Many of you have probably heard by now that earlier week, the Internal Olympic Committee (IOC) cast a vote to finally make slopestyle an Olympic snowboarding and skiing event (Read the news in ESPN or Transworld Business).  Though the news was quickly overshadowed by the IOC’s final vote to award the 2018 Winter Olympic bid to South Korea (which is huge news, in and of itself, as this is the first time South Korea will host an Olympic games), slopestyle will first appear in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.  This was actually discussed a while back, but the vote was tabled, as the IOC needed to first make sure that Sochi has the capability to build an Olympic slopestyle course.    

Its no secret that the snowboard community somewhat butts heads with the IOC and FIS Olympic governing bodies, primarily because in the past, they have seen the sport of snowboarding as a mere extension to skiing, and in recent years, an up-in-coming money maker, especially among young viewers.  But despite the past differences between the two groups, from what I’ve read and heard from others, the snowboard community welcomes the IOC’s decision to add slopestyle to the roster of Olympic snowboard and ski events.  Many people (myself included) see slopestyle as one of the best ways for riders to really showcase their talent in the sport.  First of all, slopestyle is much more accessable to young riders than, say, halfpipe or bordercross, because most resorts at least have some sort of triple air terrain park available for the duration of the season.  Halfpipes and boardercross courses, on the otherhand, require much more work to build and a particular type of weather, so many resorts abandon the idea completely.  Second, slopestyle is one of the oldest competition types around, and definitely the most-well known and versatile. 

Anyway, I for one, am thrilled to see slopestyle finally become part of the Olympics.  This decision was long overdue.  Slopestyle is the primary event I focused on as a young competitor, so I may be a bit partial, but I truly think it is the best way for snowboarders to show their true talent.