2014 Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympics will see the return of familiar favourites such as the halfpipe, giant slalom, snowboard cross, and the introduction of Slopestyle and the Parallel Slalom both new events at the Winter Olympics!
Here at the snowboard guide we will be keeping a keen eye on all of the snowboard events and reporting on the highs and lows as they happen! In order to make sure you catch the events when they are on we have put together a quick overview of what to expect form each a event and the key the dates and times when you should be tuning in!
HALFPIPE
The halfpipe competition is always a crowd favourite. Held on a special halfpipe-shaped course. Using the speed gained on the slope, snowboarders come up over the rim on the other side of the pipe and perform acrobatic aerial tricks. The big question for Sochi is whether Shaun White be able to get Gold again or will a newcomer be able to knock him off his perch!
The main time are as follows:
11th February
14:00 Men's Halfpipe Qualification
19:00 Men's Halfpipe Semifinals
21:30 Men's Halfpipe Finals
12th February
14:00 Ladies' Halfpipe Qualification
19:00 Ladies' Halfpipe Semifinals
21:30 Ladies' Halfpipe Finals
SNOWBOARD CROSS
The snowboard cross is a all or nothing event which take place on a course made up of various, obstacles, banks, and jumps. Athletes are subject to elimination in qualifying runs. Results in the qualifying round determine snowboarders’ places in the final groups (the athlete with the best qualifying result gets starting number 1, and so on). In this stage, two groups of leaders run the course simultaneously, in an exciting battle over the right to advance to the final. The final group run determines who the medal winners are.
The main time are as follows:
16th February
11:00 Ladies' Snowboard Cross Seeding
13:15 Ladies' Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
13:31 Ladies' Snowboard Cross Semifinals
13:45 Ladies' Snowboard Cross Finals
17th February
11:00 - Men's Snowboard Cross Seeding
13:30 - Men's Snowboard Cross 1/8 Finals
14:01 - Men's Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
14:13 - Men's Snowboard Cross Semifinals
14:17 - Men's Snowboard Cross Finals
SLOPESTYLE
New to the Olympics for 2014 athletes perform on a slope featuring various forms of obstacles (rails, quarterpipes, and jumps). The technical characteristics of the course are dictated by the rules of the International Ski Federation. The competition is formatted in an elimination system with semifinals and finals, with two runs in each round. The snowboarder with the best results wins.
The main time are as follows:
6th February
10:00 - Men's Slopestyle Qualification
14:00- Ladies' Slopestyle Qualification
8th February
9:30 - Men's Slopestyle Semifinals
12:45 - Men's Slopestyle Finals
9th February
10:30 - Ladies' Slopestyle Semifinals
13:15 - Ladies' Slopestyle Finals
PARALLEL GIANT SLALOM
In the parallel giant slalom events, two athletes engage in a head-to-head competition on parallel courses. The athletes with the best results in the qualifying round advance to the finals, and then compete on an elimination basis. The snowboarder who wins all the races wins the competition.
The full event runs from 9:15 till 15:00 on the 19th February
PARALLEL SLALOM
Another debut event for Sochi 2014 the Parallel slalom involves two athletes descending a parallel courses marked with blue and red flags. The athlete who covers the distance the fastest while following the course rules (about trajectories, fines, etc.) wins. The courses must match each other as much as possible in terms of relief, snow cover, number of turns, and other factors.
The full event runs from 9:15 till 15:00 on the 22nd February
For full details of all of the events please visit www.sochi2014.com for details
Related Pages
Krasnaya Polyana
The most comfortable Russian resort, located just 45 km from the Black Sea. The beginners will like the long and easy runs through the picturesque forests and advanced riders will find some good heliboarding and off-piste opportunities. The climate is great, because the sea is nearby, however, it might be a drawback if there's not enough snow. Check the forecast before going there.