Klattermusen Is Launching A Petition To Get Acroski Back

An entire culture, community and sport that got the rug pulled away from under. The world of acroski brought individualism, creativity, and style to an otherwise stagnant and homogeneous world of winter sports. Often ridiculed and looked down on by the establishment, acroskiing’s uniqueness was a threat to the traditional narrow-minded thinking of conventional winter games.

After being a demonstration sport in both the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, dreams were squashed when acroski was removed from the program just before the 1994 games in Lillehammer. An entire culture of craftsmanship, dedication and beauty was sent into oblivion. Until now!

Acroski, originally known as ski ballet is a form of gymnastics or dance performed on skis. It is very similar to figure skating, combining spins, jumps, and flips in a two-minute routine choreographed to music. It was part of the professional freestyle skiing tours of the 1970s and 1980s and then an official FIS and Olympic discipline until the year 2000. Ski ballet became known as Acroski in the 1990s in an effort to legitimize its place among the competitive ski community, especially to the FIS.

Ski ballet involved a choreographed routine of flips, rolls, leg crossings, jumps, and spins performed on a smooth slope. After the mid-1970s, the routine was performed to music for 90 seconds. For a short period of time (in the 1980s), there were also pair ballet competitions, a variation of ballet where two people performed tricks that not only included spins, jumps, and leg crossing, but also lifts and synchronic movements. A panel of judges scored the performance similarly to figure skating.

Set to launch worldwide in mid-January, Klättermusen is launching a petition to get the the artform of acroski back and give a generation of unsung heroes the redemption they deserve. A petition to get acroski back into the Olympics (for real this time). The aim is to hand over this list to the International Olympic Committee to show them that this sport belongs in the finest of arenas.

"Keep Skiing" is Klättermusen’s homage to those who dare to go their own path, and celebrates creativity and freedom outside of the standards, much like the brand itself.

"Our 'Keep Skiing' campaign is about more than looking back; it's about keeping the fun, creativity, and high performance in skiing alive," says Ida Holmen, Marketing Manager at Klättermusen.

Thomas Heyerdahl, the Norwegian legend in the acroski world and the charismatic face of the campaign, is thrilled about the revival.

"Acroski is a breathtaking fusion of acrobatics and gymnastics on skis, masterfully united by exceptional balance, coordination, and strength. It's a jubilant celebration on snow! I am thrilled to be part of this dynamic campaign to reignite passion for this inspiring sport and aspire to propel it into the hearts of the next generation.

"We’re not just bringing back a sport; we’re reigniting a community. Join us, sign the petition, and let's keep the joy, the art, and the thrill of skiing alive!" says Holmen.