While there does appear to be problems with design of the
snowboarding halfpipe, the weather is actually making it worse. 

According to NBC, the unseasonably warm weather in Sochi (highs
in the low 60s this week) has created a slushy surface on the
snowboarding halfpipe.  The riders would prefer an icier surface
in order to generate higher speeds and bigger jumps. 

When riders are unable to generate enough height on their tricks,
they often crash. 

Just how warm is it in Sochi?  At 8:00 at night in Sochi it is 52
degrees, 17 degrees warmer than Austin, Texas where at 10:00 in
the morning.