Aerial freestyle appeared at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer and soon became a crowd pleaser. More akin to gymnastics, competitors go one at a time and perform two jumps.
The freestyle skiing discipline of ski cross was added to the Olympic Programme following the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
HISTORY OF FREESTYLE SKIING
Freestyle skiing is a product of America in the 1960s, when social change and freedom of expression led to new and exciting skiing techniques. Originally a mix of alpine skiing and acrobatics, freestyle skiing developed over the decades into the present-day Olympic sport.
The first freestyle skiing competition occurred in 1966 in Attitash, N.H., and showcased technical and freestyle excellence. Over the next decade, high-flying daredevil techniques took over and the wild side of the sport took centre stage.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) recognised freestyle as a sport in 1979 and brought new regulations regarding certification of athletes and jump techniques in an effort to curb the dangerous elements of the competitions. The first World Cup series was staged in 1980 and the first World Championships occurred in 1986 in Tignes, France, featuring moguls, aerials and ballet.
Freestyle skiing has only been a medal sport on the Olympic program since Albertville 1992, although it made its Olympic debut back in Calgary in 1988 as a demonstration sport. In Albertville moguls became a full medal sport, while aerials had to wait until Lillehammer 1994 for that status. Ski Cross was added to the Programme following Turin 2006. |
