SOCHI 2014 – Size of slopestyle course causes a stir

February 4th, 2014


Looking at the second in a series of rail features that lead into a triple-pack jump line Image:: FIS

Mountainwatch | Alex Horvath

Only two days ahead of Thursday night’s slopestyle qualifiers, many of the world’s best freestyle ski and snowboard athletes are up in arms.

The sheer size of the course has led to a division between athletes, some of whom think the course is built to a level appropriate for this level of competition, and some who fear that the course design and size will simply lead to injuries and a dangerous event.

The course is located in the Rhosa Khutor “Extreme Park” and features a number of rail features leading into a three-jump line with two kicker options.


The source of the controversy Image:: FIS

During training yesterday, Norwegian Slopestyle favourite Torstein Horgmo suffered a broken collarbone. The snowboarder’s injury seems to have finally caused FIS and IOC officials to take heed of the competitor’s requests and the IOC today announced that the course will be modified.

Torstein’s injury has reignited long standing hostilities between the greater snowboarding community and the International Ski Federation (FIS) who claim that Torstein’s injury was due to him pushing his own limits too far, and not due to any short-comings in the course’s design. While Torstein’s switch hardway backside 270 is technical, it’s not something that is beyond his ability, raising doubt about FIS’ claims.


Torah and fellow slope competitors looking stoked to be in Sochi Image:: Instagram

Australian slopestyle athlete Torah Bright seemed to take the course’s design in her stride, Torah said today,”I came up today and saw them after they changed them yesterday and I was like, OK, they look good. But once you hit them you get a lot of air-time, there will still be some changes they’ll make ahead of the event … It’s definitely challenging, but we are all the best at what we do, so we can adapt.”

FIS Officials have today announced that the jumps will be reshaped ahead of Friday’s (AEDT) Slopestyle qualifying events.


Word is that the jumps just have too much pop, but the lips will be reshaped overnight. Image:: FIS