Memorable moments from female athletes at the Winter Olympics

All in all, the Vancouver Olympics were  a roller coaster of emotion; so anticipated and anxiety-driven, filled with milestones and achievements as well as heartbreak.  In the span of two weeks, there were personal, poignant moments to cherish, along with stories of accomplishments and  disappointments. A lifetime of emotions, condensed into 14 action-packed days.

Needless to say, there were lots  of memorable moments from the Winter Games , not the least of which was Shaun (”The Animal”) White’s repeat  gold medal and his Double McTwist 1260, a whirl of somersaults and flips that ends with a blind landing.

In this post, we’d like to shine the light on the oft-overlooked female athletes and some of our fave moments that will last long after the athletes pack up and leave Vancouver.

Hannah Kearney (Women’s moguls)

Four years ago, U.S. moguls skier Hannah Kearney sat in the stands in Turin after placing a dismal 22nd in the qualifying round as Canadian Jenn Heil proudly climbed atop the podium for gold. It was a moment Kearney never wanted to repeat.

She proved that during the first weekend of the Games, when she exorcised that nightmarish performance and spoiled the party for Heil with a dominating victory on Cypress Mountain. Kearney turned her showdown with the defending Olympic champion into a blowout, posting a score of 26.63 to claim the first U.S. gold medal in Vancouver.

Joannie Rochette (Figure skating)

Twenty-four year old Joannie Rochette may not have won the gold medal in figure skating but she won the hearts of fans around the world with her incredible performance.  She competed just days after her mother, Therese, died from a sudden heart attack after arriving in Vancouver. A grieving Rochelle broke down in tears after her short program and followed  with an emotional free skate program to capture the bronze at the Pacific Coliseum.  It hardly mattered that two skaters beat Rochette, including gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea who broke a world record with a highly memorable routine.

Petra Majdic (Cross-country skiing)

If gold medals were handed out for bravery then Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic would have been a runaway winner. Majdic broke five ribs when she slipped and fell down a gully during a training run but defied medical advice and excruciating pain to battle through three races and clinch the bronze in the women’s sprint classic. She was in so much pain that she needed help just getting on to the podium to collect her medal.

Lindsey Vonn/Julia Mancuso (Women’s downhill)

Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the women’s downhill on a badly bruised shin in a 1-2 finish with American teammate and rival Julia Mancuso in the opening week of the Games.

Kallie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Helen Upperton, Shelley-Ann Brown (Women’s bobsled)

Before the Vancouver Games, Canada had never won a medal in women’s bobsled. By the time the Games  ended, the country had two -gold and silver – courtesy of new champions Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse and runners-up Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown who sent the Whistler Sliding Center into a roaring frenzy with their medal-winning final runs. That Upperton missed a medal four years ago by .05 of a second driving Moyes, whose arrival in her sled booted a broken-heart Humphries, simply added another layer of drama to the moment.

Lydia Lassila (Women’s freestyle aerials)

Australia’s Lydia Lassila has won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle aerials by beating Chinese stars Li Nina and Guo Xinxin into the silver and bronze positions respectively.

The Chinese, led by Turin silver medallist Li, had been highly expected to win the event and even perform a podium clean sweep. They currently dominate the World Cup points table, filling five of the top six berths.

But Lassila, the only non-Chinese in the world top six, wowed the judges, and the underdog, who recently battled back from a series of injuries, moved into the gold medal position.

Angela Ruggiero, U.S., Canadian & Finnish Teams  (ice hockey)

Women’s ice hockey offered a myriad of memorable moments during the Vancouver Games. From early complaints that the sport wasn’t competitive enough, to the high-stakes gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada, to the post-match celebrations, we’ll remember these female athletes.

Who can forget the champagne, beer, at least one cigar and an attempt to drive an ice resurfacing machine after the Canadian team captured the gold medal in a 2-0 win over the U.S?  It seemed like a typical championship celebration, save for the fact the IOC and Hockey Canada felt the Canadian women’s team somehow provided a disservice to Olympic “ideals” by enjoying as they saw fit on the ice. Never mind that IOC honchos can dine with whatever wine and spirits they like, the court of public opinion forced the IOC’s complaints to go up in a cloud of smoke.

And when the president of the IOC announced to the world the sport needs to change to remain on the program, Finland’s women’s hockey team stepped up big time. Their overtime win against Sweden on Thursday had all the feel of gold. Just as the Swedes in 2006 stunned the hockey world by upsetting the Americans for the first non-U. S./Canada final in women’s Olympic hockey history, Karoliina Rantamaki’s goal 2:33 into extra time gave the Finnish team their first medal since women’s hockey’s debut Olympics in 1998.

Special Mention: Though it was certainly a memorable moment when Ruggerio won her fourth Olympic medal, her biggest contribution to the Olympic movement might still be to come: Ruggiero, who played hockey at Harvard, was elected by her peers to represent all Olympic athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. The appointment will be for eight years and allows Ruggiero to become a full-fledged member of the IOC.

In the end, it wasn’t a single nation or gender that owned the podium, but the single-minded, passionate pursuit of athletes from around the world. And along with their competitive performances,  memories saved for eternity.

Winter X Games 14 – Women’s Results

Over and out. Winter X Games 14 has wrapped. Four days in Aspen delivered five-peats, double three-peats, and back-to-back golds. Read on to find out how the women fared.

Friday, Jan. 29th – Women’s Skiing Superpipe

A deserving  Jen Hudak won Women’s SuperPipe Gold. In her sixth Winter X, the 23 year old Utah local spent the last three years pushing progressively harder toward the top of the podium. Last year she finished second by a microscopic margin and Winter X 14 turned out to be her year.

1. Jen Hudak
2. Megan Gunning
3. Roz Groenewoud
4. Mirjam Jaeger
5. Anais Caradeux
6. Sarah Burke

Saturday, Jan. 30 -  Women’s Snowboard X

In the Snowboard X Lindsey Jacobellis defended her title, but not without a lot of heat from Helene Olafsen. Watch for this rivalry to be another one that will  be continued in Vancouver.

1. Lindsey Jacobellis
2. Helene Olafsen
3.  Joanie Anderson
4. Maria Ramberger
5. Alexandra Jekova
6. Emilie Aubry

Saturday, Jan. 30 – Women’s Snowboard Superpipe

As expected, the Women’s Superpipe ended up being  a competition between Gretchen Bleiler and Kelly Clark .  In her final turn, Clark needed to best Bleiler’s 96.66; she dropped and stomped her entire run, but it was too close to call.  Gretchen probably had more technical tricks, but Kelly had a lot of amplitude and tricks, too.  In the end,  Bleiler took the top prize, becoming the only woman to win four times. Hannah Teter took third but her score was 26 points shy of Bleiler’s.

1. Gretchen Bleiler
2. Kelly Clark
3. Hannah Teter
4. Soko Yamaoka
5. Ellery Hollingsworth
6. Elena Hight

Sunday, Jan 31 – Women’s Slopestyle

Jenny Jones won the Women’s Slopestyle final for the second year in a row. She out-shredded Jamie Anderson and Janna Meyen-Weatherby, neither of whom were at Winter X last year.

It was a progressive day in the park. Janna Meyen-Weatherby was incredibly close to nailing a cab nine, which would’ve been a Winter X first for women. Unfortunately, the landing ended up earning her bronze behind Jamie Anderson’s silver but she certainly lit a fire during the comp.

1. Jenny Jones
2. Jamie Anderson
3. Janna Meyen-Weatherby
4. Kjersti Oestgaard Buass
5. Hana Beaman
6. Cheryl Maas

Women’s Skier X

History was made when France’s Ophelie David took home her fourth straight Women’s Skier X gold medal, making her the first skier — male or female — of any Winter X skiing discipline to four-peat. The 33-year-old mother of two passed two Canadian women — Kelsey Serwa, 20, and Ashleigh McIvor, 26 — wjp finished second and third respectively, halfway through the course and outlasted them to the finish to claim a record fourth gold medal.

1. Ophelie David
2. Kelsey Serwa
3. Ashleigh McIvor
4. Fanny Smith
5. Marte Gjefsen
6. Aleisha Cline

Oh, and if you hadn’t already guessed, Shaun White took home gold in the Men’s Superpipe final.

Winter X Games 14: Bring it on

As temperatures drop, the excitement heats up in Aspen, which is hosting the Winter X Games for the ninth consecutive year. Most of the action will take place over the next four days – and the invited rider list reads like a who’s who of winter sports. This year’s Games should prove to be a showcase for the progress female action sports athletes have made in the genre.

Highlights of WX14 will include snowboarder Torah Bright and freeskier Sarah Burke who are both returning to Aspen in a bid to reclaim gold.

You’ll also see a lot of halfpipe queen Gretchen Bleiler. The only woman to win WX SuperPipe 3 times, Gretchen also has silver from WX ‘07, silver from the 2006 Torino Olympics Halfpipe and an ESPY as 2008’s Best Female Action Sports Athlete.

In boardercross, 24-year-old Lindsey Jacobellis is considered royalty and ranked #1 in the FIS World Cup for 2009. She is an Olympic silver medalist from 2006 and five-time WX Games gold medalist.

Two years ago , Jamie Anderson became the youngest X Game gold winner when she won the women’s snowboard slopestyle. The Two-time WX Slopestyle gold medalist Anderson fractured her hip two weeks before WX ‘09. At the U.S. Open two months later, she ruptured her spleen, bringing a cruel end to the roughest season of her young career. But she kicked off the 2009/10 season right: winning the Billabong BroDown in Aug., Burton New Zealand Open in Nov. and Dew Tour Breck last month.

Also not to be overlooked is Kelly Clark, 26, who is competing in her tenth Winter X Games. One of the most decorated women in competitive snowboarding; Kelly has collected 6 WX SuperPipe medals, Olympic gold from the ‘02 Games, an ESPY for 2002 Action Sport Athlete of the Year and has won the Grand Prix Halfpipe title each of the past three years.

As one of the most X-treme winter sports events in the world, Winter X attracts an international array of gravity-defying athletes. Money (record purses this year), medals and worldwide fame are all up for grabs as athletes compete in skiing, snowboard and snocross so catch all the action today through Sunday.

Get ready to be X-cited for X-cellent performances. Some of the weekend’s highlights include:

Sat. Jan. 30: 2:00 – 3:30 pm Snowboard Snowboarder X  Women’s Final
Sat. Jan. 30: 7:30 – 8:30 pm Snowboard SuperPipe Women’s Final
Sun. Jan. 31: 10:00 – 12:15 pm Skiier X Women’s Final
Sun. Jan. 31: 12:00 – 1:00 pm Snowboard Slopestyle Women’s Final

Winter X Games 14 is on in Aspen, Colo., from Thursday, Jan. 28 to Sunday, Jan. 31. Much of the event will air live on ESPN and ESPN2.

Pretty Tough Trivia: “Superman” is not the man of steel; it’s when a rider lays flat in the air, both hands reach under the board to grab the toe side and or the shin of each boot, both legs are bent and the board is pulled up behind the rider.

Snow Business – Stay in Shape for Winter Sports Season

It’s time to hit the slopes. How do you get through the winter season in one piece? After all, mogul mashing or straddling a board downhill aren’t easy tasks, even if you are a daredevil.

You should have started training months ago but if your pre-season conditioning didn’t exactly prepare you, there are still steps you can take. At the very least, warm up by doing some stretches and abdominal crunches, and take a few runs on a beginner slope before you tackle a double-black diamond. Even better is to start a conditioning program that will help you have more fun on the slopes and avoid common injuries.

You’re probably eager to build yourself up as quickly as possible but remember that consistent training is what is really required. Even a minor ankle sprain can mean a major setback for the more serious athlete so take all the precautions you can.

Strength & Conditioning

A regular fitness program will make snowboarding or skiing easier and help prevent injuries. One of the basic rules of training is to start slowly and build up to the desired level of fitness.

If training time is limited, focus on muscular endurance and strength circuit training. Pick exercises that work more than one muscle group at a time, like squats, dead lifts and dead rows.

Muscle balance is critical in skiing and boarding, and you can help keep your knees safe by equally working the big muscles of the leg — the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings. Pretty much any kind of strength routine is better than none, but for maximum benefit you’ll want to mix a variety of body resistance (i.e. push-up, sit-up, dips, pull-ups, etc.) and weight exercises (i.e. lat pull downs, upright rows, curls, etc.).

Following a phase of general conditioning, move on to more specific training, to condition the body and the mind for specific tasks.

Sport Specific Drills

Try drills that include core control, balance and endurance drills; pilates and yoga to build core strength and balance; jumping rope; and plyometrics — short bursts of exertion that build leg power such as squats.

For example, skiing uses quads (front of the thighs) and glutes. So it stands to reason that jumping exercises are the most specific way to train off the slopes for skiing. However, jump training puts tremendous shock on the legs, knees and joints. Best bet is to practice the movement of the jump, but minimize the landing impact.

If you’re a XC skier, the more you can isolate primary XC muscles in the back, abs, legs, shoulders, etc. in your strength workouts, the better. If you can find rollerboards and double pole machines, they’re super-effective at building XC ski-specific strength.

Lateral drills that mimic the side-to-side motion used in skiing and snowboarding will help strengthen and tone ski-specific muscles.

Boarders don’t use as many muscles as skiers, but they use their muscles differently and have different considerations. In particular, boarders need to be aware of space and balance.

The muscles that are used the most in snowboarding include the quadriceps, the adductors (inner thighs), the glutes, and much more than you might realize, the abdominals and lower back. These postural muscles are critical to maintaining balance and alignment, and any conditioning program should include a heavy component of crunches and lower back work. In addition to the usual squats and lunges, try to include some pylometric exercises like squat jumps. Developing explosive power in the legs will serve you well if you’re a snowboarder.

It also makes sense for boarders to work with a fitness or Bosu ball for balance and a medicine ball for upper-body strength and improved reaction time.

Endurance

This is where what you do matters less than how long you do it. For example, if you typically ski for two hours each time you get out in the winter, you will want to get in the habit of doing aerobic activities for at least two hours before you hit the slopes. These activities can include hiking, running, cycling, paddling, swimming, or any combination of these activities.

Do you need to “go long” every time out? Simply getting out for a longer workout one to two times a week is going to be enough — especially if you can supplement these longer sessions with a couple shorter aerobic sessions and strength workouts each week.

Also, interval training that includes harder sessions alternated with easier ones helps build endurance.

Tips for Avoiding Injury on the Slopes

Members of the ski-patrol see lots of snowboarders with wrist and shoulder injuries and skiers with injured knees. Here’s what you can do to avoid these common injuries.

Warm Up: Get your muscles fired before you go out. A good warm up increases your range of movement and lowers your risk of injury. Remember, warm muscles are pliable and less likely to be strained. Cold muscles are brittle and are more easily injured.

Stretching is always best done when the muscles are warm, so don’t just go out into the freezing cold and start grabbing for your toes. Stretch before you hit the mountain, while you’re warm.

A good warm-up takes approximately 15 minutes to increase the body temperature. Start gently with a slow but controlled increase in intensity. The warm-up always contains elements of the activity which is to follow. A warm-up for a XC skier is different from that of a snowboarder or ski jumper.

Contrary to popular belief the warm-up takes just as long when the weather is warm. A cool down following your time on the slopes will assist the gradual return of the body temperature to normal so definitely add some stretching after your runs.

Know How to Fall: Most ski instructors say that knowing how to fall is one of the best ways to protect your knees. If you feel yourself losing control, don’t try to sit; instead, give in to the fall, keeping your knees flexed and land on your side. Use your skis or poles to stop your slide rather than standing up. If you put a knee, an elbow or a thumb down first, you’re more prone to injury.

Stay Balanced: If you’re skiing, position yourself over the center of your skis. Keep your hands forward, and sense the soles of your feet at all times.

Know Your Terrain: Familiarize yourself with snow conditions and new runs. Examine the consequences of a fall — a harmless slide down the middle or a rough ride into rocks? Adjust your style accordingly. Use slopes that have packed snow and aren’t too crowded. Always avoid icy slopes.

Wear Good Goggles: Glare off snow can lead to accidents. Consider using goggles or glasses with lenses that automatically adjust to varying sunlight. If you want to use just one color, make it orange; it works on bright and overcast days.

Dress for Success: Choose the right clothing and equipment for the conditions. Proper boots can really help prevent injury (e.g. soft boots for beginning snowboarders). Although you pay more for specialized clothes and boots, it is worth it in the long run as it will contribute to safety and enjoyment. Dress so you’re not too hot and not too cold. Wear layers of high-tech fabrics that breathe. Cold skiers or boarders are slow to react, and overheated ones tire easily.

Drink Plenty of Water: You can become dehydrated long before your body senses you’re thirsty, sapping strength and impairing judgment. Carry water with you, and drink plenty and often — at least 8 ounces for every hour you’re on the slope.

Know Your Capability: Avoid skiing or boarding with people who are a lot better than you are, unless they’re willing to slow down and ski at your speed.

Quit While You’re Ahead: Fatigue is probably the greatest cause of injury. Don’t take “this one last run” if you really don’t feel up to it. Almost 90 percent of all accidents happen on the last run of the day. The end of the day also means the worst lighting (harder to see the bumps and icy patches) and the bumpiest snow.

Wear Wrist Guards: If you’re boarding, wear wrist guards made for snowboarding or in-line skating. This is particularly important for newbies If you don’t use wrist guards, keep your hands in a closed-fist position, which prevents falling on a hyperextended wrist.

Wear a Helmet: The back of the head is a frequent impact area, especially for beginning snowboarders.

Have a happy and safe winter season.

---

Exclusive workout with Olympic hopeful Lindsey Vonn

We’re kicking our Olympic coverage into high gear and will be profiling all of the winter sports and athletes you need to know about.

One of athletes to watch is ski racer Lindsey Vonn who is a favorite on and off the slopes. She’s a back-to-back World Cup winner who’s been dreaming about an Olympic gold medal since she was a little girl. With the Vancouver Games less than a month away, you might be interested in knowing what Vonn is doing to prep for the high stakes competition.

How does she condition to withstand the G-forces she encounters barreling down the mountain? What does she do to get stronger and faster? How does she train herself to be better than the competition?

In the video below, Vonn goes through a workout routine. These are some serious exercises that work the core and get her in shape for top-level races. Check out the skier squats she does on the large balance ball towards the end and see what a takes to build a champion.

Related Posts:
Fans can design Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic helmet
USSA picks Athletes of the Year – Good news if your name is Lindsey
Speed Queen: Q & A with World Champion Lindsey Vonn

Freestyle Ski A – Z

180
A 180-degree rotation of the body and skis.

Air
When a skier performs a jump in the mogul run. Two airs are required in each moguls run.

Aerials
A freestyle skiing discipline where skiers perform airborne  maneuver after skiing down a slope and taking off from a kicker (ramp).

Back Full
A backflip with a full twist.

Back Layout
Single backflip in the layout position.

Back Somersault
One single backflip.

Back Tuck
Single backflip in the tuck position.

Backscratcher
The skier touches his or her back with the tails of both skis.

Blunt Air
A trick performed by the athlete where the skis are parallel, tips are facing down and the athlete grabs the top of the ski tail.

Control Gate
A series of 10 equally spaced gates set on the mogul course.

Critical Grab
An aerial  maneuver where the athlete’s skis are shoulder width apart and knees are bent. The skier grabs the inside edge towards the ski tip.

Cross
Crossing the skis, while airborne, into the shape of an “X”.

Daffy
A mogul maneuver in which the skier kicks one leg forward and the other backward to achieve the splits position in mid-air.

Double Full
Single layout flip with two twists.

Double Layout
Two flips in the layout position.

Double Somersault
Two flips.

Fall Line
The most direct route from the top to the bottom of a moguls course.

Flip
A somersault performed backwards, frontwards or sideways.

Four-Point Landing
When a skier plants both poles as she lands from a jump.

Four-Point Takeoff
When a skier plants both poles when they take off from a mogul.

Front Somersault
A maneuver in which the skier makes a full, 360-degree forward flip.

Front tuck
Single front flip in the tuck position.

Full
A flip with a full twist.

Full In
A full twist on the first flip followed by a double or triple somersault.

Full Out
A full twist on the last flip of a double or triple somersault.

Gates
Poles with colored flags used to mark the course.

Grab
While in a jump, the skier reaches and grabs one part of the ski.

Half
A flip with a half-twist.

Half In
A half-twist on the first flip of a double or triple somersault.

Half Out
A full twist on the first flip of a double or triple somersault.

Height and Distance
Height and distance are used to describe the skier’s flight in the air. They are also components of the jumping score.

Helicopter
360-degree spin with the skier in an upright position.

Iron Cross
Similar to a backscratcher, but the heels or tails of the skis are crossed rather than parallel.

JapanAir
An aerial maneuver in which the left leg is tucked up and the right leg is kept extended. The athlete grabs with the right hand, behind the right leg, and grabs the left ski either in front of the boot or under it.

Kicker
The takeoff ramp used in aerials.

Knoll
The flat area of an aerial course where the jumps are built.

Layout or Lay
Position of the skier’s body is extended as straight as possible.

Loop
A side flip where the skier rotates around the central axis.

Lui Kang
The athlete’s left leg is tucked up while the right leg is extended and she grabs under the left boot with the left hand.

Mogul
A bump or ridge of snow.

Moguls Skiing
A freestyle skiing discipline in which athletes are judged on the speed, skill and flair with which they complete the course and two jumps.

Mute Grab
An aerial move where, with crossed skis, the athlete grabs with either the right hand to left ski or vice versa just in front of the binding’s toe piece.

Off Axis
During takeoff, the skier tilts the axis of rotation.

Pike
A jack-knife position in which the athlete’s body bends at the waist and the legs are completely straight.

Pop
The athlete’s body extension at the start of the jump that sets the flip in motion.

Position
A movement which is held during jumping

Puck
Open-tuck position with legs pulled up to 45 degrees.

Reverse Trough
The technique of skiing on top of the moguls and turning in the opposite direction of the ruts.

Rudy
A flip with one-and-a-half twists.

Ruts
The area formed between moguls.

Rocket Air
An aerial move where the skis are parallel and legs are extended and out in front of the body. The athlete grabs with both hands towards the tips of both skis.

Ski Cross
A discipline of freestyle skiing that begins with a time trial or qualification round. Every competitor skis down the course, which features naturally occurring terrain and man-made features like jumps, rollers, banks. Starting simultaneously, the goal is to be one of the first two across the finish line and advance to the next round.

Slapback
A poor landing in which the skier hits the snow on his/her skis and back.

Sling
A bad takeoff when the athlete over rotates off the kicker or jump.

Spin
Going off a jump, the athlete rotates her body in the vertical axis. Measured in 180-degree increments.

Spread Eagle
The skier extends  her arms and legs wide while keeping the upper body straight and upright.

Tail Grab
Grab in which the skier reaches down and grabs the back of the ski or skis and pulls themselves backwards.

Toxic Grab
A move where the skis are crossed and tips are pointed down while the grab is done with the opposing hand on the inside edge toward the tail of the ski.

Trough
Deep path of ruts that run between moguls.

Takeoff
When a skier goes off (launches) the jump.

Tip Cross
The skier crosses the ski tips while remaining upright.

Tuck
Body position in which the knees are pulled into toward the chest.

Turns
The criteria of mogul judging referring to the execution of turning in moguls.

Twist
The rotation around the vertical axis.

Twister
A  maneuver where the skier rotates his or her body the opposite direction of the skis.

Zudnick
The skier leans  her upper body toward the tips of the skis, keeping the skis close together.

Vancouver 101: Ski Cross

(Ed. Note: As we prep for the Olympic Games in Vancouver,  look for Pretty Tough Primers on all the winter events and competitions).

Ski cross, which features a mass start and head-to-head racing on a course with turns and rolls, will make its Olympic debut in Vancouver. It’s a lot like moto cross in that competitors must navigate down a course featuring naturally occurring terrain and man-made features like jumps, rollers, banks. and the fastest finisher is declared the winner.

A freeskiing event, ski cross  is part of the FIS freestyle discipline.  It begins with a time trial or qualification round. Every competitor skis down the course, amd the goal is to be one of the first two across the finish line and advance to the next round.

The majority of competitors have an alpine skiing background but like to mix things up with tricks and such.  Freestyle skiing began in the 1960’s, when social change and freedom of expression led to new and exciting skiing techniques. The first freestyle skiing competition was held in Attitash, New Hampshire, in 1966.

Freestyle moguls became an Olympic medal discipline in 1992, at the Games in Albertville, France and freestyle aerials were added for the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games.  Now ski cross joins the Olympic  freestyle events for the 2010 Games.

Although new to the Olympic sport program, ski cross has existed as a sport since the early days of alpine skiing competition. The “mass start” appeal of ski cross, also seen in snowboard cross, sets the stage for fast and exciting competition.

The ski cross course, designed to test skiers’ skills, incorporates turns in a variety of types and sizes, flat sections and traverses, as well as rolls, banks and ridges similar to those found on a normal ski slope. Structures on the course resemble those found in snowboard cross events. Physical endurance and strength play a key role in ski cross as athletes ski four to five runs lasting 60 seconds or longer.

A timed qualification run is used to seed skiers into different heats, of four skiers each. The start, as well as the first sections before the first turn, are critical parts of the course, as passing can easily occur here. While other passing areas are designated on the course, interference with other skiers can lead to an athlete’s disqualification.

During each heat, the first two competitors to cross the finish line advance to the next heat, while the last two competitors are ranked based on qualification times. The “big final” round determines which athletes place first to fourth, while the “small final” determines those who rank from fifth to eighth place.

In the women’s event, athletes to watch include France’s Ophelie David, Canada’s Ashleigh McIvor and Austria’s Karin Huttary.

Vancouver Schedule

Tues. 2/23/2010: Freestyle Skiing – Women’s Ski Cross, Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, BC, Qualification/Final

Freestyle Ski Lingo A- Z

2009 Salute to Women in Sports

Other WomenTalkSports posts of “Best of ‘09″:

• From Because I Played Sports, Best of ‘09: Forming a community, WomenTalkSports.com

• From One Sport Voice, The “Best” of 2009 and the State of Girls & Women in Sports

• From WakeGirls.com, Best of ‘09 – A Year for Women in Wake

Winter Fun – wanna try something new?

From backcountry snow camping to snowshoeing, there’s more to winter than skiing and ice skating.

Cross Country Skiing With origins in Scandinavia 4000-4500 years ago, cross country skiing has come a long way from being the sole method of transportation for snow and ice-bound Northerners.

Today, cross country skiing (aka Nordic Skiing or XC Skiing) is, in the opinion of many, the world’s best aerobic fitness activity. The sport involves simultaneous use of arms and legs utilizing ski equipment including boots, poles, and skis. Because you can XC Ski just about anywhere with snow, you can match the terrain to suit your fitness level and interests.

Dog Sledding It’s that time of year, many distance mushers are focused on training for the Iditarod – the “Last Great Race”. Of the 71 mushers who have already signed up for this dog sled race, 56 are veterans, 15 are rookies, 15 are female and 56 are males. Mushers have until Dec 1st to sign up for the 2008 race.

Ice Sailing Ice sailing, or hard water sailing—is navigating a frozen surface in a sailboat outfitted with runners. The fundamentals of this exhilarating sport can be learned in just a day or two. The most proficient sailors can adapt to rapidly changing ice and wind conditions but novices often exceed their limits and get in trouble. For those who master the sport, ice sailing offers the best of summer and winter pleasures.

Skijoring Cross country skiing has gone to the dogs. A popular sport from Scandinavia called “skijoring” can be a great workout for you and your canine. Fido is outfitted with a special harness and leash so he can pull you, wearing your XC skis, along pristine trails. Once your and your pooch are proficient you can search out races and more.

Snow Kayaking Know of a pristinehillside covered with newfallen snow? If sledding or tobogganing seems old hat, grab the kayak from your garage and improvise. A kayak will work fine if the snow is really cold, so the kayak doesn’t stick. You can get some speed going and use the paddle to carve out snow and stick the paddle behind to use as a rudder. It’s not as accurate as a sled but about the same as a toboggan and a lot more fun.

Snow Kiting Fast growing and simple to learn, skiers and boarders across the world are discovering the fun of snow kiting. All you need is snow and a power kite and you can turn a cold winter’s day into a blistering, adrenaline-soaked experience. Speeds of over 60 mph have been recorded as snow kite riders blast themselves along with just the power of the wind.

Wind power is one of life’s few free rides and already snow kiting enthusiasts have achieved incredible things. From a ground breaking unsupported journey to the North Pole and back to huge kite-powered adventures through Alaska, the world of winter sports is embracing this fantastic new sport.

Snowshoeing
Try winter’s fastest growing adventure fitness craze – snowshoeing!

The sport has grown in popularity among female Americans since 1998. The participant  level has increased 163% to 2.1% of females 16 and older. Source: Outdoor Recreation Participation Study 2003

It’s easy to see why snowshoeing is the trendiest and friendliest on-snow winter activity considering anyone who can walk can snowshoe. Until the 1970’s, snowshoes were used primarily for survival rather than recreation. Today, enthusiasts who strap on a pair of snowshoes range from casual snowshoers who hike trails for pleasure, to those who trek through the backcountry, and competitors who race. One of the best things about snowshoeing is just about anywhere you hike or mountain bike in summer, you can snowshoe in winter.

In addition, snowshoeing can help enrich your health. Known to help maintain or improve cardiovascular fitness, the sport helps burn more than 600 calories per hour. Snowshoers can burn more than 45 percent more calories than walking or running at the same speed, according to Snowsports Industries America (SIA).

Telemark – Get off the groomed trails and experience backcountry skiing! For most, tele skiing is all about the stoke, the sensation, that feeling of excited exhilaration that comes from getting into the groove of the tele turn.

Norwegian Sondre Norheim, recognized today as the father of telemark skiing, popularized this new style of turn where one ski is advanced in front of the other and the heel is raised on the rear ski, with the skier in a very bent knee position . The telemark turn is ideally suited for the moderately steep mountains and the soft, deep snow found in the Telemark region of Norway.

WX14 Invited Riders

If you’re curious about who made the cut of invited athletes to Winter X Games 14 in Aspen, look no further. This is the first wave of women heading to Aspen in January (including Pretty Tough Team rider Kimmy Fasani). The second wave will be announced in late December. As always, athlete lists are subject to change at any time.

Snowboard Snowboarder X – Women

Joanie Anderson	USA
Deborah Anthonioz	FRA
Mellie Francon	SUI
Sandra Frei	SUI
Lindsey Jacobellis	USA
Alexandra Jekova	BUL
Dominique Maltais	CAN
Nelly Moenne Loccoz
Olivia Nobs
Helene Olafsen	NOR
Maelle Ricker	CAN

Skiing Skier X – Women

Hedda Berntsen	NOR
Aleisha Cline	CAN
Ophelie David	FRA
Sasa Faric	SLO
Katharina Gutensohn	AUT
Karin Huttary	AUT
Magdalena Jonsson	SWE
Marion Josserand	FRA
Ashleigh McIvor	CAN
Julia Murray	CAN
Emilie Serain	SUI
Kelsey Serwa	CAN

Skiing Slopestyle – Women

Sarah Burke	USA
Grete Eliassen	NOR
Keri Herman	USA
Anna Segal	AUS
Kaya Turski	CAN

Skiing Superpipe – Women

Dania Assaly	CAN
Sarah Burke	CAN
Anais Caradeux
Jess Cumming	USA
Virginie Faivre	SUI
Roz Groenewoud	CAN
Jen Hudak	USA
Angeli VanLaanen	USA

Snowboard Slopestyle – Women

Jamie Anderson	USA
Hana Beaman	USA
Torah Bright	AUS
Kimmy Fasani	USA
Megan Ginter	USA
Jenny Jones	GBR
Caroline Kirkland
Cheryl Maas	NED
Janna Meyen-Weatherby	USA
Spencer O’Brien	CAN
Sarka Pancochova	CZE
Raewyn Reid	CAN
Marie-France Roy	CAN
Bev Vuilleumier	USA

Next Page »