Mixed team aerials: Growth, format and sporting significance

Introduction: Why mixed team aerials matters

Mixed team aerials has emerged as one of the most watched and strategically engaging disciplines in freestyle skiing. Combining athleticism, technical difficulty and gender-mixed team dynamics, the event attracts attention at World Cup rounds, World Championships and since its Olympic debut, wider mainstream audiences. Its relevance lies in showcasing teamwork in a sport long perceived as individual, while promoting gender balance and tactical depth.

Event format and competition details

Mixed team aerials teams typically consist of three athletes including both men and women. Each athlete performs an aerial jump judged on take-off height, form in the air and the quality of the landing. Scores are awarded by a panel of judges and usually multiplied by the jump’s degree of difficulty; team totals are determined by adding individual scores. The combined format places a premium on consistency and strategic selection of jump types — a single high-difficulty score can lift a team, while a poor landing can be decisive.

Recent developments and international profile

The event gained significant profile after being included on the Olympic programme, bringing mixed team aerials to a global primetime audience and encouraging national federations to develop balanced squads. It is also a fixture at FIS events, where nations test combinations and selection strategies across World Cup stages and World Championships. The mixed format has driven innovation in training, with teams allocating resources to build complementary skill sets and to manage risk across three counted jumps.

Conclusion: Significance and outlook for viewers and athletes

Mixed team aerials represents a broader shift toward inclusive, spectator-friendly winter sports. For viewers, the format offers dramatic, fast-paced competition with clear team narratives; for athletes and national programmes, it incentivises depth and mixed-team planning. As federations continue to prioritise mixed events, mixed team aerials is likely to remain a high-profile component of international freestyle skiing calendars and a key target for countries aiming to broaden their medal prospects.