New flips, twists and spins coming to the Alps at Winter Olympics

Jan 26 : Aerial tricks in freeskiing and snowboarding are becoming increasingly difficult — and more dangerous — as athletes push technical boundaries to stay competitive.

Riders say they need to be creative and more willing to take risks to land a medal at next month's Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

American freeskier Colby Stevenson claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics by landing a trick he had never tried even in practice.

Stevenson specialises in slopestyle and big air, two events that feature aerial twists, flips and spins that provide some of the biggest spectacles of the Winter Games.

Competitors in freeskiing and snowboarding often adjust their runs at the last minute based on injuries, snow and weather conditions, or how their rivals have performed.

"That's how I won my silver medal," Stevenson told Reuters. "I tried a trick that had been on my mind for a couple of years and it went my way."

Athletes have been rolling out bigger spins, off‑axis rotations and more inventive grabs, pushing judges to rethink how they score the sport.

With more riders attempting similar high‑risk tricks, panels say they are placing greater weight on clean landings, control and height to distinguish standout runs as the technical bar rises.

This year's Olympic snowboarding and freeskiing events will take place in Livigno, a resort town in the Italian Alps near the border with Switzerland.

WHAT INNOVATIONS IN THE AIR MIGHT STEAL THE SHOW?

The list of inventive acrobatics and virtuosity is endless. On top of that, many Olympic competitors want to keep an element of surprise. "Yeah, tricks I'll keep a secret," said American freeskier Alex Hall when asked about his plans. 

Japanese snowboarder Murase Kokomo offered a