Feldberg, Germany – The snowboard cross World Cup is set for some action this weekend with a pair of back-to-back races at Feldberg ski resort in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest which is back on the map after its successful debut as World Cup host last year.

Things have changed a bit since the 2016 tour’s stop in Feldberg, however, as riders won’t compete in a sprint-like format. Instead, they’ll battle it out on a longer course that will finish right next to Feldberg’s Resi lift. The course itself, which was used last weekend for ski cross, has been re-designed and adjusted to the needs of the riders who will compete this weekend in heats of four.

The race for the World Cup title hasn’t been as close in years past. For the ladies, it’s Belle Brockhoff (AUS) who will enter the Feldberg double as the current World Cup leader. Coming hot off her win at the sprint SBX in Bulgaria, the 24-year-old racer from down under sits atop of the ranking, with 2,400 points with Olympic champion Eva Samkova (CZE, 2,250) right at her back. In addition, France’s Chloe Trespeuch podiumed twice on the Seebuck face last year and currently ranks third with 1,900 points.

Over on the men’s side, the current standings feature two riders leading the hungry pack with 2,050 points, but with two wins under his belt, Austrian Alessandro Haemmerle sits in front of Italy’s Omar Visintin. Hagen Kearney (USA), winner of the season’s opener in Austria, is in third with 1,690 while Olympic champion Pierre Vaultier (FRA), who placed second and first in the Feldberg races last season, already has a significant deficit to overcome with 1,290 points.

Following today’s training, qualifications take place on Friday, followed by finals races both Saturday and Sunday.