camp in Saas Fee, Switzerland on September 28, 2025.

Tess
Ledeux

France

France

·

Freeskiing

Now one of the most consistently successful performers on the freestyle scene, French skier Tess Ledeux was the youngest-ever freeski world champion.

Date of birth

November 23, 2001

Birthplace

Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Age

24

Nationality

France

France

Career start

2015

Discipline

Freeskiing Slopestyle

With halfpipe legend Kevin Rolland as a cousin, it was always odds-on that Tess Ledeux would take to the slopes with ease, but few could have predicted how far she'd come and how fast. Starting off at her home resort of La Plagne, France, she was on skis by two and a member of the local freestyle club by nine.

Record-breaking teenage success

It's thanks to this early start and those solid foundations – and of course plenty of natural talent and hard work – that she was able to have a headline-grabbing breakthrough season so far ahead of the curve. As a 15-year-old in 2016-17, Tess's huge rotations and technical rail work earned her X Games silver in both Aspen and Hafjell and saw her become the youngest-ever freestyle ski world champion when she won slopestyle gold in Sierra Nevada. On top of this, she finished the season ranked second in slopestyle by the AFP.

An impressive medal haul

The years following that have seen Tess fulfil that early promise time and time again. Her medals and podiums across both Big Air and Slopestyle are numerous, including five golds at the X Games, a host of FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup triumphs, two further golds at world championships, plus a silver from Beijing in 2022.

Injury and future targets

In March 2025, Tess suffered a concussion after crashing at a World Cup event, which forced her to miss the entire 2025–26 season, including the 2026 Winter Games. Having chosen to prioritise her long-term health, she described the decision as one of the hardest of her career, and she is now focused on recovering and returning to competition in the future.
Tess Ledeux poses for a portrait at the Red Bull Performance Camp in Saas Fee, Switzerland on September 28, 2025.

Tess Ledeux has her sights set firmly on more freeski medals

© Lorenz Richard/Red Bull Content Pool

Tess Ledeux performing at X Games Hafjell 2017

Tess Ledeux on her way to X Games silver

© Kyle Meyr/Red Bull Content Pool

Tess Ledeux poses for a portrait at the Red Bull Performance Camp in Saas Fee, Switzerland on September 28, 2025.

Leduex's rail skills are renowned

© Dom Daher/Red Bull Content Pool

Tess Ledeux poses for a portrait at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, USA on January 24, 2019.

Tess Ledeux at the Winter X Games in Aspen 2019

© Peter Morning/Red Bull Content Pool

Tess Ledeux dials in her Switch Bio 900

© Dom Daher/Red Bull Content Pool

Ledeux's trick bag is deep and incredibly varied

© Dom Daher/Red Bull Content Pool