Durban, South Africa – Freeskiers and snowboarders around the globe saw their one-time fringe sport hit the big time today as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the disciplines of ski and snowboard slopestyle will be included on the program for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

The decision was taken by the IOC Executive Board ahead of the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa, and follows the inclusion in April of ski halfpipe (men and women), women’s ski jumping, biathlon mixed relay, figure skating team event and luge team relay. The IOC deferred a decision on ski and snowboard slopestyle until it could conduct site visits in Russia to further examine the logistics around a potential inclusion. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) played a key role in working together with the International Ski Federation on slopestyle, including support in producing the debut World Championship last February at Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort, both in Utah. Those events were pivotal in showcasing the sport of freeskiing to the IOC.

“We are very pleased with the addition of ski and snowboard slopestyle and snowboard special slalom in the Olympic Winter Games program,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “Such events provide great entertainment for the spectators and add further youthful appeal to our already action-packed lineup of Olympic winter sports. We look forward to welcoming all the athletes to Sochi in 2014.”

Slopestyle athletes make their way down, through and over a course comprised of a variety of obstacles including rails, jumps and other terrain park features — scoring points for amplitude, originality and quality of tricks. The discipline has its roots in action sports like skateboarding and BMX biking and has very successfully crossed over into the snow sports worlds of skiing and snowboarding.

Already an X Games and Dew Tour favorite, the Olympics will become the jewel in the crown of this burgeoning sport that has a huge fan following in the coveted youth demographic. As such, it is predicted to be a ratings leader for Olympic broadcasters. NBC recently shelled out a record $4.4 billion for the rights to the next four Olympic Games and ski and snowboard slopestyle will help bolster television ratings in the important U.S. market.

“The IOC’s decision to add slopestyle to the Olympics recognizes the millions of youth who are already participating in the sport in terrain parks around the world,” said USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt. “It will have a very positive impact on the sport including our U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing programs.”

Montreal, Canada’s Kaya Turski, who earned a silver medal at the ski version of the event’s inaugural FIS World Championships earlier this year, was ecstatic upon hearing of the IOC decision today.

“I’m stoked to be part of a sport that represents a younger generation and that’s going to be way cool to watch during the Olympics. I think it will be an eye opener for a lot of people. I feel good about reppin’ Canada! I can’t wait,” said Turski.

“I think it’s very cool to see the Olympics pick up action sports,” added X-Games medalist TJ Schiller, of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. “This is really the next generation of sport, and slopestyle is so young, it hasn’t even come close to hitting its peak. Every year the progression just multiplies. The Olympics are a massive opportunity to show the world what we can do on skis.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about the IOC’s decision, said Pittsburgh, Penn.’s Tom Wallisch, one of the world’s most noted slopestyle athletes. “I’ve always dreamt of skiing for the USA at the Olympics, and now we finally have the opportunity. This is a huge moment for our sport.”

In addition to the announcements confirming ski and snowboard slopestyle, the IOC today confirmed the inclusion of snowboard parallel special slalom for men and women on the sports program of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. An alpine skiing team event also proposed was not accepted for 2014. With Monday’s approvals skiing and snowboarding now represent 50% of events on the Winter Olympic schedule.

“It’s gratifying to see the modernism shown by the IOC in bringing in so many new events to better showcase the excitement of skiing and snowboarding as action sports to the world,” added Marolt.

The Olympic Program Commission (OPC) initially proposed the inclusion of the events to the EB in Acapulco in October last year. The OPC studied the proposal of the individual International Sports Federations and, at the request of the EB, compiled a detailed analysis of all candidate events at their respective world championships last winter. The decision was also based on an operational feasibility study undertaken by the organizers of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

“I am so stoked that slopestyle will be included in the next Olympic Games,” said three-time X Games women’s gold medalist Jamie Anderson of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. “Slopestyle is such a progressive event and has become much more popular over the last few years. Nothing thrills me more than to see the sport that I love so much recognized on the world’s stage.”

“It is so great to finally hear that slopestyle will be included in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games,” added Chas Guldemond of Reno, Nev., one of the biggest stars in the sport and one of the top-ranked Americans. “It is an honor that the IOC feels our sport is worthy and I cannot wait to be able to try my best to bring home a medal for my country. The Olympic Games are the ultimate dream for any athlete. I know that the viewers will not be disappointed with the show that we will put on for them in 2014. This is history in the making for our sport and I am stoked to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The USSA and U.S. Olympic Committee will determine a selection process to ultimately name the team for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.