Slopestyle

Slopestyle Format

To understand the format of a slopestyle contest.

Slopestyle courses are similar to what’s found in a good quality terrain park. They typically have five or more features and must include both jumps and rails, with a minimum two of each.

Age Divisions

In New Zealand, the age categories for regional events are as follows:

  • Under 14s Division – must be 13 years of age or younger and must not turn 14 within the calendar year.
  • Open Division – typically 14-18 year olds but any competitor may choose to compete in the Open Division, just not in both.

At the NZ Junior Nationals, the age divisions are:

  • Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s, Under 18s
  • Athletes must be under the age specified above and not turn that age within the same calendar year as the event.

Environment / Features

Jumps
Jumps in slopestyle regional events are usually medium to large in size. They may be a combination of tabletops, step-ups and step-downs, but should measure 5-8m for U14 divisions and 8-12m for the Open division. This is measured from the lip of the jump to the knuckle.

At the NZ Junior Nationals, the slopestyle courses for the U16s and U18s male divisions, as well as the U18s females, are set on large and xl sized jumps and can be up to 15m. The U16 female division is typically held on medium sized jumps.

Jibs
Jib features in slopestyle courses should include both boxes and rails, with the option to ride both at different points in the run.

Boxes usually include a ride-on and gap-on option. Rails typically include down bars, kink rails and potentially a cannon option or a curved feature such as a rainbow or C-rail.

Transitions
Transition features such as skew jumps, quarter pipes, spines and hips, may replace jumps within a slopestyle course. This tests the rider’s ability manage pressure through transitions and hold speed in different shaped features.

Formats

Standard Slopestyle Format
Most slopestyle events provide the athletes with two judged runs. Scores are out of 100. The best score is taken as their final score. Scores are not usually combined. If the rider doesn’t complete the course, or misses their run, they are given a DNF by the judges (“did not finish”).

Every feature is taken into account. If the athlete chooses to skip a feature, this is also considered by the judges. An easy way to think about this is if the course has a total of five features possible in one run, each feature could be worth 20 points each. If you skip one feature, you miss out on 20 points from the total.

The start order for athletes can vary at the junior level but are often simply done in the order in which athletes sign up to the event, or are generated randomly. This changes for FIS level and other international events.

Jam Session Format
In a jam session format, riders are given a specified time period in which they can take as many runs as they choose to (depending on the starter and keeping the course safe).

Athletes are given an overall performance score for the whole jam session, meaning the more variety of tricks, and consistency in landings, the better. Scores are out of 100.

Progression Formats
Some slopestyle events may use more of a progression format, allowing the riders to have more than the usual two runs.

If, for example, the athletes are given five runs, their top three scores may be used to average between to create a final score out of 100. The other two runs would be discounted.

The number of runs can change depending on the event.

International Formats
Most FIS and other international slopestyle events use a qualifying system. This puts riders into two larger fields, with the top eight typically proceeding into a finals. This format allows for a wider pool or talent and the top riders to conserve their tricks for the finals. Riders are often seeded coming into the event, based on their previous results.

The judging format for these higher-level events can vary. The SLS (“section-by-section”) format is often used when enough judges are available.

The number of runs given depends on the event. Scores are always out of 100, with the best score counting.

Photo: Tiarn Collins at the Junior World Champs, by Keith Stubbs
Watch the video recap of the 2018 Snowboard Junior World Champs Slopestyle event held at Cardrona…
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Competing in Slopestyle

A good slopestyle competitor will be able to show both backside and frontside spins, a variety of grabs and a range of jib tricks, including switch takeoffs/landings.

In most slopestyle contests, riders are judged on; progression, amplitude, variety, execution and difficulty.

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