On the heels of the successful debut of new Olympic events like slopestyle snowboarding, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is proposing the addition of two new Olympic snowboarding events. The USSA will make its formal proposal to the International Ski Federation (FIS), the sport’s governing body, when its entire membership meets June 1-6 in Barcelona for its FIS Congress for the inclusion of big air snowboarding and team snowboardcross. Big air has been contested at the FIS World Championships since 2003 while SBX has been an integral and popular Olympic event since 2006.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has submitted an initiative to the International Ski Federation asking for FIS to propose the addition of big air snowboarding and team snowboardcross as new Olympic events to the International Olympic Committee.
- Big air snowboarding has been a part of the FIS World Championships since 2003. Snowboardcross has been one of the most popular Olympic events since 2006.
- Big air has also been one of the premier events at X Games for many years. Team snowboardcross made its World Championship debut in 2013 and has been a regular part of the FIS World Cup and Sprint U.S. Grand Prix, including a World Cup stop in downtown Denver in 2011 that attracted over 14,000 fans.
- The proposal has multi-national support, including approval of the FIS Snowboard Committee.
- The inclusion of SBX would come from within the same athlete pool as presently exists, while it is anticipated that most of the big air field would come from slopestyle athletes.
- Action sports events like halfpipe, slopestyle, big air and snowboardcross are among the most popular with youth and have played a vital role in driving broadcast viewership worldwide.
Mark McMorris Canada, Olympic slopestyle bronze medalist
"It’s a good move for snowboarding to have a third freestyle aspect added to the games. It’s another opportunity to win more medals and push the limits as to what is possible on a snowboard."
Sage Kotsenburg USA, Olympic slopestyle champion
"I would actually be really excited about big air being in the Olympics. The first and foremost important thing I would like to see happen would be figuring out the best format that would benefit the riders and the viewers."
Lindsey Jacobellis USA, Olympic SBX silver medalist
"I would love for there to be a team SBX event to show how diverse our sport is, as well as how much fun it is to watch. If it were to be added it would give us another chance for a medal. Our sport has so many uncontrolled variables, so the more chances we get the better odds for a medal to come home for Team USA."
USSA PROPOSAL TO FIS CONGRESS
The inclusion of snowboarding has provided FIS and its National Ski and Snowboard Associations with a youth-oriented, innovative platform which has led to exciting new Olympic events, attracted new competitors and inspired new participants, and provided valuable new opportunities for sponsors, organizers, and media partners. It has also delivered high numbers of spectators and TV viewers – particularly at the Olympic Games – and has provided strong exposure to winter sports to a young audience.
Snowboarding defines itself through progression, and FIS has been a leader in establishing the most progressive events in its World Championships and, ultimately, the Olympic Games. This has added to the FIS brand, and established it as an innovative, youth-oriented international federation, which has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee as well as the media in the mission to adapt the Olympic program to be relevant to today's youth and markets.
Snowboarding continues to progress, with events like big air and team SBX, which have been well- received by athletes, organizers, spectators and media. Team SBX has provided a true national team event, which is lacking in the sport at the Olympic level. And Big Air has been a spectacular centerpiece to the World Championship since 2003.
We respectfully request that FIS continue to foster the progression of snowboarding, and formally request to the International Olympic Committee the inclusion of snowboarding's most relevant events in terms of youth, media, broadcast, commercial and spectator interest into the Olympic Games.
