Tonight is full of events with can’t miss speed and precision! ❄️ #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/WUVEx7HEnO
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 14, 2022
A slew of controversial calls during the Beijing Olympic snowboard competitions has athletes and commentators openly questioning the entire judging system. In the halfpipe, during his second run, Ayumu Hirano, of Japan, was badly underscored for what NBC’s Todd Richards called the greatest run ever thrown down. Luckily, Hirano performed the same run on his third try, winning gold.
But the gaffe left Richards calling out officials: “As far as I’m concerned, the judges just grenaded all of their credibility.” Then after the slopestyle finals, snowboarders were openly calling out the results when Max Parrot won gold partly thanks to a grab that wasn’t actually a grab (replay showed him touching his knee). Many thought Mark McMorris, who has dominated all non-Olympic competition in recent years, should have won.
The snowboard analyst just absolutely crushed the judges
“As far as I’m concerned the judges just grenaded all of their credibility” pic.twitter.com/IZ4vpgbdcH
— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) February 11, 2022
But McMorris, as is his calling card, was diplomatic with international press. He blames the lack of full-time judges as part of the problem and that lies at the feet of the International Ski Federation, snowboarding’s governing body. Many in the snowboarding community have long expressed that this relationship is problematic, given the organization’s history as a ski entity. “Until we have people caring about having proper cameramen on the scene, proper feeds displayed for the judges, proper training and accountability for the judges, as well, it’s going to be an uphill battle to get proper judging,” McMorris said.
Even the usually quiet Red Gerard was up in arms about the judging, which it should be noted, the same panel generally oversees slopestyle, big air and halfpipe. Gerard was not happy – and openly confused – after he ended third, being scored six points less for a virtually identical trick to McMorris in big air qualifying runs.
“It doesn’t really make complete sense,” said Gerard. “Having that six-point difference is pretty incredible.” Action continues from China tonight but there hasn’t been a lack of drama. Unfortunately, it’s been the wrong type.
You can catch a full slate of Olympic snowboarding events tonight on NBC.
