The first annual FIS Snowboard World Cup is taking place December 20-21 at Alberta’s Lake Louise.
This exciting world cup event is bringing together world-class men and women athletes from more than 20 countries to battle for gold in one venue. For the Canadian National Snowboard Cross team, this race offers an opportunity to qualify for a spot on the 2014 Olympic team in Sochi, Russia.
Snowboard cross features four riders racing simultaneously down a technically demanding course. Participants navigate around rollers, jumps, banked turns and tabletops at speeds in excess of 70km/h in a single elimination format where the fastest two riders to cross the finish line in each heat, advance to the next round until the final heat determines the winner.
The Canadian National Snowboard Cross women’s team has the reigning 2013 World Cup Champion Dominique Maltais (from Petite-Rivière-St-Francois, QC) who just came 2nd in the world cup SBX season opener in Montafon, Austria. Defending Olympic Gold medalist Maelle Ricker (Squamish, BC) is also set to compete. The Canadian Men’s team has also kicked off with an exciting season. Kevin Hill (Vernon, BC) earned a 3rd place finish at the Monatfon SBX and then the next day placed 2nd in the SBX team competition with partner Jake Holden (Caledon, ON). Chris Robanske (Calgary, AB) and Rob Fagan (Squamish, BC) have also shown promising early season results.
On the evening of Monday December 16, Canada Snowboard is hosting a snowboard night race for kids at Canadian Olympic Park (COP). The event titled the Royal Series and is for 13 and under. Mike Robertson, a 2010 Olympic silver medalist in snowboarding, will be there to cheer on the kids.
For more info: https://lakelouisesbx.com.
Photo of Canadian snowboard cross athlete Maelle Ricker courtesy of www.canadasnowboard.ca
SnowOnline Editor: Lori Knowles
