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Freestyle Skiing: Aerial Skiing, Acroski And Mogul Skiing
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Published: June 13, 2007
Although many Americans enjoy watching winter sports, it is not often that they are able to participate in or learn about them. So, it follows that most Americans don't know the history of freestyle skiing and how far it has come.
In the 1930s, freestyle skiing was born as a result of Norwegian cross-country skiers incorporating acrobatic feats into their training regimens.
Two decades later, the Norwegian Olympic medalist, Stein Eriksen, introduced the advancement of freestyle skiing into aerial skiing. Despite many Americans believing aerial skiing to be too perilous, this form of freestyle skiing began to attract a larger following in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite the dangerous risks, the 21st century has brought such popular freestyle tricks often utilized in competition as the "360" (a complete horizontal rotation), the backward flip (a backward somersault), and the "spread eagle" (a full extension of the arms and legs while midair).
Often borrowing freestyle tricks and movements from ice skating, gymnastics, and dancing, aerial skiing has become increasingly familiar since its introduction into the American world of winter sports. Mogul skiing and aerial skiing make up one of the two forms of freestyle skiing in existence. Aerial skiing has further evolved into two more forms of skiing. Naturally, upright competitions require skiers to remain in an upright position while in the air. Complex routines including somersaults and jumps are a hallmark of inverted skiing, the second branch of aerial skiing. The other branch of skiing, becoming increasingly popular, is "new school" skiing. Because new school skiing incorporates less-traditional competitions like "big air" and "half-pipe," it is embraced more by a younger generation of freestyle skiing competitors, like the rising star of freestyle skiing and the "Winter X Games," Shaun White.
In aerial skiing, the maneuvers performed by skiers are executed from manmade snow ramps. Professional competitors are judged on takeoff, form and execution, and landing which count for 20%, 50%, and 30% of the total score, respectively. Aerials (air flips) are regulated based on the intensity of a given competition. Interestingly enough, aerialists train during the summer months using trampolines, diving boards, and primarily, specially-constructed ramps that allow for landings into a swimming pool. These water ramps are built from wood and covered in water-showered plastic to simulate snow ramps.
Acroski, a somewhat-outdated style of freestyle skiing, is simply what it sounds like – acrobatic freestyle skiing. It is also known as ski ballet. In Acroski events, athletes compete by performing a series of choreographed leaps, flips, and turns to music. Panelists judge participants on artistic impression and technical difficulty. However, Acroski was primarily witnessed between the late-1960s and mid-1990s and is no longer considered part of competitive freestyle skiing.
Mogul skiing is freestyle skiing executed over moguls, or bumps, in the snow on a ski path. While moguls form naturally, often they are purposely created for mogul skiing competitions. Traversing very steep slopes (usually somewhere between 22-32 degrees) is one of the most distinctive elements of moguls runs during freestyle skiing events. Following the emergence of and growing interest in aerial skiing, competitive mogul skiing enjoyed a surge in popularity as well. Notable mogul skiers include Toby Dawson, a 2006 U.S. Olympic bronze medal recipient, and Kari Traa, a three-time Olympic medalist from Norway.
Although not everyone has access to hit the slopes, anyone can see that freestyle skiing has truly come a long way. Who knows what new forms of this exciting winter sport will emerge next!
Sources:
"Freestyle Skiing." Wikipedia. 25 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_skiing.
Freestyle Skiing – Freestyle Ski Tricks. ABC-of-Skiing. 2003-2007. MaxLifestyle.net "Go Skiing like Max!". 22 May 2007. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/freestyle-skiing/free style-ski-tricks.asp.
"Mogul Skiing." Wikipedia. 21 April 2007. 18 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogul_skiing.
Skiing. MSN Encarta. 2007. Microsoft. 18 May 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574346_5/Sk iing.html.
"Slopestyle." Wikipedia. 24 Mar 2007. 8 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slopestyle.
In the 1930s, freestyle skiing was born as a result of Norwegian cross-country skiers incorporating acrobatic feats into their training regimens.
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Often borrowing freestyle tricks and movements from ice skating, gymnastics, and dancing, aerial skiing has become increasingly familiar since its introduction into the American world of winter sports. Mogul skiing and aerial skiing make up one of the two forms of freestyle skiing in existence. Aerial skiing has further evolved into two more forms of skiing. Naturally, upright competitions require skiers to remain in an upright position while in the air. Complex routines including somersaults and jumps are a hallmark of inverted skiing, the second branch of aerial skiing. The other branch of skiing, becoming increasingly popular, is "new school" skiing. Because new school skiing incorporates less-traditional competitions like "big air" and "half-pipe," it is embraced more by a younger generation of freestyle skiing competitors, like the rising star of freestyle skiing and the "Winter X Games," Shaun White.
In aerial skiing, the maneuvers performed by skiers are executed from manmade snow ramps. Professional competitors are judged on takeoff, form and execution, and landing which count for 20%, 50%, and 30% of the total score, respectively. Aerials (air flips) are regulated based on the intensity of a given competition. Interestingly enough, aerialists train during the summer months using trampolines, diving boards, and primarily, specially-constructed ramps that allow for landings into a swimming pool. These water ramps are built from wood and covered in water-showered plastic to simulate snow ramps.
Acroski, a somewhat-outdated style of freestyle skiing, is simply what it sounds like – acrobatic freestyle skiing. It is also known as ski ballet. In Acroski events, athletes compete by performing a series of choreographed leaps, flips, and turns to music. Panelists judge participants on artistic impression and technical difficulty. However, Acroski was primarily witnessed between the late-1960s and mid-1990s and is no longer considered part of competitive freestyle skiing.
Mogul skiing is freestyle skiing executed over moguls, or bumps, in the snow on a ski path. While moguls form naturally, often they are purposely created for mogul skiing competitions. Traversing very steep slopes (usually somewhere between 22-32 degrees) is one of the most distinctive elements of moguls runs during freestyle skiing events. Following the emergence of and growing interest in aerial skiing, competitive mogul skiing enjoyed a surge in popularity as well. Notable mogul skiers include Toby Dawson, a 2006 U.S. Olympic bronze medal recipient, and Kari Traa, a three-time Olympic medalist from Norway.
Although not everyone has access to hit the slopes, anyone can see that freestyle skiing has truly come a long way. Who knows what new forms of this exciting winter sport will emerge next!
Sources:
"Freestyle Skiing." Wikipedia. 25 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_skiing.
Freestyle Skiing – Freestyle Ski Tricks. ABC-of-Skiing. 2003-2007. MaxLifestyle.net "Go Skiing like Max!". 22 May 2007. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/freestyle-skiing/free style-ski-tricks.asp.
"Mogul Skiing." Wikipedia. 21 April 2007. 18 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogul_skiing.
Skiing. MSN Encarta. 2007. Microsoft. 18 May 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574346_5/Sk iing.html.
"Slopestyle." Wikipedia. 24 Mar 2007. 8 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slopestyle.
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