Section 3: Playing Area
3.1 Halfpipe
- Length: Minimum 150 m (492 ft) of rideable transition.
- Width: 19–22 m (62–72 ft) from lip to lip.
- Wall height: 6.0–7.0 m (19.7–23.0 ft). The standard "22-foot superpipe" refers to the vertical height of the transition wall.
- Gradient: 17.5–18.5 degrees along the longitudinal axis.
- Deck: Flat area beyond each lip, minimum 4.0 m (13 ft) wide, maintained for safety in case of over-rotation.
3.2 Slopestyle Course
- Length: Minimum 400 m (1,312 ft).
- Width: Minimum 30 m (98 ft).
- Features: 6–9 features arranged in sections. The jib section includes rails (flat, kinked, rainbow), boxes (flat, down, gap), and wall rides. The jump section includes 2–3 progressively larger jumps with gap distances of 10–25 m (33–82 ft).
- Multiple lines: The course must offer at least two distinct lines through the jib section so athletes can demonstrate variety across runs.
3.3 Big Air
- Kicker: A single massive jump feature with a takeoff height of 3–5 m (10–16 ft) and gap distances of 25–30 m (82–98 ft) to the landing sweet spot.
- Landing slope: Gradient 33–38 degrees. Snow depth minimum 1.5 m (5 ft) in the landing zone.
- In-run: Speed-controlled in-run track, often with a start gate and speed-check section to ensure athletes reach consistent takeoff speeds.
3.4 Snowboard Cross (SBX)
- Length: 1,000–1,500 m (3,281–4,921 ft).
- Vertical drop: 150–250 m (492–820 ft).
- Average gradient: 12–22 degrees.
- Features: Banked turns (berms), rollers, step-ups, step-downs, and tabletop jumps. The course must be wide enough for 4–6 riders to race side-by-side through all sections.
- Gates: Blue and red triangular panel gates mark the racing line. All riders must pass through every gate.
3.5 Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS)
- Vertical drop: 120–200 m (394–656 ft).
- Gates: 20–30 gates per course, offset 10–15 m (33–49 ft) apart. Red and blue courses are set parallel to each other, separated by approximately 20–25 m.
- Snow surface: Hard-packed, injected, and salted for consistency. The course must be equally prepared on both the red and blue sides.