FIS 28.11.2025 – 29.03.2026
Source: https://www.instagram.com/fissnowboardracing
The history of FIS Snowboard is part of the larger history of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
History of FIS Snowboard
- FIS Foundation: The International Ski Federation (Fédération Internationale de Ski – FIS) was originally founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France, as the governing body for ski sports.
- Snowboarding’s Initial Governance: Competitive snowboarding was initially governed by the International Snowboarding Federation (ISF), which was formed in 1991.
- FIS Recognition: FIS officially recognized snowboarding as a sport in 1994.
- FIS Competitions Begin: The first FIS Snowboard World Championships were held in 1996 in Lienz, Austria, and the FIS Snowboard World Cup circuit has been running since 1994.
- Olympic Debut: Snowboarding made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, under the governance of the FIS. This was a significant development, although controversial at the time, as many in the snowboard community preferred the ISF’s governance.
- Name Change: In a move to reflect the inclusion and importance of the sport, the organization changed its name from the “International Ski Federation” to the “International Ski and Snowboard Federation” in 2022, while retaining the familiar abbreviation, FIS.
Different Disciplines
The FIS Snowboard World Cup and World Championships currently feature six main disciplines, which are generally grouped into Alpine and Freestyle categories, plus Snowboard Cross:
1. Alpine Snowboarding (Race Events)
These disciplines involve head-to-head racing down a slope with gates, emphasizing speed and technical carving:
- Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS): Two riders race simultaneously on two parallel, identical courses. After a first run, they switch courses. The fastest combined time or a knockout system determines the winner. It has been an Olympic event since 2002.
- Parallel Slalom (PS): Similar to PGS, but the course is shorter, and the gates are set closer together, requiring quicker turns.
2. Freestyle Snowboarding (Judged Events)
These disciplines are judged based on the difficulty, execution, amplitude (height), and style of the tricks performed:
- Halfpipe (HP): Riders perform tricks while moving back and forth across a semicircular trench (the halfpipe). The competition is judged. It has been an Olympic discipline since 1998.
- Slopestyle (SS): Riders navigate a course that includes a variety of jumps, rails, and other terrain features, performing tricks throughout. It has been an Olympic discipline since 2014.
- Big Air (BA): Riders hit a single, massive jump (“kicker”) to perform a single trick in the air. It is judged and has been an Olympic discipline since 2018.
3. Snowboard Cross (SBX)
- Snowboard Cross: This is a race where four to six riders race at the same time down a course featuring banked turns, jumps, rollers, and other terrain. It is a mass-start, knockout-style event where the fastest riders advance to the next round. It became an Olympic discipline in 2006.
Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup
