FREESTYLE:

Freestylers applaud addition of ski slopestyle to 2011 worlds slate

Nov. 9, 2010 ― CFSA 

Park skiers around the world were thrilled by Monday’s unexpected FIS announcement to add ski slopestyle to the 2011 World Championships schedule.

Slopestyle will join its new-school cohort halfpipe, along with the more traditional freestyle skiing events of moguls, aerials and ski Cross, at Deer Valley Resort, Utah, in February 2011.

The inclusion of slopestyle to the schedule is widely considered to be an appeal to the International Olympic Committee in its consideration of adding both slopestyle and halfpipe to the 2014  Olympic Winter Games program. It is expected that IOC representatives will be on hand in Deer Valley to evaluate both of these proposed Olympic events.

The news was welcomed by the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, as slopestyle is considered to be one of the most accessible freestyle disciplines because most ski hills across the country have terrain parks, with scores of kids and adults trying out their rail sliding and jumping skills.

CFSA High-Performance Program Director David Mirota said, “This is a great surprise opportunity and we will be interested to see which talented athletes come out of the woodwork.” Mirota added that Association of Freeride Professionals rankings will be considered in determining the roster of four men and four women that Canada sends to the World Championships.

CFSA COO Bruce Robinson said judging criteria for the World Championships is still being finalized, but he expects FIS to look closely at the criteria developed for snowboard slopestyle, which will also make its FIS World Championships debut this season.

S-Magazine