But it gained the popularity much earlier when it was introduced at the X-Games.
The order of the competition is the following: First the qualifications. All racers start individually and try to finish the course fast as possible in order to get the best places in the finals results. Finals can be entered by 8, 16, 32 or 64 competitors. Those who don’t make it to the finals get places according to the results achieved in qualification and leave the competition.
In final games athletes race in groups of 4 at a time. The leader of the race is wearing a red shirt, second best wearing green, thirds is blue and forth is yellow, according to the results of qualifications. Racer that showed the best result in qualifications can choose his position at the start gate. From every final race, 2 winners advance to the next round of competition.
Due to nature of the competition finish time and victory is absolutely impartial, making ski cross most fair and objective kind of sport at winter Olympics. It is a very demanding sport and racers put on stupendous display of technique from precision turning to overcoming range of obstacles, producing spectacular performance for the observing audience.
There are few misconceptions regarding ski cross
In ski cross racers push each other!
Absolutely wrong. Any intentional contact is prohibited according to rules and regulations. In case if any athlete pushes somebody- he will be disqualified unconditionally.
Ski cross is very dangerous.
With properly conducted training program the danger of ski cross doesn’t exceed the one of ordinary skiing. Ski cross has already passed the stage of uncontrolled risk and now has moved from the category of the show to the category of the seriou
Ski cross is not for children.
On the contrary, gradually developing according to the right programs, children feel themselves naturally comfortable in ski cross environment. In our programs, children are engaged in ski crosses starting as early as 5 years age and we have over 10-years work experience working with such kids.
Ski cross doesn’t belong to skiing.
We consider ski cross the natural evolution of skiing, where apart from conventional turning skills, athletes required to master difficult course features and obstacles. In the nearest future ski cross will become predominant “classic style” of alpine discipline.