Freeride Joins the Olympic Stage: FWT Enters a New Era
Behind every major step in freeride’s evolution, there is not only the progression of the sport itself, but also the challenge of bringing its intensity to audiences around the world. Since 2020, Goosebumps has supported the Freeride World Tour in producing and improving its Live signal, helping make one of the most unpredictable sports on earth more immersive, readable and accessible to fans.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed the inclusion of ski and snowboard freeride in the programme of the Alpes 2030 Olympic Winter Games. For the Freeride World Tour, this marks a major turning point: freeride will make its Olympic debut in 2030, in a format true to its DNA, built on natural terrain, athlete commitment and line choice.
A Historic Recognition for Freeride
Long carried by a passionate community, freeride is now entering a new chapter. Its inclusion in the Olympic Winter Games recognises the discipline’s journey from a niche competitive scene to a structured international sport, followed by a growing global audience and driven by a new generation of athletes.
It also celebrates what makes freeride unique: a spectacular and demanding sport deeply connected to the mountains, where every run is shaped in the moment and creativity matters as much as performance.
Three Decades of Development Through the Freeride World Tour
Since the creation of Xtreme Verbier in 1996 and the launch of the Freeride World Tour in 2008, the FWT has played a central role in developing the discipline. Now part of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the tour is built around a complete ecosystem, from Junior and Qualifier events to Challenger competitions and the elite Freeride World Tour.
With more than 10,000 licensed riders and over 300 competitions held each year across four continents, the FWT has helped create a clear progression pathway for athletes. Freeride’s Olympic inclusion now opens a new horizon: giving the world’s best riders the opportunity to represent their nations on the biggest stage in sport.
Goosebumps and the Evolution of the Live Signal
Since 2020, Goosebumps has worked alongside the Freeride World Tour to produce and enhance the Live signal. This mission is central to how the discipline is experienced beyond the mountain, helping audiences follow the action, understand the terrain and feel the scale of each line in real time.
Producing live freeride comes with a unique set of challenges: remote venues, exposed faces, fast-changing weather, long distances, safety constraints and a sport where no two runs are ever the same. Through its collaboration with the FWT, Goosebumps contributes to a Live experience designed to bring fans closer to the athletes and to showcase the full intensity of the discipline.
Looking Ahead to Alpes 2030
Freeride’s inclusion in the Olympic programme opens a new chapter for the sport, its athletes, its organisers and its wider community. As the road to Alpes 2030 begins, the FWT will continue working to grow, structure and share the discipline with new audiences around the world, while preserving the spirit that has defined freeride from the beginning.
For today’s riders and the next generation, this announcement creates a new dream: one day competing for an Olympic medal in freeride.
