Para Snowboard Returns to Big White for 7th consecutive year | Canada keen to host 2020 Snowboardcross World Cup
Canada Snowboard, in association with BC Snowboard and Big White Ski Resort, is excited to once again announce the return of the Para Snowboarding to Canada for the World Para Snowboard World Cup Big White 2019. From February 3-8, 2019 the world’s best Para Snowboard athletes will take to the slopes of Big White Ski Resort for a record 7th consecutive year.
Hosting its first World Para Snowboard World Cup event in 2013 and the World Championships in 2017, Big White now joins Landgraaf as the longest consecutively running Para Snowboard event host on the World Para Snowboard calendar.
"We are entering our 7th straight year of Para-snowboard events at Big White as we get ready to once again welcome the world to British Columbia and Canada", said Cathy Astofooroff, Head of the Local Organizing Committee and Executive Director of BC Snowboard. "We are incredibly grateful for the immense contributions from Big White Ski Resort, Destination BC, Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Government of Canada. We are honoured to be able to provide these athletes with the platform from which they can promote and progress their sport."
A main focus for the event organizers has always been to provide the riders with world class facilities to challenge riders and help them progress the sport of Para Snowboarding. Flynn Seddon, Director of Terrain Parks and Outdoor Events at Big White Ski Resort, has personally overseen the construction of Big White’s competition venues since Big White’s First Para Snowboard event.
"Since 2013 when we hosted our first Para snowboard event, we have kept our commitment to creating a progressive and technical environment for these world class athletes. I know I speak for the entire Big White Ski Resort family when I say we are incredibly excited to once again host another pair of World Cups as one of the longest running stops of the World Para Snowboard Calendar".
A two time Paralympian and long standing member of Canada’s Para Snowboard team, John Leslie (Arnprior, ON) is also excited about having another opportunity to compete on home soil.
"The Big White World Cup stop has always been a favourite of mine. I was named to my first ever Paralympic team here in 2014, and I’m incredibly proud to compete on home soil for the 7th straight year ", said Leslie. "I’d like to invite all Canadians to come out and cheer on Team Canada as we take on the rest of the World Cup field".
Canada keen to host a 2020 FIS Snowboard Snowboardcross World Cup at Big White
FIS Snowboard, Canada Snowboard, and Big White Ski Resort are excited about the possibility of hosting a Snowboardcross World Cup in Canada in 2020. Following a successful site visit from Olympic Snowboardcross course builder Jeff Ihaski of White Industries, all three organizations are ecstatic about the possibility of bringing another World Class event to a Canadian mountain.
“Big White is still buzzing from the National Team Olympic Launch on January 6, 2018, hometown Snowboardcross hero Tess Critchlow’s 10thplace finish as the top Canadian at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic games, as well as the return of the World Para Snowboard World Cup. We love giving back to the athletes and they seem to enjoy racing at Big White”. - Michael J Ballingall, Senior Vice-President, Big White Ski Resort.
“The FIS is very pleased that Canada, as one of the leading nations in Snowboarding, is motivated to bring their footprint back on the map of the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup Tour. Canada always has been an important stop on the calendar providing good snow conditions and high quality races.
The strong Canadian national team with their long time heroes, but also many promising young talents coming up, will also benefit from a race where they can perform in front of their fans and families.” – Uwe Beier, Race Director Snowboard, FIS
We are incredibly supportive of Big White Ski Resort’s bid to host a FIS Snowboard Snowboardcross World Cup in 2020. Not only are these domestic World Cups a great opportunity for our athletes to compete in front of friends and family, but they also serve as a chance for fans to see and interact with their Canadian Olympic heroes. The sport benefits are important for grass roots and high performance, while every bit as great are the additional economic benefits, increased tourism, and sport development opportunities these major events bring to the region.” – Dustin Heise, Executive Director, Canada Snowboard
Photo: Andrew Jay photography
