Freestyle skiing is one of the most creative and dynamic disciplines within snowsports.
It combines athletic skill, technical precision and personal style, allowing skiers to express themselves while performing tricks, jumps and manoeuvres on snow.
From grassroots participation to Olympic competition, freestyle skiing offers multiple pathways for skiers of all ages and abilities — whether your goal is to compete, progress your skills or simply have fun on snow.
freestyle skiing
Photo: Chris Cartwright
WHAT IS freestyle SKIING?
Freestyle skiing is one of the most creative and dynamic disciplines within snowsports. It combines athletic skill, technical precision and personal style, allowing skiers to express themselves while performing tricks, jumps and manoeuvres on snow.
From grassroots participation to Olympic competition, freestyle skiing offers multiple pathways for skiers of all ages and abilities — whether your goal is to compete, progress your skills or simply have fun on snow.
WHat are the freestyle disciplines?
Freestyle skiing is made up of several distinct disciplines, each with their own challenges and appeal:
Photo: Matt Nicholson
PARK & PIPE
Park and Pipe skiing takes place in terrain parks and halfpipes, using features such as jumps, rails and boxes.
Skiers perform inverted aerial tricks, spins and grabs, combining difficulty, execution and style. This discipline is popular with young skiers and is often the entry point into freestyle due to its progression-based learning and creative nature.
Within park and pipe, you have:
Big Air features one large jump where skiers perform a single trick
Slopestyle involves a course with multiple features including rails and jumps
Halfpipe uses a U-shaped snow structure (called a halfpipe) where skiers travel between the two walls, performing tricks
Photo: Stuart Brown Photography
moguls
Moguls skiing is performed on a steep slope covered in bumps (moguls), with skiers navigating a fast, technical line while completing two aerial jumps.
It requires exceptional balance, strength, rhythm and control. Moguls is one of the longest-standing freestyle disciplines and remains a core part of international competition.
ski cross
Ski cross is a high-energy freestyle skiing discipline.
Skiers race head-to-head down a specially designed course featuring jumps, rollers, banked turns and technical sections. The aim is simple: finish first.
aeriAls
Aerials skiing focuses on high-powered jumps where athletes launch from large kickers and perform complex flips and twists before landing on a steep slope.
Precision, air awareness and courage are essential. This is a highly specialised discipline, typically progressed into through structured coaching environments.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH FREESTYLE SKIING?
Once you’ve nailed the basics of skiing, anyone can get involved with freestyle – no matter what age. There are dozens of clubs around England which provide freestyle coaching, training and regular open practice sessions.
Futures Project
The Futures Project supports and encourages young people aged six to 21 years-old to learn and develop freestyle skills through fun workshops across England. These range from moguls and slopestyle to ski cross and more.
English Slopestyle Championships
Every summer, Snowsport England host the English Slopestyle Championships at an indoor snow centre.
This freestyle competition is a fun, inclusive event that welcomes any skier or snowboarder to take part, regardless of age or ability.
FOLLOW US
For the latest freestyle news, competition announcements and more, follow @snowsportengland_freestyle on Instagram.
