Freestyle Skiing

Did You Know?

The BC Freestyle Ski Association is the organization responsible for the sport in the province.

Freestyle Skiing at the BC Games

The BC Winter Games feature athletes ages 11-16 who will compete in moguls, slopestyle and big air. In the mogul events, athletes navigate a steep course of bumps or moguls and fly over two jumps performing aerial maneuvers.  Marks are awarded for the technical quality of the skiers’ turns, the two aerial maneuvers, and speed.  Slopestyle was first introduced at the Games in 2014.  This event showcases athletes making their way through a course of obstacles including rails, jumps, and other terrain park features.  Points are awarded for amplitude, originality, and quality of tricks.

History

Freestyle skiing began on mountain slopes around the world as skiers pushed the limits of skiing.  Sun Valley, Idaho was a hotbed of this new sport and hosted the first US Freestyle Championships in 1973.  The sport was officially recognized by the International Ski Federation in 1979 and was added as a demonstration sport for the 1988 Olympics with moguls earning full status in 1992 and aerials in 1994.  The exciting disciplines of halfpipe and slopestyle were an Olympic sport for the first time in 2014.

Freestyle skiing consists of the well known disciplines of moguls and aerials but also includes halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, and free-skiing.