Vancouver 101: Ski Cross
January 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under General, Ski, Vancouver Winter Games 2010
(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
