Carezza, Italy – It’s been five years since the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup last took place in South Tyrol at Kronplatz in 2006. This week, Carezza will celebrate its debut as a World Cup host site by organizing two parallel races postponed from November.  The world’s best race boarders will meet on the Pra di Tori slope to battle for victory in a parallel giant slalom on Wednesday and parallel slalom Thursday before the international contest circuit takes a Christmas break.

Residents in the popular ski region in northern Italy will pin their hopes on two local heroes, Roland Fischnaller and Aaron March, each of whom had some impressive performances already this season.  Fischnaller won the indoor season opener in Holland to defeat his teammate. “It’s going to be something very special. You don’t get that many chances to start in front of your fans,” said Fischnaller, 31. “They are already organizing busses in Villnoess!” he added, referencing his home town.

But though local support and buzz are massive in South Tyrol, a home turf win won’t be easy to achieve. Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Slovenia and Germany are also sending their strong squads to challenge in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

The Parallel Giant Slalom qualifiers will kick off Wednesday at 9 a.m. local time, followed by the finals at 1 p.m. The same schedule will repeat on Thursday for the Parallel Slalom.