The 2014 Winter Olympic Games
in Sochi, Russia will feature some new
events and quite a few gold medal hope-
fuls.
Ski Slopestyle: This longtime X Games staple is
making its Olympic debut in Sochi. Skiers must
navigate, flipping and leaping, over an adrenaline-
packed course of waist-high barriers and precarious
ramps. It should have at least three different features, including table-top jumps and quarter pipes. U.S. Olympian competing: Nick Goepper
Snowboard Slopestyle: As with skiing, snowboard-
ing will be adding this X Games staple as well. Much the
same as the skiing event, snowboarders will have the
chance to show their skill on ramps, barriers, and pipes,
but rather than skies, the course will be done on a
snowboard. U.S. Olympian competing: Sage Kotsen- burg
Ski Halfpipe: Though snowboarders have been
showing their halfpipe skills for over ten years,
skiers will finally have the chance to do the
same. In order to do complex tricks (leftside
1080, alley-oop double 900), skiers will
ride the momentum of a 16m wide and
120m deep canal of snow. U.S.
Olympian competing: Torin Yater-
Wallace
Women’s Ski Jump: Probably one of the
most extreme of the extreme winter sports is the
ski jump, where hurtling down a ramp at 60 mph
and flying through the air for 120 yards or more is
the norm. Before its addition, female contenders
were told the event was medically inappro-
priate for women, but women won by lobbying
for its addition for over a decade.
Figure Skating Team Event: Like its double
and single counterparts, this figure skating
event will have all their meticulous technique
and beautiful grace but with six people. Each
team is made up of one male skater, one female
skater, one ice dance couple, and one skating
pair. Judges will hand points to either each
skater or each couple. The team with the highest
number of points will win gold. U.S. Olympian(s)
competing: Gracie Gold, Max Aaron
Sources: Washington Post
Sports Illustrated