Freeride Officially Recognised by FIS

5th June 2024

Last modified on June 7th, 2024

The inclusion of Freeride Skiing and Snowboarding as a full-fledged FIS discipline was voted unanimously by all members of the Congress.

“This is an important day for the freeride community,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, Founder and CEO of FWT.

“The recognition of Freeride Skiing and Snowboarding as an official discipline 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.”

Fieberbrunn, Austria. Image © Freeride World Tour / JBernard

“FIS is the home of snow sports in all its forms, for everyone – it is only natural for us to fully embrace the excitement of a rising discipline like Freeride. We are thrilled to have them as part of the family,” says FIS President Johan Eliasch.

Following this recognition, Freeride Skiing and Snowboarding will undergo a voting process within individual National Ski Associations worldwide.

This step emphasizes grassroots development, ensuring the sport gains widespread support and that young athletes have the resources needed to excel.

The Freeride World Championships will now be included within the FIS framework, paving the way for a structured and unified approach to competitions and athlete development.

“This is just the beginning,” added Hale-Woods.

“Our goal is to nurture the sport at all levels, from grassroots to elite competitions, and to see Freeride Skiing and Snowboarding represented in future Winter Olympic Games.”

The recognition by FIS is expected to have a profound impact on the freeride community, providing a platform for athletes to showcase their skills on an international stage and encouraging the next generation of freeriders to pursue their passion with greater support and resources.

FWT in Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

About FWT 

FWT Management SA is based in Verbier, Switzerland, and has been organizing premier sports  events globally in mountain resorts since 1996.

The company founded the Xtreme Verbier, an iconic event in freeride skiing and snowboarding and, in 2008, it turned this single competition into a  prestigious series of worldwide events, called the Freeride World Tour (FWT).

The company has since  grown to include multiple competition series that fall under the FWT brand – including FWT  Challenger, FWT Qualifier and FWT Junior – with events across all formats taking place in Europe,  North America, South America and Oceania.

Since December 2022, FWT is part of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

About FIS 

FIS is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding, founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France.

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing, and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules.

Through its 138 member nations, more than 7,500 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually.

Specific initiatives are undertaken by FIS to promote snow activities as a healthy leisure recreation, notably for the young.