Freestyle skiing is one of the most exciting forms of skiing.  But, it does take a lot of practice, training, and instruction to perform these tricks.

Freestyle skiing is made up of three events: mogul, ballet, and aerial.  Skiing professionals and expert judges score all three events. They award points in each competition.  The skier with the most points at the end of all three competitions is crowned freestyle champion.

Moguls are a series of large bumps on a ski slope.  Skiing the moguls is the most physically demanding of the three freestyle events.  It is very difficult to find the path through them.  Once skiers are in the moguls, they have to perform a variety of quick turns at a very fast speed.  That is why this technique is so challenging. 

Once skiers master mogul skiing, they try mogul jumping.  Jumping is normal in mogul skiing, each mogul is a potential ramp.  Mogul jumping is the most exciting part of mogul skiing.  It is also the most difficult.

Freestyle ballet requires tremendous balance, coordination, flexibility, timing, and concentration.  Some of the tricks are just as amazing as mogul jumping.

One trick of freestyle ballet is called tip-tails.  The tip-tail spin is one of the most dramatic ballet trick.  It allows skiers to spin repeatedly on the tips and tails of their skis.

This is another trick called the split pole flip.  It allows skiers to perform a complete somersault on their skis.  To start, skiers find a gentle slope and ski downhill.  They grasp their poles so that the palms of their hands rest over top of the pole grips.

The rock and roll is yet another trick.  It is the most dramatic flip.  It combines elements of gymnastics, and lets skiers achieve a greater height when flipping.

Of all the different events, nothing can compare to the thrills and excitement for jumping.  Jumping  is by far the most spectacular event and the most dangerous.

This trick is called the spread eagle.  To perform this trick, you must jump in the air and raise your arms and legs out to the side as if doing a jumping jack.

The twister is an aerial maneuver where the skiers’ upper body faces one way while their lower body faces another.  When they’re in the air they keep their upper body facing forward, and they press their legs tightly together with knees locked.

When skiers do the spits in the air, they perform the daffy.  Skiers keep their upper body facing forward.  They extend one leg forward with the ski tip perpendicular to the ground.

When you are performing the backscratcher, skiers keep their skis close together while pulling them up behind their back.  The skier keeps their body facing forward.  They bend their knees and bring their heels up behind them so the ski tips point straight down.  To stay balanced, skiers extend their arms out to the side.

The helicopter is one of the most dramatic and complex aerial stunts.  The upright skier rotates 360 degrees in the air while the skis remain flat.  Skiers must launch themselves properly from the jump.  To rotate in the air, they begin turning just as they leave the edge of the jump.