What is Freeride

The Freeride Experience: Adventure, Freedom, and Discovery

Mountains as the Playground

Freeride skiing, or snowboarding, is about embracing the spirit of adventure, immersing yourself in the wild, and navigating unexplored terrain. It's an experience that showcases the beauty and challenges of nature, taking you away from crowded ski resorts into raw, untouched environments. Freeride slopes range from snow-covered alpine meadows to steep rocky cliffs and dense pine forests, each offering its own technical challenges and visual rewards.

However, accessing these remote playgrounds is not easy. As Nicolas Hale-Woods, founder of the Freeride World Tour (FWT), explains, "Freeride often means hiking for over an hour with skis on your back to access slopes unreachable by lifts." This effort reflects the core philosophy of freeride: the descent is only part of the journey. The climb requires stamina, blending the discipline of ski touring with the anticipation of a thrilling descent.

Freedom to Create Your Line

Freeriding offers an unparalleled sense of freedom. Unlike traditional ski slopes, where the runs are groomed, marked, and controlled, freeriders seek out unmarked, wild slopes where they can carve their own paths. In these vast, untouched terrains, every run becomes a personal journey, where riders are in complete control of their descent. The constantly changing terrain provides new challenges with every turn, offering the rare privilege of leaving your own mark on fresh, untouched snow. This creative aspect of freeride, where you define your line and interact with the landscape, contrasts sharply with traditional skiing and snowboarding. On marked trails, boundaries dictate your path, but in freeride, the mountain becomes a blank canvas, open to interpretation and exploration. It’s this freedom that draws many to the sport, where no two runs are ever the same.

The Emotional Connection to Freeride

Philosophy of Freedom and Adventure

Freeride is more than just a sport—it’s a way of connecting with nature. At its core, freeride is about engaging deeply with the environment, embracing adventure, and pushing personal boundaries, all while respecting the natural world. It’s a sport where performance and competition take a backseat to the pure joy of exploration and discovery.

Riding untouched slopes evokes a profound mix of emotions, from the thrill of navigating new terrain to the deep sense of solitude and fulfillment that comes with being alone in nature. Freeride allows for moments of calm, where the rider can pause, absorb the surroundings, and appreciate the serene beauty of the mountain environment. Yet, there’s also the exhilarating rush of being the first to carve through fresh powder, a fleeting but intense reward for the effort it took to get there. At the same time, freeride demands focus, preparation, and a deep awareness of your surroundings. Navigating unpredictable and often dangerous terrain requires skill and caution. Every freeride adventure comes with its own set of challenges, but this only adds to the richness of the experience.

Risks and Safety in Freeride

Essential Equipment

To safely tackle the challenges of freeriding, having the right equipment is crucial. Freeride skis are wider than traditional slope skis, with waist widths ranging from 95–105 mm, providing better flotation in deep snow. Lighter, more flexible boots are designed for long climbs and descents in challenging terrain, offering both comfort and control.

Discover even more technical information and models by visiting Dynastar.com

Freeride snowboards are typically stiffer and feature a directional shape, with longer noses and shorter tails, allowing for better floatation in deep snow and control on steep terrain. These boards often incorporate a rocker profile for easy turns and enhanced surf-like sensations. The stance is set back, positioning the rider’s weight towards the tail for improved maneuverability in powder.

Safety gear is equally important. “Safety should always be the top priority for athletes […],” says Heiko Schäfer, CEO of Mammut. Every freerider should carry three essential tools: an avalanche beacon, a collapsible probe, and a shovel. These items are critical in the event of an avalanche, in order to be found, or to be able to immediately begin searching for victims.. Additionally, helmets (you can find a selection with our partner SCOTT), back protectors, avalanche airbags and RECCO reflector, have become standard safety gear, while some riders also carry radios for off-grid communication. This equipment is designed not just for protection, but to increase your chances of survival in the event of an emergency. As Nicolas Hale-Woods explains: “Ensuring to have the best tools available enables to enjoy the sport we love while minimizing risks”.

The Hazards of the Backcountry

Freeride comes with inherent risks, with avalanches being the most significant danger. These powerful forces can sweep away anything in their path, and even the most experienced riders are not immune. It’s essential to take avalanche safety workshops to understand how to minimize risk, read the terrain, and know what to do if the worst happens. Other hazards are less obvious but equally dangerous. Navigating dense forests makes it difficult to control speed, increasing the chance of colliding with trees. Hidden obstacles, such as rocks or shallowly buried roots, can cause sudden crashes. Crevasses, covered by fresh snow, can collapse under the weight of a skier. And, of course, sudden weather changes can reduce visibility, making navigation in unmarked terrain even more treacherous. Having the right equipment is only part of the equation. Freeriders need a solid understanding of the mountains and their dangers. That’s why beginners should always start with experienced companions who can teach them the essential skills for safe freeriding.

Freeride’s Evolution: A Fusion with Freestyle

Despite its risks, freeride continues to evolve, blending with freestyle techniques that add new energy to the sport. A new generation of riders, including athletes like Manon Loschi, Maxime Chabloz, Max Palm, and Marcus Goguen, are pushing boundaries by seamlessly incorporating tricks into their big mountain lines. These athletes showcase incredible control and creativity, using natural obstacles like cliffs and rocks as part of their runs.

This fusion of freeride and freestyle brings a fresh dynamic to the sport, highlighting the versatility and skill required to master not just the descent, but the tricks that now define the cutting edge of freeride. With social media amplifying these new approaches, freeride is more accessible and visually captivating than ever before.

Conclusion

Freeride skiing and snowboarding offer an unparalleled adventure—a chance to explore the untouched wilderness, carve your own path, and test your limits against the raw forces of nature. The sport's philosophy of freedom, combined with the skill and awareness it requires, creates a powerful connection between rider and mountain. Though the risks are real, the rewards of freeriding—personal discovery, creative expression, and an unmatched sense of achievement—make it one of the most exhilarating experiences in the world of snow sports.