Each week Nick gives us the Inside Edge on a top resort

The week's tv line-up

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What is it?
Competitors travel down a steep, heavily bumped course as quickly as they can. During the descent they perform tricks off two clearly marked 2.5m high jumps. The idea is to stick as close as possible to the fall line - the most direct route down the mountain. Dual-moguls is exactly the same but in a head-to-head version with the winner moving into the next round.

Rules
Marks are awarded for the technique of the turns, ie, line and contact with the snow (50 per cent), the speed of the run (25 per cent) and the quality and difficulty of the two jumps (25 per cent).

History
Mogul skiing developed in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the 'hot dogging' or freestyle movement which swept America and Europe. Moguls gained full Olympic status in 1992 after being a demonstration sport at the Calgary Olympics four years earlier.

Random fact
Music is played during the event and with competitors pulling tricks like 540 degree spins it's one of the most popular events on the World Cup circuit.

The lowdown

• The iron cross is the most popular mogul jump trick on the World Cup circuit. It involves skiers holding the skis behind their back in a perfect cross. The best marks go to skiers who can hold this in perfect form for the longest time. Other popular tricks include the spread eagle, twister, helicopter, daffy, kosac and backscratcher.
• Knee control is the key to good mogul skiing so the colour of the kneepad is often different from the ski suit to get the judge's attention.
• Skis are shorter than those used in speed events such as the downhill or super-G. The minimum length is 195cm for men and 180cm for women.
• Just like aerialists mogul skiers practise their jumps on trampolines. If there is a danger of them getting injured a bungy style cord is attached to stop them hitting the ground.

The one to beat
Olympic silver medallist Travis Mayer. He's fast, has good technique and uses the tried and tested method of pulling one rotation and one aggressive straight jump per run. The American is also a former world junior champion.