Extreme skiers and snowboarders utilize ramps and rails to perform tricks and maneuvers. Snow skiing is composed of various genres while snowboarding has been broken into a few specific disciplines. Overall, snowboarders generally focus more on ramp and rail riding than downhill skiers. As of 2011, freestyle snowboarding contests are showcased as televised events.
History
The snow ski was originally used as a form of transportation. Hunters and trappers utilized primitive skies to traverse the mountain slope. According to Skiing History.org, Scandinavian farmers and hunters utilized snow skis throughout the middle ages. As snow skiing developed into a sport, riders began to focus on speed and turns. Snowboarding did not take shape until the early 1960s. Even in the earliest stages of the sport, snowboarders began to develop freestyle tricks, including jumps and spins.
Skiing Genres
Only one style of skiing involves the use of ramps and rails. Freestyle skiers utilize a customized ski design, known as the twin tip, to jump ramps and slide across rails. As opposed to the extreme sport of snowboarding, snow skiing is often defined as a recreational activity. According to ABC-of-Snow Skiing, most genres of snow skiing involve gliding down the mountain slope. While many skiers ride for exercise and leisure, snowboarders ride for the adrenaline rush.
Slope Style
Slope style refers to one of the main genres of snowboarding. Slope style competitions take place on specialized courses known as terrain parks. Terrain parks feature various sizes of ramps and rails. Riders are judged on their ability to complete a series of tricks without falling. Judges take the difficulty and originality of the jumps into account when determining the winner of the slope style contest. Big name contests including the Winter X Games showcase snowboarding slope style as a main event.
Half Pipe
As many skiers prefer to stick to the slopes, half pipe snowboarders enjoy executing big airs and grabs. Half pipe snowboarding takes place on a large snow ramp that features a U-shaped design. Half pipe snowboarding remains one of the most exciting events to watch as riders perform high altitude tricks above the crowd. According to ESPN, professional half pipe riders have the ability to flip upside down while airing out of the ramp. As of 2011, ramp builders have extended the height of the half pipe with a special ramp known as the super pipe.
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