the predecessor to wssf was the world technical skiing championships (wtsc). wtsc was created by doug perry as the world's first international freeskiing competition. the first event was staged on blackcomb mountain in april 1994 and was televised on espn in the united states and its international affiliates. wtsc was designed as a made-for-tv invitational event in which world champions, olympians and skiing legends from the sport's major disciplines vied for the title of "world's best all-mountain skier" in a decathlon-format competition of freeskiing, gs racing, moguls and steeps down the saudan couloir. wtsc was modelled after japan's largest skiing event, the all japan technical skiing championships, in which perry competed as a member of team salomon.