The Issue
For decades, ski ballet - also known as “acroski” - was part of freestyle skiing and even appeared on the Olympic stage.

It was featured at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games and again at the 1992 Albertville Games as an official demonstration sport.

But after 1992, it disappeared.

Today, it no longer exists in the Olympic program.

And by the year 2000, all formal ski ballet competitions had ended.

 
What Was Ski Ballet?
Ski ballet was a choreographed freestyle skiing discipline set to music, with routines lasting 90 seconds to two minutes.

It combined:

Technical skiing
Creativity and style
Dance and performance
Athletes like Lane Spina, Conny Kissling, and Fabrice Becker helped define the sport during its Olympic demonstration years.

At the time, ski ballet stood alongside moguls and aerials as part of freestyle skiing’s evolution.

But while those disciplines became official Olympic events…

ski ballet was left behind.

 
Why It Disappeared
The International Olympic Committee chose not to advance ski ballet into a medal sport.

Reasons included:

Limited funding
Difficulty attracting a broad audience at the time
The rise of newer sports like snowboarding
As the sport lost support, it gradually faded from competition and public view.

 
Why This Matters Now
Something has changed.

A recent video of ski ballet on the slopes of Vail reached millions of viewers, sparking global interest and conversation.

People are asking:

“Why isn’t this still a sport?”
“Why isn’t this in the Olympics?”
For the first time in decades:

There is real, visible demand again.

 
Meet the Movement
At the center of this revival is Dan “The Budman.”

Over 3,000 days on skis.
100+ resorts across 14 countries.
Skiing without poles since 1980.
He has spent decades keeping ski ballet alive purely for the love of it.

“Once upon a time, I threw my poles away and became free.”
Now, that passion is reaching millions.

 
Why Ski Ballet Belongs Back
Winter sports today celebrate:

Creativity (freestyle skiing, snowboarding)
Performance (figure skating)
Innovation
Ski ballet naturally fits all three.

And with modern skiing, it could evolve into something even more compelling:

Synchronized pair skiing
Team performances
New judging formats
A highly visual, spectator-friendly discipline

It’s about reimagining it for today’s audience.

 
The Opportunity
Unlike many new Olympic sports, ski ballet already has:

A history within the Olympic Games
Existing infrastructure (resorts, freestyle venues)
A proven foundation within freestyle skiing
What it needs now is support, development, and recognition.

 
The Right Path Forward
✓ Reintroduce ski ballet as an exhibition event
✓ Develop modern formats for competition
✓ Encourage innovation within freestyle skiing
✓ Expand creative disciplines in winter sports

 
What We’re Asking
We call on the International Olympic Committee and global ski organizations to:

• Explore the reintroduction of ski ballet as a modern discipline
• Support pilot programs and exhibition events
• Give this sport a pathway back to international competition

 How You Can Help
If you believe ski ballet deserves a comeback:

👉 Sign this petition
👉 Share it with your friends
👉 Tag someone who would try this

Every signature helps show there is real interest in bringing this sport back.