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Sea change in skiing
Sunday February 28, 2010 - Email this article to a friend
Some say a major change in skiing has taken place at The Olympics over the last 2 weeks. They liken it to the shot in the arm given to the sport in the 70's. Here's a PlanetSKI story in our series of reports looking at the impact of The Vancouver Games.
It would be far too simplistic to say Franz Klammer's winning run at Innsbruck in 1976 changed skiing dramatically.
But it drew the attention of the world, here in Britain 'Ski Sunday' was born and the sport rocketed in popularity. British instructors began working in the Alps to meet new demand and skiing books flew off the shelves.
In the late 70's and 80's skiing rocketed in popularity. Maybe we are on the verge of something similar.
Klammer's determination and winning run as he threw himself down the course, with arms flailing around, caught the imagination of people far beyond the ski world.
We maybe didn't know it at the time but it was a pivotal moment in the develoment in skiing.
Up, up and awayThe same may well be happening with the ski and snowboard cross, the half pipe, dual slalom and the like.
The sports are exciting, don't have the somewhat traditional and dull image that some other skiing events have and it is certainly what everyone is talking about. The music is better too.
We wrote about the shift here at PlanetSKI earlier in The Games.
Despite the poor conditions for much of the time at Cypress Mountains it is THE success story of The Games.
Soon after Shaun White, the US superstar took gold in the half-pipe he was in Chicago appearing on 'Oprah'. He has appeared on the front cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
None of this of course is new.
For those who partake and enjoy watching the events it has been going on for years. Every resort now has a funpark and competitions like the Brits have been around a while.
But it has become mainstream and is new to the armchair skier.
Next month The X Games comes to Europe for the first time. It's the biggest event after The Olympics. PlanetSKI will be there, with full media accreditation, so if these new sports have caught your eye we will be in Tigne from March 10th - 13th reporting on the event.
Keep an eye open for it.
It will be very interesting to see if it makes it on to the mainstream media in the UK after the success of the sports in The Olympics.
Britain has a gold medlaist in Jenny Jones who has a double gold in slopestyle - she was not at The Olymics as it is not an Olympic event. Yet.
Meanwhile, we have just received some pictures of The Austrian Freeski 2010 event that took place in Zell am See at the weekend. Despite, or perhaps because of, The Olympics being on across the world thousands turned out.
It was won by Jossi Wells, the 19-year-old new Zealander.
He started his run with a rodeo 450 onto the Kinked Box followed by a super solid and stylish double cork 1260 mute. “I’m super stoked about this first place”, the Atomic rider stated. “The rail was fun and the kicker was really dope!“
These events are growing in popularity and are just what the ski world needs in our humble opinion. Bring 'em on!
If you are a new reader to PlanetSKI we are an independent news and information web site about anything ski related; check out the other areas, you may like them.
See our special Olympic Section on PlanetSKI; as well as the latest news it has some in-depth features and a few stories that you won't see elsewhere.
While the latest blog from our content editor reveals he has got rather swept up in it all too.
Wha do yo think? Flash in the pan or here to stay? Let us know what you have made of it all.
PlanetSKI reserves the right to edit any comments. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Here to stay. Is an inclusive spectator sport, with lots of scope for sponsors, promos and TV et al. Have monitored audiences, and there is a large augmentation of the downhill and other ski discipline enthusiasts. Looks great. Well done IOC.
Xavier Adam, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK
Hope its here to stay! Ski/Board Cross is sooo exciting (probably the best viewing after Half Pipe excitement).Can't wait to see more at XGames as didn't see enough of these sports at Olympics! And there was no way of watching replays in UK of stuff that really interested me!!
Francesca B, Brighton
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