Two new freestyle skiing events will be introduced at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi -- slopestyle and ski halfpipe -- meaning freestylers will have as many medals to aim at as their alpine cousins.
Skiing in freestyle —
Two new freestyle skiing events will be introduced at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi -- slopestyle and ski halfpipe -- meaning freestylers will have as many medals to aim at as their alpine cousins.
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Slopestyle skiers perform a series of tricks on a course laden with jump-off opportunities while the ski halfpipe discipline is similar, though the track is a semi-circular ditch carved out of the snow.
Heaven is a halfpipe —
Slopestyle skiers perform a series of tricks on a course laden with jump-off opportunities while the ski halfpipe discipline is similar, though the track is a semi-circular ditch carved out of the snow.
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More and more people are making the crossover from alpine to the "dark side" of skiing -- freestyle. Canadian Kelsey Serwa made the switch in 2009 and has since become an X Games gold medalist and world champion in ski cross.
Moving to the dark side —
More and more people are making the crossover from alpine to the "dark side" of skiing -- freestyle. Canadian Kelsey Serwa made the switch in 2009 and has since become an X Games gold medalist and world champion in ski cross.
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Ski cross is a four-way fight to the finish line across a specially constructed course complete with jumps, waves and steep turns. It enraptured audiences on its Olympics debut in Vancouver in 2010.
Ski cross —
Ski cross is a four-way fight to the finish line across a specially constructed course complete with jumps, waves and steep turns. It enraptured audiences on its Olympics debut in Vancouver in 2010.
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Part of its appeal is its fast and furious nature, which often leads to crashes.
Slippery slope —
Part of its appeal is its fast and furious nature, which often leads to crashes.
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Some believe the drama of freestyle is taking viewers away from traditional downhill alpine skiing. John Fry, International Skiing History Association president, thinks alpine is missing chances to boost its popularity. He says a refusal to sanction a race-off between Maria Riesch and Lindsey Vonn when they were practically tied for the Alpine World Cup title in 2011 was a mistake.
Alpine losing its edge? —
Some believe the drama of freestyle is taking viewers away from traditional downhill alpine skiing. John Fry, International Skiing History Association president, thinks alpine is missing chances to boost its popularity. He says a refusal to sanction a race-off between Maria Riesch and Lindsey Vonn when they were practically tied for the Alpine World Cup title in 2011 was a mistake.
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Rather than television, most amateur freestyle skiers find their fame on the internet. Finnish urban skiing company Real Skifi comprises Ilkka and Verneri Hannula and Juho Kilkki. Their short films, shot by Janne Korpela, often attract half a million hits.
The Finnish article —
Rather than television, most amateur freestyle skiers find their fame on the internet. Finnish urban skiing company Real Skifi comprises Ilkka and Verneri Hannula and Juho Kilkki. Their short films, shot by Janne Korpela, often attract half a million hits.
As well as ski halfpipe, ski slopestyle and snowboard slopestyle, other new events for Sochi 2014 include snowboard parallel special slalom, women's ski jumping, biathlon mixed relay, team figure skating and luge team relay.
New for Sochi —
As well as ski halfpipe, ski slopestyle and snowboard slopestyle, other new events for Sochi 2014 include snowboard parallel special slalom, women's ski jumping, biathlon mixed relay, team figure skating and luge team relay.
Julian Finney/Getty Images