Crunch Week Ahead for 2030 Olympic Snowsport Disciplines
20th June 2026
Some face the axe from France 2030 and new ones could be included as the IOC gathers this week to decide. NEW
The International Olympic Committee is meeting in Lausanne in Switzerland from June 22nd to 25th.
One of the oldest disciplines may be out.
Nordic Combined was at the very first Winter Olympics at Chamonix in 1924, but now it may be cut.
It is the only Winter Olympic sport without a women’s competition at the Games and it comprises of ski jumping and cross-country skiing.
Supporters argue that the absence of women is an anomaly that must be corrected, not a reason to erase the sport, and proposed shorter formats, such as a mixed relay.
Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom is also under threat and could be excluded.
The Austria snowboarder and three-time Winter Olympian, Alex Payer, said: “PGS is one of the only formats where everything is truly equal – same course, same conditions, same start, same chance.
“That fairness is rare in sport.
“If you take it out of the Olympic programme, you take away one of the purest expressions of competition we have.”
We reported on the situation earlier:
The biggest discipline looking to be at France 2030 is Freeriding and it looks set to be included.
Skiers and snowboarders descend on unmarked and ungroomed slopes on some of the most extreme terrain the mountain has to offer.
The sport attracts some of the best and most daring athletes in the world, who are judged for their line choice, control, fluidity, air & style, and technique.
Baqueira Beret Pro 2026. Image © FWT/D Daher
“The IOC has told us that – just like they did with surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing – they are willing to integrate freeriding because it’s appealing to a young audience,” founder and CEO of the Freeride World Tour Nicolas Hale-Woods told PlanetSKI in 2025.
“Because it’s very telegenic and because one of their media partners, NBC, is saying ‘we’d love freeriding in the grid of the Olympics programme.”
We have been following its bid for Olympic inclusion closely over the years.
Chief reporter, Jane Peel, was at the FWT in Baqueira Beret in Spain last season:
There is support from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the French Alps 2030 Olympic organising committee, and most significantly, the International Olympic Committee Program Working Group.
Ice climbing had been hoping to be included in the 2030 Games but has already been rejected.
Other disciplines seeking inclusion include telemark skiing and snow polo.
IOC members will also vote on whether dual moguls will return.
One new discipline at Milan-Cortina 2026 is set to be retained in the programme and expanded
The organising committee for the next Winter Games has asked the International Olympic Committee to include ski mountaineering in the programme, and to expand it to feature individual men’s and women’s events.
Skimo made its Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina Olympics at the Stelvio Ski Centre with the individual sprint and the mixed relay.
France finished on the podium in all three events, taking the bronze in the men’s sprint, silver in the women’s sprint and gold in the mixed relay.
“Ski mountaineering is an integral part of our vision for the Games,” said the committee president, Edgar Grospin, to French newspaper L’Équipe.
“It’s a sport that’s gaining momentum and showcases another, wilder side of the mountains.
The growing sport of Ski Mountaineering. Image © PlanetSKI
Here at PlanetSKI we will be following developments closely and reporting back.
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
