What's happening in skiing at Winter X

Big Air- 21 competitors
In its third year Sking Big Air returns to the Winter X Games. Athletes take three jumps on 60-foot big air "kicker" style jump with the most technical trick taking the gold. Skiers are judged on height, amplitude, difficulty, and landing. Last year France's Candide Thovex took the gold by successfully throwing a D-Spin 900 in the final. Skogen Sprang and Evan Raps, both of the United States, placed second and third respectively and both look to bring the gold back to the States in 2001.

Skier X- 30 men and 18 women
In a fast and furious race to the bottom of a course filled with tabletop jumps, rollers, and gaps Skier X represents the future of the sport. In this fusion of motocross and downhill racing scoring is simple, the first one to the bottom in the final takes home the gold. Last year that person was former Snowboarder X champion Shaun Palmer in the men's category and Anik Demers in the women's. The obvious question in everyone's mind for 2001 is can Palmer hold onto the Skier X and continue to shock the ski world? This event will truly be one to watch.

Look for: Skiing Big Air competitor Skogen Sprang to be throwing down big new innovative tricks that could spell Winter X Gold. The former snowboarder placed second in both the Winter X Last Chance Qualifier and the Winter X Games last year and has been hard at work on some big surprises for this year event.

Overheard: "Throwing huge maneuvers in pipes and off terrain park hits is a genre of skiing that's become foundation, rather than a movement or revolution in the sport"? "It's here established, embraced, and evolving.
-Powder Magazine

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