Ski Ballet Makes Stunning Olympic Comeback

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The sport of ski ballet, formally known as acroski, is making a surprise comeback at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Combining "the grace of figure skating, the thrill of alpine skiing, and the fashion of the 1980s," acroski involves a 90-second routine of complicated moves and flashy costumes that was once a popular Olympic demonstration sport.

Why it matters

Ski ballet was a way for skiers to "revolt against the conformity and the rigid norms of competitive skiing" when it first gained popularity in the 1980s. Though relegated to a demonstration sport in the past, its influence can still be seen in modern freestyle skiing disciplines like slopestyle and big air.

The details

Acroski involves a 90-second routine that seeks to impress judges with a series of complicated move sets, often with flashy costumes of the 1980s era. The sport was once described as "part sport, part performance art, and entirely mesmerizing." While it was not included in the Olympics after 1992, its legacy continues to influence modern freestyle skiing.

• Ski ballet gained more widespread popularity in the 1988 Calgary Games and the 1992 Albertville Games.
• Ski ballet was not included in the 1996 Games and has not been featured since.