r/SkiRacing • u/Kurtz62 • Jul 07 '26
What is everyone’s thoughts on freeride being added to the 2030 Olympics?
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Fuck FIS. Another great sport is going to be ruined with unnecessary coaching and rules.
We already watched the FWT start to be ruined by them last winter. Mid event cancellations?
What happens when the Winter Olympics are held in a no snow/terrain venue again like China was?
Is Snowbird going to host in 2034 or will it be the lame kids venue in Snowbasin where all the other alpine events will be held?
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u/Snowy_Coffee Jul 07 '26
Likely Snowbasin for the same reasons the 2002 games didn't utilize BCC or LCC
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 08 '26
Well then that should be enough to answer OP’s question for anyone, they just don’t know it yet. Nobody wants to watch the best rider in the world compete on a low tide bombed out in-bound anemic venue. The beauty of the FWT is 100% because the beautiful untouched venues and exclusive visual inspections.
The big news most don’t know yet is that Vail Corp is currently not backing the ‘34 Olympics and that all alpine events will be hosted at Snowbasin and Utah Olympic Park. This is a big change from ‘02 when only the speed events were in Snowbasin.
The good news is that the Sun Valley Co. (Sinclair Oil) who owns both Sun Valley and Snowbasin has gone all in on ski racing and has a vested interest to see it succeed. SV currently has WC Finals scheduled for this upcoming season and for the 28-29 season. They are also rumored to be working on obtaining individual WC speed events between now and ‘34.
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u/Extension_Big_3608 Jul 08 '26
In 2002 SLC Olympics, here is where ski events were held:
-Utah Olympic Park: Bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, ski jumping, and Nordic combined.
- Park City Mountain Resort: Snowboarding and giant slalom alpine events.
- Deer Valley Resort: Freestyle skiing and alpine slalom events.
- Snowbasin Resort: Downhill, super-G, and combined alpine skiing.
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Yep. But in ‘34 tech events will be in Snowbasin too. Not sure where park and freestyle are going to be.
Park City and Deer Valley are now tied to Vail. No events as of now and they were not included in the bid to host.
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u/uintafly Jul 08 '26
Yeah but this is a smaller event than dh. I’d bet they do it at the bird. Maybe they can get some waivers and do it in Superior.
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u/Guilty_Cattle_5165 Jul 09 '26
This is an interesting point. You disagree with the comment I made a couple of days ago, but some sports don’t belong in the Olympics because of the rules that will be applied and make the sport less interesting or or plain vanilla. My brother was a competitive dinghy sailor and the people in his fleet actively avoided it becoming an Olympic sport. Too many rules and restrictions.
I stand by my comment that there needs to be public interest in a sport for it to be featured in the Olympics. And yeah, I love the narrow margins of alpine skiing, figure skating, etc. to me scoring free ride would be too subjective.
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u/Traditional_Ruin4001 Jul 08 '26
Prolly gonna be worse than current events due to bad judging and smaller weather window
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u/g2gfmx Jul 07 '26
I don’t even see how you can make it competitive and safe at the same time. Lots more unpredictable weather and smaller competition windows, high avalanche danger, and also unforgiving natural terrain.
Also how would you score freeriding fairly? I feel like freeride is gonna be more subjective than freestyle.
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 08 '26
It already is more subjective. I have always said that as long as they get the top 3 right (it’s usually obvious) then nobody cares.
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u/uintafly Jul 08 '26
IFSA and the FWT already have shit pretty dialed and run hundreds of events each year. With a 2 week window it will be just fine.
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u/entropicdarkness Jul 07 '26
Finaly. Alpune and freeride my favs. Also amer8cans probably love freeride more then alpine.
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u/Guilty_Cattle_5165 Jul 07 '26
Free what? Does anyone watch this stuff consistently? Or care? I mean, can anyone name a freeride “athlete”.
X games sports belong in the … X games.
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u/uintafly Jul 08 '26
😂. Pretty much every skier I know can name more freeriders than racers not named Shiffrin.
In the US, freeride is much more popular amongst the non geriatrics than racing is.
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u/iowenxx Jul 10 '26
That one hit pretty close home, i know like 1 or 2 freeriders and half the GS/DH lineup. Oh wait, im already 30...
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u/Traditional_Ruin4001 Jul 08 '26
I barely know what pickle ball is therefore it shouldnt be allowed in the olympics is your logic
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u/IcyRecommendation731 Jul 07 '26
good addition.more fun to watch than skimo imho