The most notable change in 2002 was that the Giant Slalom discipline contested in 1998 had been changed to a dual event - the Parallel Giant Slalom. PGS features head-to-head competition. All competitors race the clock in the qualification round and the fastest 16 racers advance to the elimination round. These 16 competitors battle it out on two, side-by-side courses. After run one, the riders switch courses and in run two, the gate of the person that won the first race opens first, equivalent to the amount of time they led by. This ensures that the second run of each round really is a ‘first past the post’ race. The winner after the second race advances to repeat the process while the other heads to the stands to watch the outcome.
Alpine - Parallel SlalomSimilar to Parallel Giant Slalom but actual speeds are slightly less. The gates are more plentiful and closer together, causing the riders to have to be quicker from edge to edge.
SnowboardcrossThe newest Olympic discipline sees competitors race through a course that features banked turns, terrain changes and jumps. This discipline truly tests a rider’s all-around skills – and nerve. Each rider races the course solo at first, and the fastest times determine the start order for the knock-out rounds. The elimination rounds then see FOUR riders in the start gate at the same time and racing together on the same course, with the fastest two advancing on to each next round. A four-rider final determines the medal positions.
Freestyle - HalfpipeThe Halfpipe competition is a judged event. Judges each give the rider’s completed run an overall impression score. The runs are evaluated using several criteria including the sequence of tricks the rider performs, the amount of risk in the run and how the rider uses the pipe. The scores are compared, with a Head Judge overseeing the process. After qualifying for the finals, the slate is wiped clean and qualified competitors take two more runs. The higher of the two final run scores are used to rank the riders and determine a winner.