Cypress Mountain

	Remaining

‘There has always been the element of freedom in skiing – the freedom to choose what line to take down the slope, the freedom to decide whether to go off a jump or not. Freestyle skiing is no different. The 1960s were a time of evolution as young people looked for different forms of expression. This pursuit of expression also found its way into winter sports. Freestyle skiing began in a decade that saw advancements in modern ski equipment and freedom of expression lead to new and exciting skiing techniques. Originally a mix of alpine skiing and acrobatics, the first freestyle skiing competition was held in Attitash, New Hampshire in 1966.

A relative newcomer to the Olympic Winter Games, freestyle moguls became an Olympic event at the Albertville 1992 Winter Games. Freestyle aerials were added for the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. The newest Olympic Winter Games event, freestyle ski cross, will make its debut in Vancouver in 2010.

How It Works
There are three Olympic freestyle skiing events for both men and women.

Aerials
Strategically, competitors determine their inrun location based on the type of jump performed, their own freestyle technique and the current environmental conditions. Correct inrun speed is critical to successful aerial performances and athletes can choose two of many different jumps that combine back flips and twists with differing degrees of difficulty. Athletes are judged on the quality of take off, height gained, form and body position, and how they maintain balance upon landing. All competitors complete two jumps in a qualification round. The 16 aerialists with the highest total scores from the qualification round move on to the final round. In the final round, competitors complete two more jumps in reverse order from the qualification results. The aerialist with the highest combined score from the two final jumps wins.

Judging
Competitors must perform two different jumps consisting of single or multiple somersaults with or without twists. Each jump must vary by one somersault or one twist. Points are awarded for take-off (20% of score), form in the air (50% of score) and landing (30% of score). Scores of both jumps are added together for a final mark.

Competition format
Competitions are either:
a) A two-jump qualification round with a two-jump final for the best 12 women and men;
or
b) A one-jump qualification round with a one-jump final for the best 12 women and men;
or
c) A one-jump qualification with a two-jump final for the top 10 women and men.

Lingo

Examples of Jumps:

Moguls
Athletes choose which of the three to four different lines they will ski down on the mogul course. After the start signal, they ski down a steep slope and over a series of offset large bumps (moguls) as high as 1.20 metres, spaced between three to four metres apart. There are two sets of ‘air bumps’, one near the top of the course, the other near the bottom, where the skiers are required to perform two different jumps of their own choice.

The goal is to ski down the course as fast as possible while performing the two jumps without technical errors or loss of balance. Different mogul jumps include the 360- to 1080-degree spins, loops (side flips), off axis jumps, back and front flips, and flips with twists. The jumps can incorporate different grabs or holds of the legs or skis. Skiers need to keep their upper bodies facing straight down the hill while their lower body and skis are constantly turning. Maintaining snow contact with the skis is an important element.

All competitors participate in a qualification round. The top 20 skiers from the round move into the final with the start list in reverse order of the qualification results. The five “turn” judges award points based on the quality of the skiers’ turns, making deductions for technical mistakes. The two “air” judges determine what jump was performed, how high they are off the jump, and the jump’s quality. Each run is timed and compared to a pace-time set for the course, with the fast skiers being awarded more points. The skier with the highest score in the final round wins.

Lingo

Ski Cross
Although new to Olympic sport competition, ski cross has existed as a sport since early alpine ski competitions. The “mass start” appeal of ski cross, also seen in snowboard cross, sets the stage for fast and exciting competition.

Not restricted by formal structures and formats, ski cross is part of the FIS Freestyle discipline with the bulk of competitors originating from alpine skiing

The ski cross course, designed to test skiers’ skills, incorporates turns in a variety of types and sizes, flat sections and traverses, as well as rolls, banks and ridges similar to those found on a normal ski slope while structures on the course resemble those found in snowboard cross events. Physical endurance and strength play a key role in ski cross as athletes ski 4 to 5 runs of 60 seconds or more.

A timed qualification run is used to seed the skiers into different heats of four skiers each. At the sound of the starting device, the athlete begins the race down the course. The start and first sections before the first turn are critical parts of the course as passing can easily occur during these sections. Other passing areas are designated on the course and interference with other skiers can lead to athlete’s disqualification.

Each race is limited to 4 starters. The top half of the finishing field then moves on to the next round in a series of quarter, semi and final rounds.

During each heat, the first two competitors across the finish line advance to the next heat, while the last two competitors get ranked based on their qualification times. The “big final” round determines 1st to 4th place while the ’small final’ determines 5th to 8th place.

In competition the athletes are judged on:

Amplitude (how high they fly out of the pipe while doing their tricks)
20% of total score

DD (the Degree of Difficulty of the tricks)
20% of total score

Execution (how well the athletes perform said tricks)
20% of total score

Overall (the whole package)
40% of total score

The Basic DD
equates to the number of spins or flips done in the trick but the "total package" includes the grab and positions (personality and style) that athletes add to the tricks to make them their own.

The Pipe Specs (Average)
Length: 150 metres
Inclination (Pipe): 16 degrees
Inclination (Vertical): 83 degrees
Width: 18 metres

Tricks and Lingo