Spencer O'Brien says big air will be a hit at 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics

Like many in her sport, Canadian snowboarder Spencer O'Brien loves the way the big air competition give fans a unique view off all the action.

Firmly established and wildly popular in the X-Games stratosphere, big air pushes the boundaries to the extreme and it has the potential to build a huge new audience when it makes its debut at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Road to the Olympic Games host Scott Russell chatted with O'Brien about the state of the big air competition and its impact in South Korea:

Scott Russell: Do you think big air is more consumer friendly for new fans because it involves just one trick and the judging therefore becomes more understandable?

Spencer O'Brien: Absolutely. All of snowboarding is exciting to watch, but big air really lets the spectator be in the moment. It can be hard to watch slopestyle live as the courses as so long, but with big air we're usually in a stadium so it's a unique vantage point for both athlete and viewer. The tricks are technical and happen pretty fast, but it is definitely an easier judging process to understand. Same principals apply but it's only one trick so the winner is more cut and dry.

SR: There will always be traditionalists who lament the appearance of more judged sports at the Olympics. Do you think big air will prove popular over the long haul and why?

SO: I think big air will be a very popular addition to the Games [in Pyeongchang]. Action sports have shown their popularity over the past three Olympics, and it's why the IOC continues to add more disciplines. I think big air will be a welcome and exciting addition to the Games. It's longevity will depend on whether the format is presented in a way that urges progression as well as style from the athletes. If the format doesn't support these things, then the event will become stale and won't be as exciting to watch. It has be able to adapt and change with the progression of the sport.

SR: For snowboarders, is the Olympics the major target or is it still the Winter X Games? And further do you think the inclusion of big air as an Olympic discipline will grow the sport at the grassroots level in Canada and make it more attractive to kids?

SO: The Olympics are the biggest goal, there's no greater honour than winning a medal for your nation. I think both events are extremely important to athletes but in different ways. Competing at the Olympics brings out a pride that I had never experienced before, it's truly a unique experience to compete for your country. X Games is more individual, but the drive and determination is the same. I hope to have both gold medals one day so I can make a direct comparison. I hope that the inclusion of big air helps to grow the grassroots of the sport in Canada. It's such a fun and creative sport that can be done in so many different ways, I hope that people continue to get their kids involved from an early age.