Fresh Sports At Sochi

The international Olympic committee continues to amp up the Winter Games program to keep it youth- and television-friendly. In 1998 snowboarding was introduced. In 2002 skeleton–a terrifying one-person, headfirst sledding event–was resurrected. Here’s what you need to know about a few of the events making their debut in Sochi.

SNOWBOARD PARALLEL SPECIAL SLALOM

In this slopestyle elimination race, pairs of snowboarders fire downhill on identical courses with identical obstacles. First to the finish wins.

FIGURE-SKATING TEAM EVENT

Teams will now compete in singles and pairs in figure skating and ice dancing because the events have become so popular with viewers.

SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE

This downhill event adds jumps and rail slides to alpine snowboarding, giving X Games champion Shaun White even more opportunities to medal.

FREE-SKIING HALFPIPE

Exactly like its snowboarding counterpart, except on skis. Each athlete will have a chance to perform two routines to reach the finals.

WOMEN’S SKI JUMPING

Ski jumping has been a men’s event since the first Winter Games, in 1924. Now women will compete on the 105-m hill.