Snowboarding

IOC Approves Big Air for 2018

by
USSA
2015-06-09 14:34
 

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (June 8, 2015) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved big air snowboarding and an alpine team event as new event inclusions for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association had been among nations lobbying for inclusion of big air.

The inclusion of big air is another step from the IOC in appealing to a more youth-oriented audience. The hugely successful slopestyle events at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi provided a great platform to launch big air as an additional medal opportunity for American athletes. Big air was introduced at the 2003 FIS Snowboarding World Championships and was included on the World Cup tour in 2015. U.S. Snowboarding’s Ty Walker (Stowe, VT) won the first ever women’s World Cup this past season in Istanbul, Turkey.

“Having big air in the Olympics is super exciting for me,” stated Walker, a 2014 slopestyle Olympian. “I've always felt that the strongest point of my riding has been jumping. It’s great that there is an event that highlights the jumps specifically, and I’m looking forward to potentially competing in big air and slopestyle in 2018. I loved the energy that surrounded the big air World Cup in Turkey and I know it's going to be even bigger and better in PyeongChang.”

FIS will continue to ensure future judging criteria and formats allows for expression and creativity in both big air and slopestyle.

“The inclusion of big air is another positive step from the IOC to incorporate more events that are more appealing to a younger audience in the Olympic schedule,” said USSA Snowboarding Program Director Jeremy Forster. “The ability to host big air events on the hill or in stadiums make it exciting and engaging for a variety of audiences.”

The alpine team event, first introduced at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in 2005, was a fan favorite at the 2015 Worlds in Vail/Beaver Creek. The event features a mixed team of two men and two ladies competing for their national teams in a head-to-head slalom with a knockout format each round. It is an exciting event for spectators and a unique opportunity from a broadcast standpoint, showcasing multiple sport starts from each nation.

“The alpine team event is a valuable event that has provided spectators and media with a new, very visual format that creates a high level of excitement,” said USSA’s Alpine Program Director Patrick Riml. “It has been quite successful at World Championships and at the World Cup Finals and will be a great way to showcase our star athletes at the Olympics.”

Two alpine team events are on the World Cup schedule for the 2015-16 season.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Two new events, big air snowboarding and an alpine team event, have been approved for inclusion in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.
  • The USSA played a lead role, along with other nations, in lobbying within FIS for the inclusion of big air.
  • Both events have been hosted successfully at FIS World Championships and were fan favorites at the 2015 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria and FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek.
  • Addition of both events reflects the IOC’s plan to build on the success of past Olympics and appeal to a more youth-oriented audience.
  • Four big air events and two alpine team events are on the FIS World Cup schedule for 2015-16 season.
  • The snowboarding parallel slalom event, which was added to the program for the Sochi Olympics, was dropped. Snowboarding parallel giant slalom remains.

 

QUOTES

Ty Walker, big air World Cup winner
Having big air in the Olympics is super exciting for me. I've always felt that the strongest point of my riding has been jumping. It’s great that there is an event that highlights the jumps specifically, and I’m looking forward to potentially competing in big air and slopestyle in 2018. I loved the energy that surrounded the big air World Cup in Turkey and I think it's going to be even bigger and better in Pyeongchang.

Jeremy Forster, U.S. Snowboarding Director, USSA
The inclusion of big air is another positive step from the IOC to incorporate more events that are more appealing to a younger audience in the Olympic schedule. The ability to host big air events on the hill or in stadiums make it exciting and engaging for a variety of audiences.

Patrick Riml, Alpine Program Director, USSA
The alpine team event is a valuable event that has provided spectators and media with a new, very visual format that creates a high level of excitement. It has been quite successful at World Championships and at the World Cup Finals and will be a great way to showcase our star athletes at the Olympics.

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