20.500.12556/RUL-179670 A perspective on competitive freeride skiing and snowboarding Freeride skiing and snowboarding—collectively termed competitive freeriding—have evolved from niche extreme sports into formally recognized disciplines under the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS). Unlike traditional alpine or freestyle events, competitive freeriding emphasizes creative line selection, technical execution, fluidity, style, and aerial maneuvers on natural, ungroomed mountain terrain. Athletes descend complex slopes based solely on visual inspection, without practice runs, facing unique physical and psychological challenges. This perspective article outlines the competition format and judging system, identifies key physiological and biomechanical demands, and reviews essential equipment and safety considerations. Despite growing popularity and institutional recognition, scientific research remains limited—primarily focused on avalanche risk and injury incidence—while other dimensions, such as psychological resilience, creative expression, and environmental connectedness, remain underexplored. Physiologically, competitive freeriders require high levels of eccentric and explosive strength, core stability, reactive control, and anaerobic endurance to navigate variable terrain and absorb impact during aerial maneuvers. Lower-extremity injuries—particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures—are a major concern. Technological advances in drone-based filming, athlete monitoring, and protective equipment are reshaping freeride competition and broadcasting. As the sport moves toward potential Olympic inclusion, the central challenge lies in embracing innovation without compromising the core values of freedom, improvisation, and connection to the mountain environment. sport biomechanics avalanche safety judging criteria injury prevention mental preparation physiological demands risk management winter sport šport varnost pred plazovi biomehanika preprečevanje poškodb merila za ocenjevanje mentalna priprava fiziološke zahteve obvladovanje tveganj zimski športi true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-02-19 12:39:04 2026-02-19 12:39:06 2026-03-03 16:04:30 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 9 str. art. 1627889 Vol. 16 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 796.9 1664-042X 10.3389/fphys.2025.1627889 250951171 fphys-16-1627889_(1).pdf fphys-16-1627889_(1).pdf 1 542C57596C8C14833CE4B9740FC64D66 4298e8c1e157895f85ab0fdb6b932b87bfc858a7ec4d7f8c7eb510e9263437c9 a8d3c3b9-0d8c-11f1-a1ba-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=228443 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1627889/full 1 5907d6ec-0d87-11f1-a1ba-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=228435 Fakulteta za šport 0 0 0