A quick snapshot at the events that will make their debut on the Olympic menu in 2018:Big air snowboardThis is slopestyle simplified (no rail section) and amped up (one big jump) and it’s the embodiment of the International Olympic Committee’s desire for more dramatic, spectator-friendly events that appeal to a younger audience. Big air is also a freestyle ski event but it was only included in the 2018 Olympics for snowboarders. Canadian men, who compete in both slopestyle and big air, dominate and there’s a Canadian or two (and occasionally three) on the podium at most events, so Canada’s Olympic medal hopes are very strong here. Each run takes just 20 seconds and teams of skiers are pitted against each other on parallel slalom courses. The head-to-head competition, knockout brackets and team dynamics add new elements to skiing within a much shorter and less-tactical race.

Source: thestar February 09, 2017 01:22 UTC