SNOWBOARD-SLOPESTYLE: Olympic Champion Torah Bright and teenage sensation Scotty James go into Thursday’s Snowboard Slopestyle qualification sessions with hopes of being among the first Games medals awarded in the discipline.

Better known for winning Australia’s first Olympic Halfpipe title at the 2010 Vancouver Games, Bright the goofy footer from Cooma in NSW has shown in training this week that her snowboard versatility places her as a serious Slopestyle medal contender in Sochi.

The 27-year-old, now a three-time Olympian, remarkably chases glory in three Snowboard disciplines in Sochi. Since arriving in Russia she has trained impressively in preparation for Slopestyle’s inaugural inclusion on an Olympic program.

With a third place in last year’s World Championships in Canada, Bright welcomes the opportunity of competing on the massive jumps that have been the central topic of conversation among athletes and coaches this week.

James, 19, is about to compete in his second Games, after being the youngest male winter Olympian in 50 years in 2010.

With four years of added experience, 20cms taller and a more dedicated and mature approach to his sport, James could become the first Aussie male rider to place an Olympic medal around his neck.

His results this season certainly point to this.

Taking out the World Cup Champion title in Halfpipe last month, coupled with a strong performance in the Copper Mountain Slopestyle event before Christmas, where he was the top qualifier and ninth overall in a red hot field, James has shown this week that he is ready to make an impact in Sochi.

James said Wednesday that he was really pleased with the way he has trained.

“Training went really well and I’m definitely in the swing of things,” James said.

“My goal is to make the final and at this stage it’s not looking too bad.”

James added that he has adjusted to the huge size of the much-talked-about jumps and has maintained a positive outlook on the design of the course.

Thirty (30) men will start the qualification session on Thursday with the top eight riders going straight through to the final on Saturday (Day 1 of the Games).

The remaining 22 riders from qualification will contest the semi-finals on Saturday morning with  four advancing to the 12-man final. IN what will be the first medals decided for the 2014 Games and the first in the Olympic history of Snowboard Slopestyle.

Canadian Maxence Parrot leads the world rankings for the season.

The women’s competition also starts on Thursday (Day -1) with 24 athletes. Like the men’s format, the top eight qualify straight through to the 12 woman final.

The 16 women who do not advance to the final in the first session ride again in the semi-finals on Sunday, with 4 of the semi-finalists advancing. The women’s medals are decided early Sunday afternoon in Sochi and Australia is hoping Torah Bright get’s her 2014 campaign off to a strong start.

Dutch rider Cheryl Maas has been the form rider of the season but there have been many athletes reaching World Cup podiums who would all rate themselves as podium chances.

Slopestyle looks set to be one of the highlights of the Games  with the rails and huge jumps waiting for the best athletes in the world to shred their tricks.

The competition schedule for Snowboard Slopestyle is as follows:

Men’s heat 1 (15 athletes) – 10am February 6 (local time)

Men’s heat 2 (15 athletes)  – Midday February 6 (local time)

Men’s semi -final 1 – 9.30am Saturday February 8 (local time)

Men’s semi-final 2 – 10.24am Saturday February 8 (local time)

Men’s final run 1 – 12.45pm Saturday February 8 (local time)

Men’s final run 2 – 1.19pm Saturday February 8 (local time)

Women’s heat 1 (12 athletes) – 2pm February 6 (local time)

Women’s heat 2 (12 athletes) - 3.55pm February 6 (local time)

Women’s semi-final run 1 – 10.30am February 9 (local time)

Women’s semi-final run 2 – 11.10am February 9 (local time)

Women’s final run 1 – 1.15pm February 9 (local time)

Women’s final run 2 – 1.49pm February 9 (local time)