Freeride will be included as an official event at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. What's surprising is that it became an Olympic sport after only one competition (the 2026 World Championships) held under the FIS umbrella. In a way, this shows the high level of trust in the FWT's long-standing management system and the keen interest it has received from around the world
For more details , please refer to this news article , but what had been circulating as a rumor for the past few years has become a reality, sparking a variety of reactions around the world. While the majority of opinions were positive, there were also quite a few who left comments expressing unease, fearing that the very foundations of the culture might be destroyed. Hearing about this topic reminds me of the journey from the mid-2000s to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, when ski halfpipe and slopestyle were integrated into the FIS and became Olympic events.
Nearly 20 years ago, when halfpipe and slopestyle were brought under the jurisdiction of the FIS and included in the Olympics, many voices raised objections, saying, "Is the FIS going to take away freeskiing just as it's being nurtured and beginning to bear fruit?" and "Will the free style and rebellious spirit be lost?"
Anxiety that unique styles would be lost due to standardization by rules. Distrust of individuals and groups that had not contributed to the scene being involved. These various conflicts permeated the entire scene
However, the formation of national teams, the influx of public funds, and the expansion of the sport's scale, all accompanying its inclusion in the Olympics, dramatically improved the training environment for athletes aiming to become world champions. It brought opportunities and a path to challenge not only to a select few athletes in privileged environments, but to a much larger number of people.
As a result, the difficulty of tricks has progressed towards extremely high rotations, and the scale of tricks is incomparable to what it was 20 years ago. It cannot be denied that freeskiing has become a competitive sport, transformed into entertainment far removed from everyday skiing.
On the other hand, however, aspects that emphasize style and culture remain and have become established, as evidenced by the expression through video and photography, as well as rider-led video distribution and session events such as Jib League, SLVSH, NINES, and Kimbo SESSION.
Competition and culture are not separate entities, but rather two wheels of a cart
The inclusion of freeride as an Olympic sport this time is different from what happened 20 years ago. It's reassuring to see that top riders are calmly observing the situation and saying, "The Olympics won't suddenly change the essence of freeride."
They possess the intelligence and drive to control this change themselves, while simultaneously enriching the pure competitive aspect of the sport, and protecting the values of their community
What's important is to continue expressing the creativity that underlies freeride—freedom of expression, respect for nature, and mutual respect among riders—without diluting it, even on the Olympic stage
Freeride is distinctly different from previous Olympic events in one respect: nature itself is the field. Unlike moguls and halfpipe, where courses can be created with artificial snow, or alpine skiing, where courses are maintained through large-scale human work, freeride's competitive environment cannot be controlled by humans. One must proceed while coming to terms with the unpredictable nature
At this point, no one knows whether conditions will be suitable for competition during the Olympic Games. This is evident from the management of past FWT tournaments. It is absolutely unacceptable for dangerous conditions to be forced through or for courses and competition procedures to be set up in a way that endangers the safety of the athletes, due to television broadcasting considerations or pressure from sponsors
As with previous FWT operations, "respect for nature" and "dignity of life" must be the top priorities, and the organization must not be swallowed up by the massive structure of the Olympics. What kind of operational structure will the FWT and FIS have in place by the time of the 2030 Games?
I would like to draw strong attention to that point as well
For the general public, who will be seeing freeride for the first time at the Olympics, this somewhat eccentric sport will undoubtedly provide a dynamism, excitement, and shock that transcends rules such as scoring criteria. At the same time, the beauty of snow-covered mountains and the risks they harbor, the reality of snow shortages due to climate change, and the safety management of skiing areas—issues surrounding snow-covered mountains and the backcountry—will become widely known to the general public through the mass stage of the Olympics.
As a result, this sport is sure to provoke both praise and criticism domestically, with some calling it a "dangerous and reckless challenge" and others declaring it "true skiing."
I secretly hope that this won't just end as a consumerism of "dangerous sports are outrageous" or "it's fun to watch amazing performances," but rather that it will serve as an opportunity for each of us watching the scene to develop a sense of responsibility, such as a greater appreciation for nature and concern for the environment
■Announcement by Freeride World Tour https://www.freerideworldtour.com/olympic-integration/