Freestyle Skiing - Disciplines

Freestyle has grown in popularity and in general acceptance as a Skiing Discipline. In 1979, the International Ski Federation (FIS) accepted Freestyle as a international Skiing Discipline, opening the ways for the first FIS-sanctioned World Cup Freestyle events. Since then, Freestyle Skiing Disciplines have been accepted as Olympic Winter Games sports. In this section, take a look at the different types of Freestyle Skiing:

Main FreeStyle Disciplines

Aerials
To get a general idea of the kinds of jumps and aerial tricks performed on Skis, check our tricks section of our Snowboarding site. Similar tricks are performed using Skis.

Contestants use a take off ramp to get airborne. In the air, they use combinations of spins and turns to impress a jury with their skills. Each contestant has two jumps, where the jury gives points for the degree of difficulty and the execution of the jump.
Moguls
Contestants have to make their way down the Moguls while judges give points for speed, technical execution, and two compulsory upright jumps. Fifty percent of the points are given for the quality of the turns, 25% is given for speed, and 25% is given for the height and difficulty of the jumps.
Dual Moguls
This is similar to the Moguls event, but in the Dual Moguls, two contestants compete head to head on parallel Mogul courses.
Halfpipe
If you are unfamiliar with the Snow variation of a Halfpipe, then click on this link to learn more about the build and dimensions of a Halfpipe.

If you want an impression of the kinds of tricks that can be performed in a Halfpipe, click on the link to see some halfpipe snowboarding tricks. Similar tricks are performed in Halfpipe Skiing.

Contestants try to impress a jury by performing a series of jumps, tricks, and maneuvers in the halfpipe. Points are given for degree of difficulty and execution.
Freestyle Ski Cross
Four to six contestants race against each other on a specially built Freestyle Cross course that includes banked turns, jumps, waves and terrain, and other Freestyle Skiing elements.
Acro
Acro can be described as ballet on skis. Contestants have one-and-a-half minute to perform their routine on music of their own choice. The contestants are in charge of choreographing their performance. Judges award points for artistic impression (50%) and technical merit (50%).
Big Air
This is similar to Aerials but Big Air makes use of a bigger ramp and higher jumps. The jumps are again judged on difficulty and style.

These are the main Freestyle Skiing Disciplines. Each Freestyle Skiing event offers a different kind of excitement and amazing experience for both the contestants and the spectators.