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Ski Ballet: The Hilarious ’80s Sport We Can’t Get Enough Of

The 2014 Sochi Olympic Games are in full swing and this Throwback Thursday we’re mourning the lost art of ski ballet.

From the late 1960s to 2000, ballet fell under the umbrella of freestyle skiing, along with moguls and aerials. Ski ballerinas dazzled judges with graceful routines consisting of flips, rolls, twirls, jumps and spins. While these skiers’ exaggerated moves and outlandish ’80s outfits will leave you in hysterics, you’ve got to admit there is some serious skill behind their theatrics.

The sport had its fifteen minutes of Olympic fame when it was a demonstration sport at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Games. Sadly, ski ballet’s popularity has gone downhill in recent years, which really is a shame. Because if there’s one thing we like to see more of it’s neon-clad ski dancers and their fancy mountainside maneuvers.

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