Overview of Half-Pipe Skiing

From FIS Freestyle wiki

Overview of Half-Pipe Skiing

Ski halfpipe is a ski competition in which the competitors starts individually from the top of a halfpipe. The half-pipe is a semi-circular ditch or purpose built ramp (that is usually on a downward slope), between 8 and 22 feet (6.7 m) deep.

Competitors perform tricks while going from one side to the other and while in the air above the sides of the pipe. The halfpipe discipline is scored by judges with one overall impression score based on the following criteria: execution of tricks, variety of tricks, difficulty, pipe use, and amplitude.

The halfpipe competition takes place in a half-cylinder-shaped course dug deep into the hill. Using speed gained on the slope, skiers come up over the rim of the pipe and perform acrobatic aerial tricks. The object of the halfpipe is to perform difficult tricks with perfect form.