Quebec (QC), Canada – FIS Freestyle Skiing competition is coming to Quebec City and to nearby Stoneham Mountain Resort this winter, with Big Air and Slopestyle World Cup events now added to the lineup for the Jamboree snowboarding competition presented by Vidéotron Mobile from February 9–12, 2017.
“This is the 18th year we’ve hosted FIS Snowboard events in Quebec City, and this year we have eight World Cup competitions on the lineup,” said Patrice Drouin, President of event promoter Gestev. “We’ve worked hard for this and are very proud to add these events to the festival program.”
For High Performance Program Director at Canadian Freestyle Ski Association David Mirota, this is a major boost for the sport development in the country. “It is great to have freestyle disciplines added to the Jamboree this year. As a World Cup host country in Slopestyle and Big Air, we will have more athletes from the next generation taking part in the event,” Mirota says. “This will be a great opportunity for them to measure up to the best international athletes in their sport. “
Last year’s winner of the Big Air event, local athlete Maxence Parrot, has already confirmed he’ll be back in Quebec City to defend his title. Parrot, who finished fifth in the Slopestyle event at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will also be heading to Stoneham for this early 2017 event to prove he still has what it takes to go big in South Korea in 2018. He’ll be up against some even stiffer competitors this year, with fellow Quebecer Sébastien Toutant confirming he will be on the start line, too. Another homegrown athlete, Big Air champion at the 2016 X Games and the last World Cup event in Boston, Vincent Gagnier will also be in Québec City defending his Big Air title. And in Stoneham, Quebecer Kim Lamarre who took bronze at Sochi in the Slopestyle event will be one to watch.
All in all, some 200 athletes from no fewer than 20 countries are expected to come to Quebec City in February to compete in the various events.
Along with bringing the action back to Stoneham and spicing things up with the Freestyle Skiing component, the event promises spectators a long weekend full of sporting action and cultural programming. Full details of the program will be revealed within the next few months.