Freeskiing was born out of a rebellion against being confined to a mold
What started as a counter-movement to the competitiveization of moguls has ultimately led to the same judging criteria being adopted in the Olympics and World Cup. Jumps are judged on how many half-rotations you can complete. Jib tricks are judged on how well you can complete them without falling, rather than on innovative uses. Other elements don't receive as much extra points
As a result, the skaters' performances tend to become very similar
The reason is simple. Judges have an "accountability." Why this score? Why did that athlete rank higher? National team coaches from various countries come forward to challenge the decisions. To satisfy them, judges are forced to rely on objectively measurable metrics such as "rotation count" and "difficulty." "Style" and "creativity" do not have a standard that can satisfy everyone. Anything that cannot be measured numerically was not included in the evaluation
"THE LEAGUE || A Future for Freeskiing || Full Movie," available on YouTube, is a documentary that follows Season 1 of the "Jib League," which was created as a response to the "competitionization" of freeskiing. The Jib League was launched in Europe in 2023 by Ferdinand Dahl, James “Woodsy” Woods, and Øystein Bråten. All three are riders who have competed on the Olympic stage in slopestyle
In the Jib League, riders vote amongst themselves. After each day's session, all the riders present review the footage and vote for whose run was the most impressive and valuable. Instead of a panel of five judges, 25 skiers decide "what is valuable" each time
What's being evaluated is skill, creativity, and situational awareness
How did you interpret the items, how did you use them, and what aspects of yourself did you retain? What did you choose, and what did you choose not to do?
The moment you try to measure expression with numbers, the expression stops. That's why, here, the eyes of the people skating alongside you become the standard
The Jib League isn't strictly invitation-only; there are open jams that anyone can participate in. If you stand out there, you can join the pro sessions for the main competition. "Let me jump that jump. Let me skate in that park"—they're providing the next generation with the opportunities they themselves once wished for
The video follows Season 1, which takes place in three locations: Austria, Switzerland, and Norway. With prize money and rankings at stake, the riders go all out once the sessions begin. However, the winners are ultimately determined by the skiers who spend the same time on the same snow
This video is available on the SLVSH YouTube channel. SLVSH has always run a different evaluation system than judged competitions, by showing videos of riders showcasing their skills and style against each other. Although the founder of Jib League is different, they share the common goal of reclaiming the appeal of freeskiing, which is not evaluated in competitive settings, for the riders themselves
I want to skate freely. On top of that, I want to win and be recognized. Jib League is trying to achieve both of those things at the same time
Looking back 20 years from now, what did we do to improve freeskiing?
This video documents the efforts of the skiers who took on that responsibility.