As early as the end of 2005, Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort opened China’s first dedicated mogul run on an advanced slope. The first Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition, the “NEF Cup,” was successfully held in the 2007–2008 snow season. After five years of growth, the 6th Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition will be held on February 24, 2013, on the medium and advanced mogul runs of Nanshan Ski Resort. At that time, amateur freestyle skiers from all over the country will engage in fierce competition. Who will win the chance to ski abroad, and who will take home the abundant prizes? The excitement is worth looking forward to.
Perhaps some friends may still ask, “What is moguls?” How is it different from traditional skiing? What is its competition format? And why is it called amateur even though the participants’ skills are so high?
“Moguls,” also known as Mogul skiing, is a freestyle discipline within alpine skiing. Mogul skiing originated in the late 1960s, and the technique evolved from skiing down large slopes covered with small mounds of snow. At that time, a group of passionate American skiers combined alpine skiing with tricks to invent a new activity involving twists and turns either on the snow or in the air. Initially, this thrilling sport was called “fancy skiing.”
Since China’s snow resources are relatively limited compared to places like the European Alps or North America’s Rocky Mountains—often relying on artificial snow—most people usually ski on groomed runs (commonly referred to as “noodles”). However, when skiing enthusiasts truly venture abroad to experience natural snow, they often find themselves at a loss. They can’t ski as they did before—it's like having a delicious piece of cheese in front of you but not knowing how to take a bite. This is precisely why Nanshan initially built its mogul runs. Mogul skiing is an advanced progression from traditional skiing techniques, representing a higher level of mastery after one has become proficient in basic skiing.
The Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition is divided into men’s and women’s categories, with judges scoring athletes based on three aspects: turning technique, speed, and jumping skills. Turning technique mainly evaluates the athlete’s ability to make turns while descending along the fall line, demonstrated through cushioning, smoothness over moguls, and control of the skis.
Mogul skiing (Mogul Skiing) involves navigating an extremely steep field full of moguls using expert turning techniques, striving to complete the course in the fastest time possible, while also performing aerial maneuvers mid-jump.
As for why it’s called an amateur competition, it’s because Nanshan Ski Resort, known for recreational skiing, aimed from the very beginning of creating this event nationwide to showcase the charm of skiing to more amateur skiing enthusiasts. Therefore, participation is restricted to professionals such as foreigners, career or amateur ski school instructors, active or retired members of professional teams, and those with coaching or patrol experience at ski resorts in China or abroad. This has led to the emergence of many grassroots mogul skiing experts today, continuously popularizing and advancing the technique, with each edition bringing new surprises and visual thrills to the public.
The previous Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition invited Slovenian mountaineering and extreme skiing master Davo Karničar as the chief judge. To date, he has documented over 1,400 high-altitude climbs and descents, was the first person to ski down the highest peaks of all seven continents in one go, and is also the only person to have skied the entire descent from Mount Everest. This year’s mogul skiing competition will also feature a mysterious guest as the chief judge making an appearance at Nanshan Ski Resort.
The 6th Nanshan Amateur Mogul Skiing Competition continues to receive strong support from the renowned Norwegian outdoor brand Helly Hansen, as well as top-tier equipment worth tens of thousands of yuan provided by ski gear brands NORDICA and ELAN. In addition, the competition is also sponsored by In Travel Network and Ski Around the World, offering the men’s and women’s champion and runner-up a free 5-day, 6-night skiing trip to Mt. Bachelor in the United States. With such generous prizes, are you “mogul men and women” ready?
Event Special Page] [Competition Rules] [Eligibility] [Prizes for Winners]
Registration Hotline for Consultation: 010-89091909. Registration Deadline: 16:00, February 23, 2013.
Participants should first register by calling 010-89091909. Upon confirmation, please send your name, phone number, ID (Weibo or commonly used ID), and a photo to the designated event email. Email subject: Mogul Competition Participant.