The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be visible from the sky. You’ll see some of the most exciting and daring athletes. The aerial skiers blur the line between stuntman and athlete, combining acrobatics with skiing to create an amazing spectacle.
These daredevils can speed 40 mph down steep hills and jump high. After soaring six stories up, they perform a series of gymnastic maneuvers and land on a landing area of soft, chopped snow. Extreme airborne acrobatics in sub-zero gymnasiums, without safety nets and spotters.
How does one start in this insane sport? We spoke with the Canadian National Freestyle ski Team. The Canadians have won over 100 World Cup medals in the last four years and are well positioned to challenge for the top spot.
While a gymnastics background doesn’t necessarily make you a better athlete, it does help to have a little bit of experience. Access to a training facility is crucial. There are only a few in the U.S., Canada that offer trampolines and water training to help athletes perfect their skills before they move to the snow.
The key to success is the use of proper gear. Skis and poles with shorter and lighter weights than traditional alpine varieties offer greater mid-air mobility. Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team and other teams are leading the charge in advocating technical apparel. The team will wear Columbia Sportswear’s new Omni-Heat warmth technology (available to consumers in fall 2010) at this winter’s 2010 Winter Olympics. The reflective lining is 20 percent warmer than conventional outerwear and has no bulk or weight. It’s also highly breathable, wicking, and highly breathable. The bottom line is that athletes can remain warm and limber even when waiting in cold winter air between jumps.
At the Olympics, aerial skiing is still a relatively new sport. Aerial skiers’ amazing stunts will surely increase interest. Warren Shouldice, a Canadian teammate of 26 years, recalls the first time that he saw aerial freestyle when he was a child. “I sat there and watched for hours . . . the things that they were doing just blew my mind. I had to try it. When I did, I was hooked — the adrenaline is incredibly addictive.”
