On February 22, 2026, the Far West Ski Association Board of Directors unanimously approved aWomen's Nordic Combined Olympic Inclusion Resolution.
Nordic Combined is one of the original Winter Olympic sports, first contested at the inaugural Winter Games inChamonix in 1924. For more than a century, the sport has represented the heart of Nordic skiing — combining the courage of ski jumping with the endurance of cross-country skiing.
Today the sport faces a critical moment. Nordic Combined remains the only Winter Olympic discipline where only men are allowed to compete, even though women now compete internationally in World Cup and World Championship events. Because the Olympic program prioritizes gender-balanced sports, the future of Nordic Combined itself is underreview following the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
The IOC is considering removing Nordic Combined from the Olympic program entirely, rather than adding a women’s event. They are focused on viewership and Nordic Combined is a niche sport.
Adding Women’s Nordic Combined for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games is the solution that:
● Advances gender equality in Olympic sport
● Preserves one of the foundational disciplines of the Winter Olympics
● Ensures the future of Nordic Combined for both men and women
Far West Ski Association, as"The Voice of the Western Skier,"has joined the many organizations that care about the history and legacy of skiing and sports, and is aware that NordicCombined has strong support across the Nordic community.
WOMEN’S NORDIC COMBINED OLYMPIC INCLUSION RESOLUTION
Unanimously Approved by the Far West Ski Association
Board of Directors on February 22, 2026
WHEREAS, the Far West Ski Association is the voice of the Western skier, and
WHEREAS, the Far West Ski Association (FWSA) membership of approximately 50,000recreational skiers and riders in the twelve western states of Alaska, Arizona, California,Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming hasan obligation to represent ALL snowsports enthusiasts in its territory, and
WHEREAS, western skiers have provided opportunities for its women competitors from the1850s to the present day, with FWSA among the organizations that stood alongsideadvocates pushing for Women’s Ski Jumping to be included in the Olympic program, andwe believe the same spirit of fairness and forward momentum applies here, and
WHEREAS, Nordic Combined has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1924 andrepresents one of the original disciplines of Olympic winter sport; and
WHEREAS, Women’s Nordic Combined has developed a dedicated International SkiFederation (FIS) World Cup circuit since the 2020–2021 season, demonstrating significantgrowth in participation, competitive depth, and global engagement; and
WHEREAS, the number of Women’s Nordic Combined competitors and nationsrepresented is demonstrably sufficient for international competition with World Cup eventsincreasing almost 100% from nine events in the 2021-2022 season to 17 events in the2025-2026 season with twelve (12) nations competing at the 2025 World Championships,and
WHEREAS, the skill levels of international Women’s Nordic Combined competitors havebeen demonstrated with four (4) different nations claiming the top four spots at the 2025World Championships, and
WHEREAS, the International Olympic Committee has committed to advancing genderequality across Olympic sport; and
WHEREAS, Women’s Nordic Combined remains the only Winter Olympic discipline withoutfemale athlete participation; and
WHEREAS, eliminating existing Olympic events does not advance equality, while expandingopportunities strengthens the Olympic movement; and
WHEREAS,Nordic Combined is uniquely cost-efficient, utilizing existing ski jumping hillsand cross-country courses already built for Olympic venues. Adding women's eventsrequires no new facilities or infrastructure investment, making it one of the most economicalways to advance gender equality in the Winter Games, and
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that no realistic practical or philosophical barriers existnor should exist for Women’s Nordic Combined in the Winter Olympics nor any competitionsleading to them, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthat this resolution be shared publicly with partnerorganizations, national governing bodies, media outlets, and the International OlympicCommittee to demonstrate unified support from the grassroots snowsports community, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the national governing body, United States Ski andSnowboard, the US Olympic Committee, and the International Ski Federation be urged tosupport Women’s Nordic Combined, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Olympic Committee is urged to “do theright thing” to maintain the Men’s Nordic Combined event and schedule a Women’s NordicCombined event in the French Alps 2030 Olympic Winter Games and in future Winter
Olympics.
Resolution Submitted by
Randy Lew, Past President
Far West Ski Association