Slopestyle Succeeds in Making the Programme for Sochi 2014
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that Slopestyle will feature on the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard event programmes for the 2014 Winter Olympics which will be held in Sochi, Russia.
Freestyle Skiing was first introduced to the Winter Olympics for the 1988 games in Calgary, while Snowboarding made its first appearance a decade later in Nagano in 1998. Since their respective debuts, the events which comprise each of these disciplines have altered and increased, with today's announcement confirming a further positive development. Slopestyle will now sit alongside Aerials, Moguls and Ski Cross within Freestyle Skiing and Parallel Giant Slalom, Half-Pipe and Snowboard Cross within Snowboarding.
This fantastic new will go a long way to inspiring Britain's Slopestyle athletes, who are already showcasing their talent on the world stage. Freestyle skier James Woods, 17, who is currently ranked 11th in the International Ski Federation (FIS) world rankings, finished 8th in the men's Slopestyle event at the World Ski Championships in February, a result he followed with an extremely impressive Bronze medal in the same event at the 2011 Winter X Europe. Britain's world class Slopestyle Snowboarder Jenny Jones has also proven her ability to deliver top class results, winning Silver at the 2011 invitation only Winter X Games in the ladies' Slopestyle event. Jenny has commented on the IOC's decision, saying:
"I am currently at the top level in an event previously unrecognised by the IOC; the addition of Slopestyle to the Olympic program is a huge boost for me and for the sport. It give me new goals to work towards and a potential opportunity to represent my country at Olympic level."
There is also no shortage of young talent in Slopestyle and Sheffield's Katie Summerhayes is no exception. At just 15 years old, Katie finished 11th in the ladies' Slopestyle Skiing event at the 2011 World Ski Championships, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. She then went on to take the Bronze medal at the recent European Freeski Open in the same event. Katie is a top talent just now and today's news can only improve her chance to achieve even greater things in the future.
David Edwards, CEO of British Ski and Snowboard, who is understandably delighted by today's announcement has said:
"Britain has a number of freestyle skiers and riders who have proved their worth at a variety of world class events. Jenny Jones, Katie Summerhayes and James Woods have all shown their ability to achieve podium results in the best events in the world and, if they are given the support they need then they will have a real chance of adding to the UK's medal tally in Sochi"
