The Freeride World Tour has announced its integration into the Olympics. Freeride is officially headed to the Games in the French Alps in 2030. Some of today's top pros are sharing their sentiments. Sage Kotsenburg took to Instagram and posted the following statement to his story:
In my lifetime i've watched @fisparkandpipe singlehandedly suck the soul out of Slope, Pipe and Big Air. I don't wanna see a day where a coach is telling a kid which way down the mountain will accumulate the most points and what cliff the judges are rewarding more that day
We use to have a fully functioning tour before FIS came in and completely ruined it. All i'm saying is before we jump onboard and are hyped about this let's look at the past and see how badly they have botched park contests and fight back against them. They will undoubtedly do some KOOKY things in the next 4 years if we do nothing and let them tell us how to run "freeriding"
Conversely, some snowboarders seem to be ecstatic about the IOC's decision to include freeride. Marion Haerty, a very highly decorated backcountry rider who won the Freeride World Tour in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, as well as the 2024 Natural Selection Tour, made her own post saying:
I have been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of this sport throughout my career, and today, the prospect of seeing it included in the Olympic Games is both moving and deeply meaningful. Knowing that France will host the discipline for the very first time in 2030 marks a truly significant moment. It is a wonderful form of recognition for everyone who has helped write the history of freeriding, but above all, I hope we can preserve its legacy: the creativity, the commitment, and that unique connection with the mountains. If the Olympics allow us to pass these values on to a new generation without compromising the essence of our sport, then it will represent an incredible evolution, a line that will continue to be traced and handed down.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section of our latest Instagram post discussing the matter.