PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has added freeskiing as a new program, hoping to create better training conditions for skicross and two potential Olympic sports, ski halfpipe and slopestyle skiing.
The International Olympic Committee is considering the two sports, along with slopestyle snowboarding, for inclusion in the 2014 Olympics.
USSA has added freeskiing to several of its biggest national events in hopes of increasing its exposure.
In the Olympic debut of skicross last year in Vancouver, the United States was represented by a pair of 30-something, former Alpine downhillers — Daron Rahlves and Casey Puckett. USSA wants to develop a pipeline that will get people interested in freestyle skiing at a younger age.
