Actually cyclemon you have it backwards. Most freeriders I know do a lot of climbing. They are looking for the best unridden terrain. It is essentially a combination of xc and DH with technical (especially on the shore). This requires a lot of xc strength to get there.

To a lot of people if you are taking a lift to come down the mountain it will never be freeriding. Watch the movies. They are generally in remote areas and on fresh lines they made that morning preparing for the run. It may be VERY extreme but it is still fresh.

No in reality freeriding is just an extreme of xc. XC won't die but I do think it needs modification in some cases. I won't go into detail because I already argued this at ridemonkey. PURE xc is boring to watch. To get the money (lots) back into the sport they have to make it more technical and exciting. This dips into what is freeriding. I don't think there needs to be a dive in. But dipping in would make it more fun for me to watch for sure.

ALTHOUGH I watched a world cup event on grouse and for the first time saw some good riding. Besides distance it was technical with some good technical dh sections and excellent xc sections which were varrying degrees of technical. If all of the races I watch on the world cup were like that I would be stoked about xc racing.

Then of course you have the extreme freeriding. (red bull for example) thats just nuts.

ps I also don't think you NEED a fs to freeride. It is sometimes best if you are doing HUGE drops but it isn't a requirement. (pss I ride a hardtail and consider myself a freerider / extreme xc guy)