Freeride | Park and Pipe

Team Palisaes Tahoe - the Exclusive Freeride Program for Palisades Tahoe

Athletes who graduation from the Palisades Tahoe Mighty Mites and U10 Jr Development Teams are generally prepared with the necessary technical foundation to pursue Freeride/Freeski.

Freeride is about conquering the mountain in its natural state, while freeski is about expressing creativity and skill through tricks and jumps, whether in a park or off-piste. The Freeride and Freeski focus includes fluidity, creativity, and a connection with the natural mountain environment. Freeride can include riding powder, navigating natural features like cliffs, and incorporating tricks into natural terrain; and, requires strong all-mountain skiing ability, comfort with variable terrain, and an ability to adapt to changing conditions, embracing off-piste and natural terrain. 

Freestyle skiing is a subset of freeskiing, focusing on specific tricks and features, while freeride/freeskiing requires a broader approach that encompasses a wider range of skiing styles, skills, and environments. While Team Palisades Tahoe is the exlusive Freeride/Freeski Team at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley Freestyle provides the outlet for athletes who choose to focus in Mogul/Freestyle specific discipline.

Freeride - Comp & Sport

• Terrain: Natural, ungroomed slopes, backcountry, off-piste areas.
• Focus: Exploration, adventure, adapting to the mountain's natural features, and making dynamic turns.
• Technique: Emphasizes speed, control, and adaptability to varying snow conditions and terrain.
• Tricks/aerials: While some freeride athletes may incorporate jumps and tricks, the primary goal is to navigate the mountain efficiently and creatively.
• Equipment: Often utilizes wider, stiffer skis designed for powder and varied conditions.

Freeski - Park and Pipe

• Terrain: Can be in natural environments, but primarily involves terrain parks, halfpipes, and groomed runs with features.
• Focus: Performing tricks, jumps, and aerial maneuvers, often within a controlled environment.
• Technique: Requires mastery of freestyle skiing techniques, including spins, flips, and grabs.
• Equipment: Often utilizes shorter, more flexible skis with twin-tip designs, allowing for riding in both directions.

Cross Team - Ski & Snowboard

Skier and boarder cross, also known as ski cross and snowboard cross (or boardercross), are competitive winter sports where multiple skiers or snowboarders race simultaneously down a course featuring jumps, banked turns, and other obstacles. The goal is to be the first to cross the finish line. These events combine elements of racing and freestyle skiing/snowboarding. 

• Competition Format: Both skier and boarder cross events typically involve multiple racers (usually four to six) starting simultaneously and racing down a course designed to test their speed and technical skills.  

• Course Features: The courses include a variety of features like jumps, banked turns (berms), rollers, and drops, similar to those found in motocross.  

• Strategy and Tactics: Riders must navigate the course strategically, choosing optimal lines and managing speed while also contending with the presence of other racers, which can lead to collisions.  

• Contact: While intentional contact is usually penalized, incidental or unavoidable contact between riders is common in these events.  

Freeride & Freeski athletes should have a minimum of 1 full year participation in U10 Jr Development at Palisades Tahoe,

or, come from a comparable Freeride or Freeski program