A global qualifying system starts at local grassroots events and ends on the biggest stage of competitive freeriding, the Freeride World Tour - a season-long, multi-contest event watched and celebrated by millions around the world.
New Zealand has been, and is set to continue being, the home to many of the top Freeride athletes in the World and domestically there are numerous Freeride World Qualifier and Junior Freeride events hosted in New Zealand.
Competitive freeriding started out as a way to celebrate the sport and show off the creativity and skills to the community and a wider audience. It combines the adrenaline rush of skiing steep, ungroomed terrain with the creativity of freestyle skiing, demanding both technical precision and artistic expression. Success in this discipline hinges on mastering a diverse set of skills, from navigating challenging mountain terrain to executing stylish tricks and jumps with finesse.
Kiwi skiers and snowboarders have always been drawn to the discipline of Freeriding. Hamish Acland and Geoff Small lead the way and now every year we see Kiwi athletes competing at the top of the sport on the prestigious Freeride World Tour. In 2022 Jess Hotter became the first Kiwi athlete to become a Freeride World Tour champion.
Snow Sports NZ works alongside the New Zealand Junior Freeride Tour and The North Face Frontier to support the pathway for all skiers and snowboarders with Freeride aspirations.
Adaptive snow sports is about adapting equipment and lessons to allow people with a wide range of disabilities to experience the freedom of snow sports.
Alpine ski racing is one of the most popular competitive snow sports in NZ and we have had a rich history in the sport since the first ski races were held here in the 1920s.
Cross country is the oldest skiing sport. It is a low impact sport perfect for the whole family to enjoy. At the competitive level it is an endurance sport.
Freeskiing embraces the spirit of innovation. It encompasses the whole mountain from the ski cross course to the terrain parks and the backcountry.
Snowboarding is about riding the whole mountain, whether it’s the natural mountain terrain, the race course or in the halfpipe or terrain parks.
In freeride skiing & snowboarding, riders go over natural, unmonitored terrain without a set goal or trail to follow. Freeriding is for skiers who have a thirst for adventure and enjoy exploring new areas.
