Photo: FWT.
Freeriding is about to experience a major thrill. The discipline has received the IOC's blessing to be included in the program for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games. Forty-four athletes (22 women and 22 men) will have the privilege of becoming pioneers of their specialty on the Olympic stage. Just a few months after the very first edition of the World Championships in Andorra, freeriding is further solidifying its place in the winter sports landscape.
"Encourage more people to spend time in the mountains"
In four years, freeriding will benefit from an unprecedented level of exposure in the French Alps, and more specifically in Montgenèvre. The discipline has become structured around the Freeride World Tour, created in 2008, and now has more than 10.000 members worldwide. This is a moment of immense joy for the entire freeride community, and the result of three decades of commitment and passion alongside an extraordinary team.said Nicolas Hale-Woods, founder of the FWT. My first thoughts are with the riders: those who believed in this discipline from the very beginning and helped build it, as well as the young athletes who can now dream of an Olympic medal. I'm also thinking of the organizers, everyone who has helped this sport grow over the years, and all the partners who have placed their trust in us throughout this adventure. Whatever the scene, the spirit of freeriding remains intact. »
Freeriding combines spectacle with a sublime natural setting, as athletes are alone facing the immensity of the mountain they must descend. It's easy to see why freeriding, which combines thrills and breathtaking natural scenery, is an attractive addition to the Games. "This is a significant point," emphasizes the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, through its president, Alexander Ospelt. Our Games will be a success if they are spectacular., agrees Edgar Grospiron, the president of COJOP. The arrival of freeriding adds another dimension to the quality of what we aim to offer. Personally, I'm thrilled to see this discipline, which I love, gaining its Olympic recognition. I've experienced it myself, and it's a fantastic opportunity for the sport and a wonderful recognition that will benefit the athletes. »
And since the athletes are the ones most directly affected, here's what one of the legends of the sport, Victor de Le Rue, had to say: Seeing freeriding included in the program of the next Winter Olympics is a major step for our sport. It will significantly raise the bar, accelerate its evolution, inspire the next generation, and strengthen freeriding's recognition among the general public. But more than anything, I hope this visibility will encourage more people to spend time in the mountains, not just to ride them, but also to appreciate them, respect them, and contribute to their preservation. If freeriding's presence at the Olympic Games can inspire this, then it will be a true success. »
