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Slopestyle skiing

Slopestyle skiing is a freestyle skiing discipline in which athletes perform tricks on a downhill course with features such as jumps, rails, and other terrain park obstacles.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Slopestyle skiing is a freestyle skiing discipline in which athletes perform tricks on a downhill course with features such as jumps, rails, and other terrain park obstacles. Runs are judged on factors such as difficulty, execution, amplitude, originality, and flow. It became an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

Overview

Slopestyle skiing is a freestyle skiing discipline that emphasizes creativity and technical skill over speed. Competitors descend a course built with multiple obstacles and terrain park features, performing tricks one athlete at a time.

Course and format

A slopestyle course typically includes rails, boxes, jumps, and similar obstacles. Skiers take individual runs and may choose which features to use and which tricks to attempt. The discipline is closely related to snowboard slopestyle and has roots in skateboarding and BMX-style contest formats.

Scoring

Judges evaluate each run based on the quality and variety of tricks, considering factors such as amplitude, difficulty, execution, style, originality, and overall flow. The score is not based on time; rather, it is a subjective assessment of the run's overall impact.

Olympic history

Slopestyle skiing was added to the Olympic programme at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. It is now one of the recognized freestyle skiing disciplines in international competition and is a major Winter Olympic event for Canadian athletes.

Key facts

  • Slopestyle skiing is a judged freestyle event performed one athlete at a time on a downhill course with rails, jumps, and other obstacles.
  • Judges score runs on difficulty, execution, amplitude, originality, style, and flow rather than using timed results.
  • The discipline debuted as an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
  • Slopestyle skiing is closely related to snowboard slopestyle and has roots in skateboarding and BMX-style contest formats.
  • Athletes choose which features to use and which tricks to attempt, emphasizing creativity and technical skill.
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Canadian context

Slopestyle skiing is a major Winter Olympic freestyle discipline for Canadian athletes and has been part of Canada’s broader strength in skiing and snowboarding park events.

Frequently asked questions

What is slopestyle skiing?
It is a freestyle skiing event where athletes perform tricks on a downhill course with jumps, rails, and other obstacles.
How is slopestyle skiing scored?
Judges score runs on factors such as difficulty, execution, amplitude, originality, style, and flow.
Is slopestyle skiing in the Olympics?
Yes. Slopestyle skiing debuted as an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
What features are on a slopestyle course?
Courses typically include jumps, rails, boxes, and other terrain park-style obstacles.
Is slopestyle only for skiing?
No. Slopestyle also exists as a snowboard event.

References

  1. NBC Olympics — https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/freestyle-skiing-101-glossary
    Supports: Defines slopestyle as a downhill course with jumps and rail sections where skiers perform tricks and are evaluated on their run.
  2. Team GB — https://www.teamgb.com/article/explained-freestyle-skiing-or-team-gb/5ttMbMv1dYww2GU2DdJu5o
    Supports: Describes slopestyle as a freestyle skiing discipline with rails, boxes, and jumps, and explains judging criteria including creativity, difficulty, execution, and amplitude.
  3. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_skiing
    Supports: States that slopestyle is a freestyle skiing discipline and that it became an Olympic event at the 2014 Winter Games.
  4. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slopestyle
    Supports: Provides a dictionary definition of slopestyle as a snowboarding or skiing competition involving tricks and jumps on a sloping course with obstacles.