Freestyle skiing facts for kids
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| Highest governing body | International Ski Federation |
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| Presence | |
| Olympic | 1988 as demonstration event; regular competition since 1992 |
Freestyle skiing is an exciting type of skiing. It combines speed, jumps, and amazing tricks. Skiers perform flips, spins, and slide on rails and boxes. This sport is part of the Winter Olympics. It includes events like aerials, moguls, ski cross, halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air. In the past, it was sometimes called "hot-dogging." Today, people also call it freeskiing or jibbing.
Contents
The Exciting History of Freestyle Skiing
People have been doing ski acrobatics for a very long time, since 1906. Skiers like Jackson Fitzgerald in 1908 and Stein Eriksen in the 1950s helped make aerial skiing popular. The first competitions in the United States happened in the mid-1960s.
In 1969, a place called Waterville Valley in New Hampshire started the first freestyle skiing lessons. This made it a very important spot for the sport. Soon after, the first big freestyle skiing competitions were held there. Famous skiers like Wayne Wong became coaches for the first freestyle ski team.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) officially recognized freestyle skiing as a sport in 1979. They created rules to make competitions safer. The first FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup happened in 1980. The first world championships were held in Tignes, France, in 1986.
Freestyle skiing was first shown at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. It was a "demonstration event," meaning it wasn't yet an official medal sport. Mogul skiing became an official Olympic event at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. Aerials joined the Olympics at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Later, in 2011, halfpipe and slopestyle were approved for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Types of Freestyle Skiing Events
Aerial Skiing: Flying High
In aerial skiing, athletes ski off huge jumps. These jumps can be 2 to 4 meters tall. They launch skiers up to 6 meters into the air! While flying, skiers do amazing flips and twists. They then land on a steep, long hill. The best male aerialists can do three backflips with many twists.
Judges score aerial skiing. They look at how the skier takes off (20%), their form in the air (50%), and how they land (30%). A "degree of difficulty" is added based on how hard the trick is. Skiers usually do two jumps, and their scores are added together.
To practice these big jumps in summer, aerialists use special water ramps. They ski down a ramp covered in a slippery mat. Then they jump into a large swimming pool. Air bubbles are sent up from the pool bottom to make the water softer for landing. Skiers also train on trampolines and diving boards.
Mogul Skiing: Bumpy Challenges
Moguls are bumps or mounds of snow on a ski trail. They form when skiers make many short turns, pushing the snow into piles. Sometimes, moguls are built on purpose for competitions.
In mogul competitions, skiers are judged on their technique and speed. They must ski smoothly and powerfully over the bumps. There are usually two jumps on the course. Skiers can perform flips from these jumps. Mogul skiing became an Olympic sport in 1992. Canadian skier Alexandre Bilodeau won two gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
Ski Ballet (Acroski): Dance on Skis
Ski ballet, also called acroski, was an early freestyle skiing event. Skiers would perform routines to music. These routines included spins, jumps, and flips on a flat area. For a short time, there were even "pair ballet" competitions. Two skiers would perform together, like ice dancing. Judges scored routines based on how creative they were, how hard the tricks were, and how well the skiers performed. Famous skiers like Jan Bucher and Conny Kissling were pioneers in this sport. Acroski was shown at the 1988 Winter Olympics. However, the International Ski Federation stopped formal competitions after 2000. They decided to focus on aerials and moguls for the Olympics.
Ski Cross: Race Through Obstacles
Ski cross is a fast-paced racing event. It's similar to snowboarding's boardercross. Skiers race against each other down a course. The course has many features like jumps, rollers, and turns. Even though it's a race, it's considered freestyle because of these exciting terrain features.
Halfpipe Skiing: Riding the Pipe
In halfpipe skiing, athletes ski on a giant U-shaped snow structure called a halfpipe. Skiers go back and forth, launching high into the air. They perform flips and tricks as they move from one side of the pipe to the other. Halfpipe skiing became an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Slopestyle: Jumps, Rails, and Style
Slopestyle skiers go down a course filled with different obstacles. These include rails, boxes, and big jumps. Skiers earn points for how high they jump, how original their tricks are, and how well they perform them. They often use special skis called "twin-tip skis." These skis have tips at both ends, which helps if a skier lands backward. Slopestyle tricks include spins, grinds (sliding on rails), grabs (holding their skis in the air), and flips. Slopestyle also became an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Gear for Freestyle Skiing
Different types of freestyle skiing need different gear.
- Twin-tip skis are popular for slopestyle and halfpipe. They have tips at both ends, so you can ski forwards or backward easily.
- Mogul skis are used for mogul events. They are designed to handle bumps well.
- Racing skis are special skis used for the fast-paced ski cross events.
- Ski bindings are important for safety. Modern bindings are designed to release your boot in many directions. This helps prevent injuries if you fall.
- Ski poles are used in most skiing. However, some slopestyle skiers choose not to use poles. This lets them use their hands for grabs during tricks.
See also
In Spanish: Esquí acrobático para niños
 | Aaron Henry |
 | T. R. M. Howard |
 | Jesse Jackson |
