Canada Snowboard Welcomes Expanded Olympic Snowboard Program for Alpes 2030
Mixed Team Parallel Giant Slalom added / Freeride Snowboarding prepares for Olympic debut
Canada Snowboard is celebrating today's announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) confirming an expanded Olympic future for snowboarding at the Alpes 2030 Olympic Winter Games.
The finalized program confirms that Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) will remain on the Olympic schedule while introducing the new Mixed Team Parallel Giant Slalom event, creating another opportunity for alpine snowboard athletes to compete on the world's biggest stage.
The announcement also marks a historic milestone for the sport, with Freeride Snowboarding officially added to the Olympic Winter Games program for the first time.
"We're thrilled to see Parallel Giant Slalom remain on the Olympic program, and the addition of the mixed team event is another exciting step forward for snowboard alpine racing. Canada has a proud history in PGS, and we're excited for the opportunity to continue building on that legacy on the Olympic stage. The mixed team event showcases the depth of a nation's program and highlights the strength of athletes competing together. Over the past several years, our snowboard alpine program has continued to progress, with growing depth, stronger international performances, and an outstanding group of young athletes coming through the pathway. This announcement creates even more opportunity for those athletes to represent Canada and pursue their Olympic dreams. We're looking forward to building on our history, supporting the next generation, and continuing to compete for podiums in both the individual and mixed team events."
— Dustin Heise, Chief Executive Officer, Canada Snowboard
For Canada's alpine snowboard program, today's announcement provides welcomed certainty after months of discussion surrounding the future of Parallel Giant Slalom within the Olympic program. With the discipline retained and Mixed Team Parallel Giant Slalom added to the schedule, Canadian athletes will have even more opportunities to compete for Olympic success in 2030.
The inclusion of Freeride Snowboarding is another landmark moment for the sport. Built by a passionate community of riders who have shaped its culture and progression, Freeride represents the creativity, decision-making and technical skill that define snowboarding in natural terrain.
Freeride is a discipline in which skiers and snowboarders descend natural, ungroomed terrain rather than a set course, choosing their own line through features like cliffs, chutes and powder fields. Athletes are judged on a combination of line choice, control, fluidity, technique and style, rather than on time.
The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) acquired the Freeride World Tour in 2022 and officially named freeride as a sport in 2024. Alpes 2030 will be freeride’s first Olympic appearance, with hope for inclusion in future Games.
"This is an incredibly exciting day for snowboarding and for Canada. Freeride has been shaped by a passionate community of pioneers who helped build the sport, establish its culture, and inspire generations of riders. To see it become part of the Olympic Winter Games is a huge milestone and recognition of everything that community has created. The exciting part for Canada is that we're already home to some of the world's best freeride athletes, with an incredible group of riders ready to compete on the Olympic stage. We're looking forward to supporting them on that journey while continuing to grow the sport and inspire the next generation of Canadians to get into the mountains."
— Dustin Heise, Chief Executive Officer, Canada Snowboard
Canada Snowboard welcomes Freeride Snowboarding into the Olympic program and looks forward to supporting the continued growth of the discipline in Canada.
While planning is underway, Canada Snowboard is not yet in a position to share details regarding Freeride Snowboarding being integrated into the organization's high-performance program. More information will be shared with the snowboard community as those plans are finalized and information is available.
The Alpes 2030 Olympic Winter Games will feature Snowboard Cross, PGS Alpine Snowboarding, Slopestyle, Big Air and Halfpipe. The new Mixed Team Parallel Giant Slalom event will join the existing Mixed Team Snowboard Cross event in the Olympic program, while Freeride Snowboarding will make its Olympic debut.
Canada Snowboard congratulates the global snowboard community on this exciting step forward and looks forward to supporting Canadian athletes as they prepare for the road to Alpes 2030.
