By Gary Anderson

August 21 - Plans for the Sochi 2014 slopestyle course have been revealedThe International Ski Federation (FIS) today released the first details of the Sochi 2014 slopestyle course, ahead of the discipline's Winter Olympic debut next year.

The 635-metre long course will be located at the Rosa Khutor alpine resort and will stage 20 freestyle skiing and snowboard competitions.

It features three jumps that get progressively bigger, with the aim of allowing athletes the chance to build momentum and execute their biggest and best jumps at the bottom of the course.

The course was designed by Anders Forsell, a FIS technical advisor for slopestyle who has helped design courses for the FIS World Cup and World Championships, FIS snowboard coordinator for freestyle events Roberto Moresi and Davide Cerato, an expert working with Sochi 2014.

"A team of experts worked with several groups in many meetings, and of course riders and skiers exchanged thoughts and ideas for what would work best to have spectacular events," Moresi said.

"We surveyed the best slopestyle courses and jumps rails sessions around the world collecting athlete's comments and developed the final design that will provide a good flow and include a variable and creative jib section."

Slopestyle snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions took place at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in InnsbruckSlopestyle snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions took place at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck

























Slopestyle has been one of the most popular events at the Winter X Games and features athletes in either skiing or snowboarding form performing a series of free jumps and jumps using jibs such as rails or boxes.

"The design of the course was an example of great collaboration between the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and FIS technical experts," said Uwe Beier, FIS snowboard race director.

"We are looking forward to the first ever Olympic slopestyle competition.

"We are all glad that this fantastic and entertaining event was integrated into the Games programme.

"The final confirmation of including slopestyle into the Games only came two years ago, which meant that there was no time to lose in the design and building process.

"Everyone involved worked extremely hard to get to the point we are today and now we can all look forward to the construction process."

There are 10 freestyle and 10 snowboarding events at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi being staged in two finish areas.

In total, 12 competitions with four parallel events, four cross events and four slopestyle events, will all use the slopestyle course finish area.

"It has been a long process to get to this point where we can release the slopestyle course," said Joseph Fitzgerald, the FIS' freestyle skiing coordinator.

"Everyone, from the course designer to the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and FIS experts are committed to providing the best possible course for the Olympic debut.

"It is going to be a great introduction for this event, which goes back to the basic roots of freestyle skiing."

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