Winter Olympic Sports

Freestyle Skiing

History

Gold Medal Skiing has existed for over 10,000 years and was first used for hunting and transportation. Archaeologists have found cave paintings and pieces of wooden skis dating back about 10,000 years. Over the years, skiing became fun for people in their free time and eventually became a sport in the Olympics.

Gold Medal In later years in these countries, skis would be used by the military, farmers, and for hunting wild animals because it was the fastest kind of transportation. By the late 1800s, people were skiing for fun when competitions like cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and ski jumping started.

Gold Medal Between the 1950s and the 1960s in the United States, there were many advancements in ski equipment, and skiers could do more complex tricks.

Equipment Used

Silver Medal Skis, poles, binding (they hold the boot to the ski), goggles, helmet, racing suit, extra padding, and colored knee patch for getting the judge’s attention. These knee patches are only for some events.

Silver Medal In the past, skis had a solid piece of wood like ash or hickory, but now they have a wooden core surrounded by layers of fiberglass with titanium (a kind of metal) edges.

Rules

Bronze Medal Each event has its own set of rules. See below.

13 events in this category

Men’s & Women’s Aerials: In this event, athletes will ski off a steep ramp and perform different flips and twists while soaring through the air. Athletes need to complete complicated tricks, take-offs, and landings. The athletes with the highest scores will advance to the next round. There are five rounds. The avenge jump is about 20 m (66 ft) into the air. (First added as a demonstration sport in the Calgary (Canada) Winter Olympics in 1988, and the Albertville (France) Winter Olympics in 1992 became an official part of the Winter Olympics)

(2022 Beijing gold medal winner (China) Xu Mengtao)
Men’s & Women’s Moguls: In this event, athletes will ski over snow-covered mounds called “moguls” and then ski off two small ramps to perform flips and twists. Skiers score points on their technique, speed, and jumps. The course is about 235 m (770 ft) long, and each mound is 3.5 m (11.5 ft) apart. Skiers go about 30 kph (18 mph). (First added as a demonstration sport in the Calgary (Canada) Winter Olympics in 1988, and the Albertville (France) Winter Olympics in 1992 became an official part of the Winter Olympics)

(2018 PyeongChang gold medal winner (Canada) Mikaël Kingsbury)
Men’s & Women’s Ski Cross: In this event, athletes race against each other (4 skiers at a time) down the track and must go over large hills and tight turns. The top two skiers who cross the finish line first will advance to the next round. The final round will be when only four athletes are left, and whoever is the fastest wins. Skiers can reach speeds of about 97 kph (60 mph) and will race a length of about 1.2 km (.80 mi). (Added to the Vancouver (Canada) Winter Olympics in 2010)

(2014 Sochi gold medal winner (Canada) Marielle Thompson)
Men’s & Women’s Halfpipe: In this event, athletes ski down a halfpipe structure (U-shaped walls) to propel themselves into the air to perform tricks. Skiers get points on their run’s skill, difficulty, and style. Each athlete will have two runs to get their best time and advance to the next round. Athletes can ski three times during the final heat with their best score counting. The skier with the highest score wins. The track is about 183 m (600 ft) long, with an average jump height of 3.3-6.7 m (11-22 ft). (Add to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics in 2014)

(2018 PyeongChang gold medal winner (USA) David Wise)
Men’s & Women’s Slopestyle: In this event, skiers ski down the track over ramps, on the edges of raised platforms, rails, and hills to perform jumps, flips, and other tricks. Skiers have two runs to get their best time, and the skiers with the highest score will advance to the final. In the last race, skiers will have three runs, and the athlete with the top score wins. The course is about 488 m (1,600 ft) long. (Add to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics in 2014)

(2022 Beijing gold medal winner (Switzerland) Mathilde Gremaud)
Men’s & Women’s Big Air: In this event, skiers ski down a steep hill and launch themselves off a ramp to perform flips, twists, and jumps. Athletes can reach heights of 47 m (155 ft) above the ground after leaving the ramp. Athletes have three runs to get their best score to advance to the final. The final skiers will have three runs down the hill to get their best score. The athlete with the top score wins. (Added to the Beijing (China) Winter Olympics in 2022)

(2022 Beijing gold medal winner (China) Ailing Eileen Gu)
Aerials Mixed Team: Each team has three skiers, combining men and women. Each teammate will ski off a steep ramp and perform different flips and twists while soaring through the air. The three scores are combined, and the top teams will advance to the next round. Each teammate will have one run during the final, and their scores will again be totaled together. The team with the highest score wins. The avenge jump is about 20 m (66 ft) into the air. (Added to the Beijing (China) Winter Olympics in 2022)

(2022 Beijing gold medal winners (USA) Christopher Lillis, Justin Schoenefeld, and Ashley Caldwell)