Freestyle Skiing

Freestyle skiing groups the acrobatic and course-based skiing events that grew out of the 1970s freestyle movement. Its Olympic events are Moguls (fast descents down a bumped course with two scored aerial jumps), Aerials (large inverted jumps off a kicker judged on air, form and landing), Ski Cross (four-skier heats down a course of jumps, banks and rollers) and, since 2022, Dual Moguls. It is scored partly on judged style, partly on time, and rewards a mix of technique, air awareness and racecraft.

Athletes are selected by event-specific FIS points, national trials and their placings on the FIS World Cup and Continental Cup circuits. Nations often set a minimum finish (for example a top-30 result at a World Cup) as a benchmark. Aerials athletes must additionally demonstrate a repertoire of certified jumps at approved water-ramp or on-snow training facilities before being cleared to compete. Valid FIS licence, medical and anti-doping clearances apply.

Freestyle skiing emerged in North America in the late 1960s and 1970s and became an official FIS discipline in 1979. Moguls entered the Olympics in 1992 (Albertville), aerials in 1994, ski cross in 2010 and dual moguls in 2022. Notable athletes include Jonny Moseley, Alex Bilodeau, Mikaël Kingsbury of Canada (the winningest moguls skier of all time), Hannah Kearney and Perrine Laffont. In aerials, athletes such as Xu Mengtao and Yang Yang have brought China to the top of the discipline.