A perspective on competitive freeride skiing and snowboarding

Mulder, Eric (author), Holmberg, H.-C. (author), Supej, Matej (author)

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sport, biomechanics, avalanche safety, judging criteria, injury prevention, mental preparation, physiological demands, risk management, winter sport
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 9 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, art. 1627889
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179670
• UDC: 796.9
• ISSN on article: 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1627889
• COBISS.SI-ID: 250951171
• Publication date in RUL: 19.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in physiology
• Shortened title: Front. physiol.
• Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
• ISSN: 1664-042X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1218939

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: šport, varnost pred plazovi, biomehanika, preprečevanje poškodb, merila za ocenjevanje, mentalna priprava, fiziološke zahteve, obvladovanje tveganj, zimski športi