Freestyle skiing aerials is one of the most dramatic events at the Winter Olympic Games. Skiers launch themselves high into the air from steep jumps, perform multiple flips and twists, and land on a steep downhill slope. Because the tricks happen so quickly and involve complex movements, scoring in aerials is carefully structured to reward both difficulty and execution.
Three Main Parts of the Score
An aerials score is based on three components: air, form, and landing. Each jump is evaluated by a panel of judges who watch closely from different angles. These three parts combine to measure how well the skier performs the trick from takeoff to finish.
The air score focuses on the takeoff and the height the athlete achieves. Judges look at how cleanly the skier leaves the jump, the body position at takeoff, and the overall amplitude. Higher, well-controlled jumps are rewarded because they give the athlete more time to complete difficult movements.
Judging the Form in the Air
Form refers to how the skier looks while performing flips and twists. Judges evaluate body position, control, and precision. Legs should be straight and together unless the trick requires a specific variation. Arms should move in a controlled way to help with rotation, not flail randomly.
Clean, tight rotations and clearly defined positions earn higher form scores. If a skier’s movements look off-balance, rushed, or sloppy in the air, their form score will be reduced. This part of the scoring highlights the technical skill and control needed to perform complex aerial maneuvers.
The Importance of the Landing
The landing is a crucial part of the overall score. Skiers must land facing downhill, absorb the impact with their legs, and ski away in control. A stable landing with minimal movement earns strong marks. Small hops, hand touches, or instability can lower the score.
Major mistakes, such as falls or putting both hands on the snow, result in large deductions. Even a highly difficult jump can lose much of its value if the landing is not clean.
Degree of Difficulty
In addition to the judges’ scores, each jump has a degree of difficulty rating. This number reflects how hard the trick is, based on the number of flips and twists. The more complex the maneuver, the higher the degree of difficulty.
After the judges award scores for air, form, and landing, the total is multiplied by the jump’s degree of difficulty. This means that athletes must balance risk and consistency. Harder tricks can earn more points, but only if they are performed well.
Putting It All Together
Freestyle skiing aerials scoring combines artistry, technique, and risk. Judges reward height, clean movement in the air, and controlled landings, while the degree of difficulty ensures that more advanced tricks have the potential for higher scores.
At the Olympic level, medals often come down to tiny differences in execution. A small improvement in form or a slightly cleaner landing can make the difference between standing on the podium and finishing just outside the medals.