Road to the Olympics: Progress in Zurich

Posted by Jon Lang

Since its inception, the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) has represented the best interests of competitive freeskiing. The growth and progression of freeskiing is a continual, collective effort between athletes, event organizers and governing organizations.

Tremendous progress was made regarding the direction and governance of freeskiing this past week at the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Autumn Meeting in Zurich. AFP Co-Founders Christopher Jerard and Michael Spencer represented the AFP, making it Spencer’s third representation of the AFP at an official FIS meeting.

Spencer was nominated and appointed to represent USA on FIS’s Freeskiing Committee, which formally proposes to the FIS Freestyle Skiing Committee to vote on topics that dictate the future of Freeskiing. National Governing Bodies (NGB’s) can also approach the Freestyle Skiing Committee, therefore allowing the sport to progress without unnecessary restriction. Topics of discussion for such committees would be for example, how World Cups get approved in countries.

Scheduling was a topic of discussion during the week and when asked if there is a formula or protocol currently used Spencer replied, It will continue to be a proposal by the countries to request world cups, right now there are just too many moving pieces. As long as communication continues between events and the AFP, everyone can make easier decisions as far as scheduling goes. In the end this function benefits athletes busy travelling schedules and budgets.

A large topic for discussion was AFP’s Judging system, “It’s great to see that countries are supportive of the AFP and its Judging Clinics but FIS would like to see more transparency and more follow up,” says Spencer. The AFP has anticipated this desire and is excited to unveil AFP Judging resources at http://afpworldtour.com/afp10/judging/. For those more serious about understanding Freeski Judging, attend an AFP clinic this autumn to get fully educated. Judges, Coaches and Athletes alike should understand Freeski Judging functions in order for the sport to effectively progress.

Another pivotal topic of discussion was the potential for identification of course builders. “FIS and the AFP will begin to identify the best course builders globally and create a list that will be used to build the best courses at the highest level events,” says Spencer, “making course construction consistent with similarly sanctioned events.” This sets the standard for what athletes, event organizers, and judges should expect.

Another topic of discussion is the possibility of Dropping High and Low Scores, and a Tie Breaking proposal, which will be tabled for the FIS Spring Meeting.

Something Michael Spencer found refreshing was how although FIS follows strict parliamentary procedures when meeting, has committees upon committees and protocol for everything, Freestyle Skiing Chair, Chris Robinson, still called on Spencer when discussing final freeskiing decisions to ensure AFP’s approval. Rarely does the Chairmen single out someone that is not a chair or committee head, “The FIS Freestyle Committee has been welcoming and refreshing to work with,” says Spencer.

One of the more interesting topics for discussion was if Freeskiing Big Air should be included in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. This interest came from various NGB’s but there are important questions that come with this topic, such as the parameters and format. Would it be stadium style or JOI (Jon Olsson Invitational – Are, Sweden)? Bracket Elimination or Qualifiers through Finals? AFP has recommended to table this topic until Spring to ask athletes what they want, “From an AFP standpoint this is an action item that needs to be put to the athletes first, because there are just too many scenarios that need to be thought out from the athletes’ perspectives first,” advised Spencer, “This always has been and always will be the focus of the AFP – making decisions based off the interests of freeskiing athletes.”

Spencer was excited to announce, “The Olympic Judging Panel will be 100% AFP Certified and FIS A Licensed Freeskiing Judges. The Freestyle Committee agreed to this panel and the only remaining step is for the FIS Council to make its final approval.” Once that happens, these Judges – all of which have gone through the AFP Clinic system and have completed the AFP Judging Criteria to be Platinum Level Judges – will be set as the 2014 Olympic Freeskiing Judging Panel in Sochi, Russia. These will be the most experienced Freeskiing Judges in the world and have been judging AFP Platinum Level events for years. For more information on AFP Judging, check out AFP’s new Judging resources at http://afpworldtour.com/afp10/judging/.

Spencer finishes, “Events want to be sanctioned and kids want to be ranked – AFP wants to do this. The AFP has been ranking athletes and sanctioning events for multiple years and continues to maintain a great relationship with FIS to work together in order to facilitate the progression of the sport.”

“Road to the Olympics” is a news series the AFP will be running throughout the season highlighting the evolving relationships between the AFP, FIS and the Olympics.

For more information about the AFP World Tour go to www.afpworldtour.com
or contact Jon Lang at jon@afpworldtour.com