I wanted to share some video from the qualifying round of the competition to give you a glimpse of what kinds of things these athletes are pulling off. Basically, they're attacking the toughest parts of the mountain--you know, dropping off rocks and threading the needle through trees--and they're getting judged on how well they ski their "line" down the mountain.
Last night, I attended the athletes meeting, where the judges broke down what they were looking for from the winners. This involves a combination of technical prowess, style points for big air or aerial tricks, and "fluidity" in the run--meaning how well the whole thing falls together to feel like a smooth, solid takeover of the slope.
Two things really struck me about how this event all comes together. First and foremost, safety is always on the minds of the event producers. The truth is, these athletes are taking on risky parts of the mountain where they can seriously injure themselves in a heartbeat. Judges emphasized the need for everyone to stay safe instead of attacking the hill with overly-aggressive and risky stunts.
The other thing that has struck me this week was something a member of the event production team mentioned to me over a Pale Ale on the first night. He said that their goal with these events is to provide the mountain as a stage for these athletes to perform. They want to showcase the athletes in these stunning outdoor venues, allowing them to do what they love and share that passion for big mountain skiing with the rest of the world.
It's been an incredible first stop on the tour, and I can't wait to follow it through the rest of the winter. Today I got a chance to hit the slopes myself again in the morning hours, and I settled into my room just as an amazing sunset graced the tops of the peaks across the valley from the resort.
Life really is good.
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