Industry News
After a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) now recognizes freeride skiing and snowboarding as official winter sports disciplines. The FIS made the decision at its annual general assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Two years ago, the FIS and the Freeride World Tour (FWT) joined forces, enabling the FIS to add freeriding to its list of official snow sports disciplines this year. In an official press release, FWT CEO Nicolas Hale-Woods said, “The recognition of freeride skiing and snowboarding as official disciplines within FIS will elevate the sport and provide new opportunities for athletes worldwide. We are excited about the future prospects this brings to the freeride movement and beyond.” He also hopes that freeride skiing will become an Olympic event in the future which is one of the main goals of the Freeride World Tour Organizers. The fusion could also mean a broader range of locations for the FWT. After the international recognition, votes will take place inside of the 140 member organizations to further boost the development of freeride skiing and snowboarding in each nation.
Supporters of the decision hope the FIS will bring better structure and marketing to the sport. After the fusion in 2022, Max Hitzig, the reigning FWT champion, told German sports magazine Sportschau: “Freeriding is a fringe sport with a high level of risk and, unfortunately, there is not much money involved. It’s not like alpine skiing, where you become famous and can live off it. The FIS could also make television coverage an option.” Critics of the decision fear that FIS could limit the possibilities of the sport by imposing stricter rules. Just last year, the FIS made the controversial decision to make poles mandatory in slopestyle, big air, and halfpipe skiing contests.
The FIS, which stands for Fédération Internationale de Ski, is a worldwide organization responsible for nearly all ski and snowboard disciplines. It organizes the World Cups and World Championships in each discipline and sets the rules for each sport. The FIS was founded in 1924 during the first Winter Olympics.
The Freeride World Tour is an international ski and snowboard freeride competition series hosting events in multiple countries worldwide. After each season, the rider who scored the most points is crowned world champion. Riders are judged in multiple categories like style, line choice, and speed while they maneuver exposed off-piste terrain. The first FWT event took place in 2008 in Verbier, Switzerland.
