Aerials: Launching into the air from a vertical kicker to perform mid air acrobatics while wearing skis.

Freestyle skiing represents the latest evolutionary step in what began thousands of years ago as a means of travel in European winters. In skiing's progression from sliding on wooden planks to performing mid-air inverts, Aerials was one of the earlier experimentations by innovative skiers. Launching off large jumps to perform acrobatic tricks on skis popped up in the 1950s and quickly gained worldwide momentum.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) brought freestyle skiing into its stable in 1979 and the first World Cup event was held in 1980. In 1994, at Lillehammer, Aerials became an Olympic sport.

With growth came regulation; in modern aerials, skiers start from the top of an inrun and take air by launching from an almost vertical kicker, gaining as much as 15m height, to perform a combination of tricks like backflips and twists before landing on an inclined hill.

An aerialist can execute as many as three back flips with up to five twists. Several athletes have pulled off quadruple backflips but they are currently not legal in competition.

Aerials tests gymnastic skills more than anything else. Athletes' training focuses on acrobatic technique and much work is done on trampolines in harnesses. The incredible feats performed mid air make the sport a favourite with spectators and events are usually held at night, under lights, with music and a great atmosphere.

Aerials competitions are scored similar to a gymnastic routine. Based on the degree of difficulty, the routine is scored on form and technique (50 per cent), takeoff and height (20 per cent), and landing (30 per cent). All competitors complete two jumps in a qualification round, the top 16 move to the final round where competitors complete two more jumps in reverse order from the qualification results. The aerialist with the highest combined score from the two final jumps wins.

In Vancouver both men's and women's aerials will be competed at Cypress Mountain.

Australia continues to be a dominant force in women's aerials. With Jacqui Cooper, Lydia Lassila and Liz Gardner we are in strong position for an Olympic podium result. These women are seasoned competitors with Jacqui, who is heading into her 5th Olympic Games, at the top of the sport for the past 15 years and still holding the record for the most World Cup wins. Lydia won the World Cup title in 2009 capturing her first crystal globe for world number one, a nice spot to be in heading to the Games. Liz is hoping for a top six finish in Vancouver which is entirely achievable given her list of top five World Cup results. Jacqui and Lydia have shared the same podium before and wouldn't it be sweet for Liz to find the podium in Vancouver along side Jacqui and Lydia.

Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) http://fis-ski.com

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