Freeski

Freeski — sometimes called park & pipe — is the FIS discipline for the terrain-park and halfpipe events on skis: Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air. Athletes are judged on the difficulty, execution, amplitude, variety and progression of their tricks. Slopestyle courses feature a sequence of jumps, rails and features; halfpipes are 22-foot Olympic-standard superpipes; and big air is a single, large jump on which the biggest and cleanest trick wins. FIS separates freeski from freestyle skiing to reflect its distinct culture, judging language and athlete pathway.

Selection is based on FIS Freeski points, national trials and performance at FIS World Cup, X Games and equivalent series. Because freeski is judged rather than timed, national associations weigh the composition of an athlete's trick repertoire, consistency in finals runs, and progression trajectory. Athletes must hold a valid FIS licence, pass medical and anti-doping checks, and comply with helmet and equipment safety regulations.

Freeski grew out of the 'new school' movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s, championed by figures such as Tanner Hall, Candide Thovex and Sarah Burke. Halfpipe and Slopestyle debuted at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Big Air followed at Beijing 2022. Modern greats include Alex Ferreira, David Wise, Eileen Gu, Tess Ledeux and Kelly Sildaru. Eileen Gu's medal sweep across all three events at Beijing 2022 and Milano-Cortina 2026 brought freeski unprecedented global attention.