The Demands and Thrills of Mogul Skiing: Inside the World of Olympic Bumps
Milan Cortina, Italy – The rhythmic bobbing of knees, resembling coiled springs, is a defining characteristic of mogul skiing. As athletes navigate a course of tightly packed snow mounds, known as moguls, the physical toll is immense. “You are just falling down the mountain,” men’s gold medallist Cooper Woods confessed after his victory on Thursday. “Wrecking your joints the whole way.”
But beyond the physical challenge lies a unique blend of speed, precision, and agility that makes mogul skiing one of the most captivating disciplines in freestyle skiing. It’s a sport that demands not only athletic prowess but also a remarkable ability to find a flow state, a feeling described by women’s gold medallist Liz ‘the Lizard’ Lemley as “the ultimate flow-state sport.”
Moguls themselves aren’t naturally occurring phenomena in the traditional sense. They are formed by the repeated carving turns of skiers, pushing snow to the side and creating a series of ridges and troughs. These bumps, typically spaced three to four meters apart, can vary in size depending on the slope and snow conditions. For competitive events, moguls are meticulously constructed in consistent, symmetrical lines to rigorously test a skier’s technical skill. However, outside of competition, encountering moguls in a natural setting presents an even greater challenge.
The origins of mogul skiing can be traced back to the Austrian-German word “mugel,” meaning “small hill” or “mound.” While skiers organically created these bumps for decades, the sport didn’t gain formal recognition until the 1970s. It made its Olympic debut in 1992 at the Albertville Winter Games, and has continued to evolve, increasing in technical difficulty and incorporating aerial tricks.
Judging in mogul skiing is multifaceted, encompassing three key areas: turns, air, and speed. Turning technique carries the most weight, accounting for 60 percent of the overall score. The remaining 40 percent is divided between the execution of jumps and the skier’s time down the course.
The experience of navigating a mogul course is described as both exhilarating and demanding. Jaelin Kauf, the American skier who took home silver in the women’s event, explained the sensation of speed: “Flying through the course, it feels slow and smooth, I have time.” Yet, beneath that feeling of control lies a constant battle against the terrain, as each turn threatens to knock the skier off balance. Kauf described the experience as “just trying to scramble,” as the body rattles like a pinball through the course.
A typical mogul course, like the one used at Milan Cortina, is approximately 245 meters long with a 28-degree pitch. It features an initial section of moguls, followed by a jump, a longer middle section of moguls, another jump, and a final sprint to the finish line. A single run takes less than 30 seconds, requiring intense focus and rapid decision-making from the athletes.
The ability to enter a state of “flow” is crucial for success in mogul skiing. This concept, also observed in other competitive freeride sports, involves a heightened state of focus and immersion in the activity. As Lemley noted, when mogul skiing is done well, it appears “sleek and stylish,” a testament to the skill and dedication of these athletes who seemingly defy gravity as they bounce down the mountain.
