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A Complete Guide to Turns, Aerials, and Speed Scoring in Freestyle Skiing Moguls
Last updated: February 17, 2026
Moguls scoring divides a competitor's final result into three weighted components: turns account for 60%, aerials for 20%, and speed for 20%. Five judges score turns on a 0.0 to 20.0 scale (highest and lowest dropped, remaining three summed for a maximum of 60.0 points), two air judges evaluate form on a 0.0 to 10.0 scale and multiply it by a degree of difficulty (DD) factor, and an electronic timing system converts run time into a pace score. The three weighted components are summed to produce the final score.
Turns carry the heaviest weight in moguls because the sport is fundamentally a turning discipline. Five judges evaluate each run simultaneously, each awarding a score from 0.0 to 20.0 in increments of 0.5. The highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the remaining three are summed to produce the raw turn score (maximum 60.0 points). Judges also assign separate deduction scores for errors; the highest and lowest deductions are likewise dropped, and the remaining three are summed.
Judges assess several key elements during each run. Carving technique examines whether the athlete engages clean edge-to-edge transitions or relies on skidding. Absorption evaluates how smoothly the skier absorbs each mogul, with ideal technique showing active leg extension and retraction while the upper body remains quiet and stable. Fall-line discipline measures how consistently the athlete maintains a direct path down the slope, penalizing lateral deviations that break rhythm. Speed control rewards athletes who carry appropriate velocity through the mogul field without sacrificing technical quality.
The turn score represents the most subjective component of moguls judging, which is why it uses the largest panel and statistical trimming to ensure fairness. A consistently high turn score requires flawless execution from the top of the course to the bottom, as judges penalize any drop-off in technique quality.
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 18.1-20.0 | Excellent -- flawless carving, fall line, absorption |
| 16.1-18.0 | Very Good -- minor imperfections |
| 12.1-16.0 | Good -- visible technique errors |
| 8.1-12.0 | Fair -- significant technique issues |
| 0.0-8.0 | Poor -- major errors or falls |
Each moguls run includes two mandatory jumps, located at approximately one-third and two-thirds of the course. Two dedicated air judges evaluate each jump independently, assigning a form score from 0.0 to 10.0 based on takeoff quality, body position in the air, trick execution, and landing stability.
The two air judges' form scores for each jump are averaged, then multiplied by the maneuver's Degree of Difficulty (DD) coefficient. DD values are published by the FIS and range from approximately 2.0 for basic upright maneuvers such as the spread eagle, up to approximately 4.525 for the most complex inverted tricks like the full-full (back flip with a full twist in each rotation). The two jump scores (averaged form multiplied by DD for each) are combined to produce the total air component.
Athletes face a strategic decision: choosing a higher-DD trick increases scoring potential but carries greater execution risk. A poorly executed difficult maneuver will score lower than a clean, well-formed simpler trick. At the elite World Cup and Olympic level, most competitive athletes perform tricks with DD values of 3.0 or higher on both jumps.
| Trick | Dd |
|---|---|
| Spread Eagle | 2.000 |
| Back Scratcher | 2.000 |
| Iron Cross | 2.000 |
| Helicopter (360) | 2.500 |
| Mule Kick | 2.600 |
| Back Flip (Tuck) | 3.050 |
| Back Flip (Layout) | 3.200 |
| Front Flip | 3.400 |
| Back Flip + Full Twist | 4.050 |
| Full-Full (720) | 4.525 |
Speed is the only fully objective component in moguls scoring. An electronic timing system records each athlete's run time from start to finish. This raw time is then converted into a pace score using a formula established by the FIS.
Before competition, a reference pace time is set for each course based on its length, gradient, and snow conditions. Athletes who complete the course faster than the pace time receive higher pace scores, while slower runs receive lower scores. The pace score is then weighted at 20% of the final result.
This objective speed measurement ensures that moguls is not purely a style contest. Athletes must carry genuine velocity through the mogul field, rewarding those who combine technical excellence with athletic aggression. The pace time system also accounts for course variability across different venues, ensuring fair speed comparisons regardless of where the competition takes place.
Here is a step-by-step calculation using realistic numbers to illustrate how the 100-point scoring system works.
Turns (max 60.0 points): Five judges award: 17.0, 16.5, 17.5, 16.0, 17.0. The highest (17.5) and lowest (16.0) are dropped. The remaining three (17.0, 16.5, 17.0) are summed: 17.0 + 16.5 + 17.0 = 50.50 points.
Air Jump 1: Both air judges score form: 8.0 and 7.5. Average = 7.75. DD = 3.200 (back flip layout). Score = 7.75 x 3.200 = 24.80. Air Jump 2: Both air judges score form: 7.0 and 7.5. Average = 7.25. DD = 2.500 (helicopter). Score = 7.25 x 2.500 = 18.13. Air total = (24.80 + 18.13) / 2 = 21.46 points (approximate -- the actual FIS formula uses a specific conversion table to scale the air component to a maximum of ~20 points).
Speed: Pace time for the course is 25.50 seconds; the athlete's actual time is 24.80 seconds. The faster time converts to a higher pace score of approximately 8.20 points (out of ~20 maximum).
Final Score: 50.50 + 21.46 + 8.20 = 80.16
(Note: Actual FIS calculations use specific conversion formulas and scaling factors that may produce slightly different numbers. Elite World Cup scores typically range between 75 and 85 points, with scores above 80 considered exceptional.)