Words by Isabella Tvede-Jensen

The past few weeks have given us all food for thought when it comes to the structures that run deeply within the freeskiing community: On one side, freeskiing is a sport that throughout the last 12 years has made me feel free and independent as a human and a woman. It has taught me that I can be successful for my abilities rather than my appearance. Skiing has molded me into the person I am today. However, my deep love for the sport and community feels, at times, unreturned.

This article is partly inspired by two major events that happened recently, at opposite ends of the freeski spectrum. On the one hand, the event in Saudi Arabia caused an avalanche of opinions and revealed on which side of certain issues some of our favorite skiers stand. On the other, The League premiered as one of the most beautiful and emotional visual representations of FREEskiing I have seen in years! It is a masterpiece as a film so shout out to director and dear friend Mathias Skaarup. Likewise, I find Jib League, which kicked off a second season last week, genius in its approach to the promotion and judging of creative expression within competitive freestyle skiing.

However, in both cases, I was left with a feeling of being on the outside. While the event in Saudi Arabia is also tied up with other detrimental intersectional issues such as sports-washing and anti-LGTBQIA+ legislation, I would like to stress that it is far from the only event that does not include women when the invitations are posted. In many ways, I think the freeski industry seems to be seriously lacking when it comes to creating a space for the female skiers who do not fit into the mold of a competitive FIS Athlete. Yes, this was the year we finally saw women ski at XGames Knuckle Huck for the first time, and I was equally stoked to see some female SLVSH games play out.

However, I could not help thinking that it was about damn time! I strongly believe that if more ‘core’ events like SLVSH Cup and Jib League included female skiers, it would be a win-win, promoting female street skiers and film skiers and giving these events more legitimacy and economic sustainability. Just look at how the women’s SuperUnknown entries have exploded since Rosina sent in her iconic entry.

So, while I am deeply inspired by and thankful for the efforts of Ferdinand, Øystein, and Woodsy, even here, I am left with a feeling that the freedom in Freestyle Skiing only applies to male athletes, because I see very few women skiing in Jib League. As Ferdinand wisely says at the end of The League documentary ‘The guys [gals?] who now are the pros, are now the ones who are responsible for making the change. In 20 years, you look back, and if you didn’t do anything then to make a change for the better, then you are just as bad or you’re just as much to blame for the situation.’ Although Ferdinand is not directly speaking of gender equality, these words inspired me to write this piece.

Honestly, I have so many questions: Where was Maude’s pro-model when Henrik and Phil received theirs? Why is Taylor the only woman who was ever invited to XGames Real-Ski? Why is ‘skiing like a girl’ used negatively when Olivia Asselin, Rell Harwood, and Anni Karava have more style than is legally acceptable? Why is Sarah Burke not mentioned more often when we talk about the GOATS? And whatever happened to the women’s SLVSH-cup?

I am also left with the feeling that we can do better. No single organization or individual is to blame but we must recognize that patriarchal structures run deep within all of us, and it is something that must unlearned intentionally. We all have to actively push women’s skiing forward precisely because the status quo is designed to pull it back. Pointing fingers will not solve a problem that is structural. That means you have to do the work! But even more so, the work must be supported by the ski media, the sponsors, the GOATS, the national teams, the event organizers, and FIS. The inequality in our sport will not undo itself.

When all is said and done, I simply wish that the world of freestyle skiing would return the unconditional love and passion that exists within most skiers regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sex, and sexuality.

If you made it this far, thank you!

If you disagree with me, that’s all good. Luckily, we live in a world where people, (even women) are entitled have to different opinions.

If you agree, please help us actively push women’s skiing forward because “in 20 years, you [may] look back, and [realize that] if you didn’t do anything then to make a change for the better, then you are just as bad or you’re just as much to blame for the situation.”

Love, Isa