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History of Aerials
Skiers have been jumping for years. A Norwegian is credited with the first measured jump in 1860. News Specialist Jed Boal explains the early days of the sport.
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(Nov. 3, 2001)------It wasn't until a century later that another Norwegian living in the United States added a flip to the jump and freestyle skiing was off and flying.
American skiers consider freestyle uniquely American...like Jazz is to music. It was a product of America in the '60s.
Social change and freedom of expression fueled the drive for higher jumps and wilder tricks.
But, it wasn't called freestyle, yet. It was called Hot Dog skiing.
Ed Ferguson was an early champion in the sport.
Ed Ferguson/Freestyle Pioneer: WE WERE PLAYING OUTSIDE THE BOX. AND PEOPLE WERE WATCHING AND THEY WERE PUTTING US IN ALL THE MAGAZINES AND ON WILD WORLD OF SPORTS.
But, the roots of aerials go back a little further than that.
Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SEQUENCE OF PHOTOS FROM THE UTAH SKI ARCHIVES TAKEN AROUND 1960. THAT'S STEIN ERIKSEN PERFORMING A FORWARD SUMMERSAULT WITH A LAY-OUT. AND THAT WAS THE BIRTH AERIALS.
Eriksen won gold and silver as a ski racer in the 1952 Olympics. But he needed to make money, so he put on shows doing flips off snow banks.
Eriksen says it's been easy to inspire other skiers.
Stein Eriksen/Freestyle Pioneer: I ENJOY IT FROM THE INSIDE OF MY HEART. I ENJOY WHAT I'M DOING. IT IS KIND OF A GAME FOR ME. IT IS A HOBBY. IT'S KIND OF A JOY OF LIFE FOR ME.
During the next decade, high-flying daredevils like Bob Theobald and Karen Huntoon of Park City, John Clendenin and Scott Brooksbank pushed the sport beyond Hot Dog.
Theobald says roots of competitive aerial freestyle can be traced back to Alta in 1968 and the first National Galonde Contest.
But, serious crashes slowed the sport from soaring to World Cup and Olympic acceptance. In 1971, inverted aerials were banned for a decade.
But, the flying skier says gymnasts, skaters, dancers, and divers like him...blended their sports into skiing to help freestyle evolve.
Bob Theobald/Freestyle Pioneer: A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CROSS-OVER MECHANICS WERE REQUIRED TO CREATE FREESTYLE. THE WORD FREESTYLE DOESN'T MEAN HOW FAST DOES IT TAKE TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. IT MEANS WHAT YOU DO IN BETWEEN.
Many of the pioneers...like Eriksen...were racers looking for something different to do.
The first World Cup was staged in 1980. Competitions that included moguls and ballet...first World Championships in 1986.
Then in 1988, the Calgary Olympic freestyle skiing competition thrilled large crowds.
In 1994, in Lillehammer, Norway freestyle aerials skiing became a medal event in the Olympics.
Theobald says the jumps are higher today, and the tricks riskier. But he always had a feeling hot-dogging would make it to the Olympics.
Bob Theobald/Freestyle Pioneer: THEY ARE SPECTACULAR. THE SKILL LEVEL IS SPECTACULAR, AND I THINK WE ALL ENVISIONED IT, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.
In a few months, their sport will play out for the world in their backyard.
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