Steep lines to the Olympic spotlight: Freeride headed to the Winter Games

Australia’s Finn Jacobsen competing in a freeski event. Photo: Mone Monsberger/Higher Freeride

Freeride skiing and snowboarding have been officially added to the Olympic Winter Games line-up.

The International Olympic Committee this week approved the addition of freeride events for men and women for the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics, marking the discipline’s Olympic debut and continuing the IOC’s push to attract younger audiences.

Along with the addition, the Nordic combined men’s event has been dropped.

The move could also have implications for Utah’s 2034 Winter Olympics, where organizers are expected to evaluate whether the new events will remain part of the Olympic program.

What is freeride?

Unlike slopestyle or halfpipe, freeride competitions take place on natural, ungroomed mountain terrain. Athletes choose their own line down the face of a mountain and are judged on factors including line choice, control, fluidity, technique, jumps, and overall difficulty rather than simply racing against the clock.

The discipline has grown rapidly through the Freeride World Tour and has become one of skiing and snowboarding’s premier showcase events, drawing elite athletes from around the world.

“It’s a moment of joy for the entire freeride community, and the result of three decades of commitment and dedication alongside an incredible team,” said Nicholas Hale-Woods, Founder and CEO FIS Freeride World Tour. “My first thoughts go to the riders, from those who first believed in this discipline and helped build it, to the young athletes who can now dream of an Olympic medal. I think too of the organizers and everyone who has grown this sport over the years, and of all the partners who trusted us throughout the journey”.

Other changes coming to the 2030 Games

The IOC also approved synchronized figure skating, which will also make its Olympic debut and is retaining the snowboard parallel giant slalom after the event had been under review.

The changes will make the 2030 French Alps Games the first Winter Olympics with full gender parity among athletes. Previously, there was no women equivalent to the men’s Nordic combined event.

Utah 2034

While the IOC has finalized the sports program for the 2030 Games, Olympic sports typically remain on the program after their debut only if they prove successful.

That means freeride will be under consideration to be included when Utah hosts the 2034 Winter Olympics, but the IOC will make that determination closer to the Games.

If adopted, Utah would be well positioned to host the event.

The Wasatch Mountains are internationally recognized for steep alpine terrain and deep snow, and Utah already hosts numerous freeride competitions. Resorts including Snowbird, Alta, and Snowbasin feature terrain that aligns with the sport, although no venue has been identified because the 2034 event schedule has not yet been updated.

Under the existing Utah 2034 venue plan, Park City Mountain is slated to host snowboard and freestyle skiing halfpipe and slopestyle, Deer Valley will host moguls and aerials, and Snowbasin will host alpine skiing. Freeride is not yet assigned to any venue because it was not previously an Olympic discipline.

The IOC also suggested Nordic combined could return for 2034 despite being dropped from the 2030 program, leaving the final Utah sports lineup still subject to future review.

For Park City and the broader Wasatch Back, the addition of freeride could create another opportunity to showcase the region’s world-renowned mountain terrain when the Olympics return to Utah in 2034.