Freestyle
Freestyle skiing is air, style, speed and head-to-head action, on specially shaped courses, all up close to the spectators. The music pounds and the crowds are thrilled by the spectacular performances, the men’s moguls being the largest crowd-puller at the Nagano Olympics.
Moguls, an Olympic event since 1992 currently has the largest following. Competitors hammer down a steep, heavily bumped course, managing to throw two spectacular upright jumps on the way. Marks are awarded for the technique of the turns (50%), the speed of the run (25%) and the quality of the two jumps (25%). Dual moguls, competed up to World Championship level, is the head-to-head version, where out-performing your opponent is needed to progress to the next round.
Aerials also joined the Olympic stage in 1994, although it is a little more specialized. Competitors jump off towering snow kickers to perform complex twisting somersault combinations forty feet above the ground. Two different jumps must be performed and marks are awarded for the quality of form in the air (70%) and the precision and control of landing (30%).
A water ramp facility, grant aided by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, has been in operation at Sheffield Ski Village since September 1999 and a new generation of aerialists are currently being groomed. The sport of Aerials is ideal for gymnasts and trampolinists looking for a new challenge.
After many years as a World Cup event, and as an Olympic demonstration event, Acro (ski ballet) is no longer competed. Instead, the ideas of a run allowing competitors to do as many tricks as they choose, while maintaining smooth style are included in some of the new events that are coming onto the scene.
Big Air is a more informal aerials event giving competitors freedom to invent new tricks, including switch (backwards), take-offs and landings, grabs, spins, flips and showmanship with more emphasis on grabs, switch (backwards) take-offs and landings, grabs, spins, flips and showmanship.
Ski Cross is the ultimate head-to-head event. Competitors race down one course, four at a time, around banked gates, across rollers, and over huge tabletops. Some physical contact is always inevitable, so staying upright is the biggest challenge.
Half-pipe competitions have skateboarding and snowboarding influences, with competitors pulling flips, spins and grabs on both walls of the pipe. Due to the specialised equipment required to make a high quality pipe, this event is currently restricted to the larger resorts, but it is continually gaining popularity.
