Featured Image: Jeremy Bernard, Courtesy of Freeride World Tour
Today marks a historic moment for skiing, as freeride has officially become an Olympic-sanctioned sport and will debut on the biggest stage in the world at the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in the Alps. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the inclusion today, July 7, 2026.
The decision comes just two years after the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) acquired the Freeride World Tour (FWT), thereby officially recognizing freeride as a competitive discipline. 2030 will be a crucial proving ground for freeride, with the discipline's appearance at the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics hanging in the balance.Â
The Freeride World Tour was quick to spread the word, collaborating with the official Olympic social media page. "From the first Xtreme Verbier in 1996 to the inaugural FIS Freeride World Championships in 2026, three decades of riders, organizers and fans built this moment," the FWT release reads. "To those who first believed in this discipline, and to the young athletes who can now dream of an Olympic medal: this one is yours. Freeride, welcome to THE BIG STAGE."
FWT Founder and CEO Nicolas Hale-Woods has also expressed his excitement, stating that this is "a moment of joy for the entire freeride community, and the result of three decades of commitment and dedication alongside an incredible team."
Freeride's TimelineÂ
Freeride’s base has always been seen as a radical idea: that the sport should be run by athletes for athletes, not subjected to strict, organized competition rules like those of the Olympics. But as the sport has progressed, it has become hard to argue that freeride’s top athletes don’t belong on the world’s biggest stage.Â
In 1991, the first big-mountain competition, the World Extreme Ski Championship (WESC), was launched, creating a pipeline for what is now known as the Freeride World Tour. It wasn’t until 2008, though, that the FWT was established. Since then, the discipline has gained global recognition and now hosts hundreds of competitions worldwide, with the FWT circuit representing the pinnacle of the sport today.
The recent addition of the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships this winter only bolstered hopes that freeride would indeed make its way into the Olympic catalog. Even though the event was marred by difficult weather, leading to the cancellation of most of the Women's Ski field, it was still, by and large, a success, lending credibility to the idea that an event that runs by nature's rules could indeed be incorporated into the Olympic Games.
Looking Ahead
The qualification process for freeriders isn't clear yet, with specific details reportedly coming in December 2026. What's clear is that organizations like the Freeride World Tour will play a crucial role, while regional groups like the acclaimed International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA) will help pave the road for young riders with their eyes set on the future.
IFSA currently has over 7,000 members from Alaska to Patagonia, with 4,300 of them junior competitors. That's the largest freeride community and competition network in the world (195+ events). The up-and-comers we start watching and supporting today might be the ones waving national flags tomorrow.
IFSA freeride competitions are now home to Olympic-hopeful riders
Photo: Sarah Giffin
The 2030 Winter Olympics will take place from February 1-17 in the French Alps. The location of these Olympics is a key factor for freeride, as the French Alps are home to many freeride competitions featuring challenging faces, such as the FWT Val Thorens Pro in the Les Trois Vallées ski area. As of right now, there have been no announcements on the specifics of the competition venue.
Freeriders will now join their freeski and snowboard counterparts on their respective national teams. The U.S. Team was quick to voice support for the move, with U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt stating, “Freeride’s addition to the Olympic program confirms that these athletes belong on the biggest stage in the world. We are proud to build a pathway for the best American freeriders throughout the next four years, and are eager to watch them represent Team USA in 2030.”Â
Stay tuned to FREESKIER as more information surrounding freeride's Olympic debut comes to light. For now, we're wildly excited to watch the next chapter of the world's greatest sport.
