Collingwood (ON), Canada – FIS World Cup Snowboardcross returns to Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario, Canada this winter for a second season. After a successful stop in 2012, the 2013 FIS World Cup Snowboardcross (SBX), and some of the world’s top athletes, are set to thrill spectators once again at Blue Mountain February 1-2, 2013.
National pride will be on the line, as the Canadian team competes against athletes from 27 countries in this global event. Blue Mountain is one of 19 locations on the FIS World Cup Tour, including stops in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway, among other countries. Blue Mountain is one of only two stops in Canada for the 2013 FIS World Cup Snowboardcross Tour. The World Championships took place earlier this month at Stoneham Mountain Resort in Quebec.
Blue Mountain has become a regular and successful stop on the FIS Ski Cross World Cup circuit for the last three seasons. Due to scheduling, the Ski Cross event will not be returning this season.
“Winter enthusiasts got their taste of this exciting sport last season,” said Paul Pinchbeck, Director, Marketing, Blue Mountain Resort. “The feedback from our guests was extremely positive. We’re proud to bring back the Snowboardcross event for a second season at Blue Mountain and challenge these athletes with our world-class terrain.”
The event organizers, headed by event co-chairs Chris Robinson and Mark Kristofic, have planned a world-class snowboardcross course that will challenge the world’s best athletes.
“As we head into the fourth consecutive World Cup at Blue Mountain we are extremely excited to be holding the event on a Saturday for the first time,” said Chris Robinson, World Cup Co-Chair. “We’re hoping for a huge crowd and with 27 countries registered already, it will be a spectacular event. The course is once again being designed and built by Olympic course builder, Jeff Ihaksi, so we’re guaranteed to have a world-class venue for the world’s best riders to compete on.”
Racing on home snow is also something that Canadian athletes look forward to. “The Blue Mountain race was one of my favorite stops on tour last season,” said Maelle Ricker, Olympic Champion and Canadian snowboardcross athlete. “We had a great course to ride and the town was so supportive of the event. I’m really looking forward to competing there this year.”