Skicross
Encyclopedia
Ski Cross is a type of skiing
competition. It is based on the snowboarding
discipline of boardercross
. Despite it being a timed racing event, it is often considered part of freestyle skiing
because it incorporates terrain features traditionally found in freestyle.
In a time trial or qualification round, every competitor skis down the course, which is built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers, banks — whatever the course builder can imagine. After the time trial, the fastest 32 skiers (fastest 16 if not 32 competitors) compete in a knockout (KO)-style series in rounds of four. A group of four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end, the final and small final rounds determine 1st to 4th and 5th to 8th places, respectively.
Competitors are not allowed to pull or push each other during the KO finals. Any intentional contact to the other competitors will be penalized by disqualification or exclusion from the next race.
The International Ski Federation (FIS)
's FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup
has recently added Ski Cross competitions to its calendar in addition to moguls and aerials.
The International Olympic Committee
decided on November 28, 2006, to include Ski Cross in the programme of the 2010 Winter Olympics
at Vancouver
.
Michael Schmid of Frutigen, Switzerland raced to an olympic gold medal in the men's Ski Cross during the 2010 winter Olympics in British Columbia, Canada.
Ashleigh McIvor
of Whistler, BC, won the olympic gold medal in women's Ski Cross on February 23, 2010, during the same Olympics.
The concept for Ski Cross originated from Jim "Too Tall" Essick of Recreational Sports Marketing. In the late 1980's, Jim came up with a concept that would make ski racing more exciting for spectators. Using a format similar to Nascar and Motocross, Jim envisioned placing four skiers on a course simultaneously, letting them race head-to-head on course that combined jumps and gates. Jim and his business partner, Diana Schulz, marketed the event as "Quattro Racing", trying to sell the concept to Audi, as a promotional vehicle for the Audi Quattro. The concept was also pitched to Swatch Watch, who became interested in the format for snowboarding. That sport is now known as Boarder Cross.
discipline rather than a Freestyle
discipline. Ski Cross athletes almost exclusively come from alpine programs. Many countries do not include ski cross as part of their national freestyle team, and instead maintain entirely separate teams for traditional freestyle and ski cross.
More criticism was seen when ski cross was added as an olympic discipline. Many people believed that the new freestyle discipline should have been half pipe skiing. The reason for this being that half pipe athletes were brought up in freestyle programs that have a long history with the sport.
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
competition. It is based on the snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
discipline of boardercross
Boardercross
Snowboard cross is a snowboard competition in which a group of snowboarders start simultaneously atop an inclined course, then race to reach the finish line first...
. Despite it being a timed racing event, it is often considered part of freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style...
because it incorporates terrain features traditionally found in freestyle.
In a time trial or qualification round, every competitor skis down the course, which is built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers, banks — whatever the course builder can imagine. After the time trial, the fastest 32 skiers (fastest 16 if not 32 competitors) compete in a knockout (KO)-style series in rounds of four. A group of four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end, the final and small final rounds determine 1st to 4th and 5th to 8th places, respectively.
Competitors are not allowed to pull or push each other during the KO finals. Any intentional contact to the other competitors will be penalized by disqualification or exclusion from the next race.
The International Ski Federation (FIS)
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
's FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup
The FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup is an annual freestyle skiing competition, arranged by the International Ski Federation since 1998. The events currently include Moguls, Aerials, and Ski cross competitions.-External links:** at FIS-Ski.com...
has recently added Ski Cross competitions to its calendar in addition to moguls and aerials.
The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
decided on November 28, 2006, to include Ski Cross in the programme of the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
at Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Michael Schmid of Frutigen, Switzerland raced to an olympic gold medal in the men's Ski Cross during the 2010 winter Olympics in British Columbia, Canada.
Ashleigh McIvor
Ashleigh McIvor
Ashleigh McIvor is a Canadian freestyle skier currently residing in Pemberton, British Columbia. McIvor is a member of the Canadian national ski cross team and became the first gold medal winner of women's ski cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics...
of Whistler, BC, won the olympic gold medal in women's Ski Cross on February 23, 2010, during the same Olympics.
The concept for Ski Cross originated from Jim "Too Tall" Essick of Recreational Sports Marketing. In the late 1980's, Jim came up with a concept that would make ski racing more exciting for spectators. Using a format similar to Nascar and Motocross, Jim envisioned placing four skiers on a course simultaneously, letting them race head-to-head on course that combined jumps and gates. Jim and his business partner, Diana Schulz, marketed the event as "Quattro Racing", trying to sell the concept to Audi, as a promotional vehicle for the Audi Quattro. The concept was also pitched to Swatch Watch, who became interested in the format for snowboarding. That sport is now known as Boarder Cross.
Criticism
The addition of ski cross as a freestyle discipline drew widespread criticism throughout the freestyle skiing community. Most freestyle skiers believe that Ski Cross should be considered an AlpineAlpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
discipline rather than a Freestyle
Freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style...
discipline. Ski Cross athletes almost exclusively come from alpine programs. Many countries do not include ski cross as part of their national freestyle team, and instead maintain entirely separate teams for traditional freestyle and ski cross.
More criticism was seen when ski cross was added as an olympic discipline. Many people believed that the new freestyle discipline should have been half pipe skiing. The reason for this being that half pipe athletes were brought up in freestyle programs that have a long history with the sport.
See also
- Freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's ski crossFreestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's ski crossThe men's ski cross event in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, took place on 21 February at the Cypress Bowl Ski Area in the Cypress Provincial Park, West Vancouver.-Qualification:-1/8 Round:...
- Freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's ski crossFreestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's ski crossThe women's ski cross event in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, took place on 23 February at Cypress Bowl Ski Area.-Qualification:-1/8 Round:The top 32 qualifiers advanced to the 1/8 round...
External links
- International Ski Federation Official Website
- AP Winter Games Video: Ralves, Puckett Debut Skicross at Games
- AP Winter Games Video, Sports Explainer: Ski Cross
- CanWest News Service: "Ski Cross glossary" - 2010 Winter Games