As Mikael Kingsbury tallies another victory at the birthplace of freestyle skiing, Canadian freestyle pioneer Wayne Wong shares memories of the sport’s early days.
When Canadian Mikael Kingsbury won two gold medals in freestyle skiing this weekend (his 93rd and 94th World Cup victories) he did it in a place that’s steeped in the history of his sport.
Freestyle skiing has left an indelible mark on Waterville Valley, just as the New Hampshire resort has profoundly influenced the sport’s evolution and growth.
Four years after the resort’s opening, and one year after introducing the United States’ first Freestyle Instruction Program, Waterville Valley hosted the inaugural National Open Championships of Freestyle Exhibition Skiing in 1971. The championships solidified Waterville Valley’s status as the birthplace of the sport, a title that was cemented by prominent freestyle athletes such as Canadian Ski Hall of Famer Wayne Wong, who contributed a great deal to the sport, with his signature moves (and sunglasses).
Now, more than 50 years after Waterville Valley made freestyle skiing a competitive sport, the resort is hosting its second Moguls and Dual Moguls World Cup event on Jan. 24 and 25.
To mark the occasion, Vancouver-born Wong shared a few Waterville Valley memories, and insights into freestyle skiing, with Ski Canada:
SC: What was freestyle skiing like back in the 1960s?
WW: Freestyle skiing as a sport did not exist in the 1960s. It wasn’t until 1971 that it was recognized as a new form of skiing. Hotdog skiing already existed at a lot of ski areas around the world, it just wasn’t recognized as a definitive category.
SC: How has the sport changed since then?
WW: It was evident at the first competition that guys could ski moguls very well, and perform aerials and tricks. So the sport evolved quickly into three disciplines: Aerials, moguls, and tricks and ballet.
SC: What role have you played in the evolution of freestyle skiing?
WW: I was an innovator and pioneer, and I helped set the standard for the Ballet event. I came up with signature moves like the “Wongbanger” and “Wongmill,” tricks that hadn’t been seen before.
SC: How are you involved in the sport these days?
WW: I am its biggest cheerleader and thoroughly enjoy watching the next generation of freestyle skiers, and seeing how they push the envelope in competition.
SC: What do you like best about freestyle skiing today?
WW: The athletes are so well-trained and focused, they’ve taken freestyle skiing to a level I never thought possible. The aerials performed at any World Cup mogul event today could easily have won not just the moguls but also an aerial competition in my day.
SC: How would you like to see the sport change going forward?
WW: I’m not sure how the sport will evolve, but then again 50 years ago who would have thought it would be in the Olympics? We were just hot-doggers having fun back then, and challenging our friends to push boundaries.
