freeriding
/ˈfriːˌraɪdɪŋ/
Definition
A competitive winter sport where skiers or snowboarders descend ungroomed, natural mountain terrain, choosing their own paths while performing maneuvers that are evaluated by judges.
Etymology
The word is a compound of 'free' (meaning independent or unrestricted) and 'riding' (referring to the act of navigating on a snowboard or skis). It emerged in the late 20th century to describe mountain sports practiced off-piste, away from the constraints of prepared trails.
In the news
In this article, freeriding is introduced as a new addition to the 2030 Winter Olympics program to replace the removed Nordic combined events. Its inclusion is driven by the sport's high international participation and visual appeal for television audiences.
Nordic combined, a Winter Olympic mainstay, dropped from 2030 Games; freeriding added
Read the full article ↗The New York Times