This winter’s bumper snowfall notwithstanding, the future of Ruapehu’s famous ski fields is highly uncertain. But the mountain itself will remain important in other ways.
Some resorts have launched diversity efforts to try to appeal to a wider community.
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As temperatures warm, ski and snowboard resorts are investing more in snowmaking and seeing their seasons shrink. Those costs roll down to customers in an already expensive sport.
Veteran snowboarder Shaun White in action at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
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As the Winter Olympics are showing, the unique cultures of action sports seem to support long careers among the top athletes – something other sports and society in general could learn from.
Snowmaking machines blow cold water, which freezes before it hits the ground.
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Snowmaking machines can produce enough snow to cover a run, but artificial snow is very different from natural flakes that fall from the sky.
The alpine skiing course at the 2022 Winter Olympics, on Feb. 2, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. All the snow at this year’s Olympic venues is machine-made.
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
An analysis of 21 former Winter Olympic venues found that only one of them would be suitable and offer safe racing conditions for athletes if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
The mainstream embrace of snowboarding for its youthful audience and sponsorship riches also dented its once-alternative image – but a new generation of stars could change all that.
US surfer Carissa Moore will be part of a new-look Olympic sports schedule in Tokyo.
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The inclusion of new action sports can offend Olympic traditionalists and outsiders alike. But it’s part of a long-term strategy to keep the games relevant and appealing to younger fans.
Halfpipe snowboarders like Scotty James may seem laid-back and relaxed, but they are subjected to high physical load and fatigue induced by training and competition.
Snowboarding and freeskiing are relatively new to the Winter Olympics, coming from highly-skilled amateur backgrounds. Their athletes are often risk-taking individualists, at home on social media.
Australia’s mountains may be small but each year they deliver enough snow for winter sports.
Andrew Watkins
Some of the most exciting moments in the Sochi Winter Olympics will be in racing events such as ski and snowboard cross and short track speed skating. While it may seem obvious that vision plays a big…