Calling All Snowboarding and Skiing Organisers
Those of you who are involved in any aspect of skiing or snowboarding will know that there are a number of competitions that are currently taking place. These events range from national to international, and include the World Ski and Snowboard Tour and the X Games. These events are a great way for athletes to gain a competitive edge.
UK vs US Skiing and Snowboarding
Having witnessed the Western US High School Championships at Mammoth Mountain over the last few weeks, I have to say that I can attest to the fact that there is not a lot of competition when it comes to high school ski and snowboard competition. However, this hasn’t slowed down the organizers of the show. The UK however has to catch up when it comes to competition. As such there’s increases in financial support for new events to encourage kids to start.
X Games
X Games for Snowboarding and Skiing Organisers will return to Aspen, Colorado this weekend. This year’s event, the ninth in the series, will feature world class competitions and sponsor activations. The event, which will take place from Friday through Sunday, is expected to draw the world’s top names in the sport.
The event will feature four new events that will join 17 existing events. The organizers of the event are aiming to add more expression and expressions of new styles. Some of the events include Rally Car Racing, Snowmobiling, Snowboard Rail Jam, Snowboard SuperPipe, Snowboard Knuck Huck, Skier-X, Snowmobile Halfpipe and Snowmobile Big Air.
The first X Games in 1995 were held in Rhode Island, Rhode Island. The event included 27 events, and was held at three different venues. One was Elliot Sloan’s backyard megaramp set up. Among the athletes who participated were Jimmy Wilkins, Elliot Sloan, Gui Khury, Zion Wright, Moto Shibata, and Luiz Francisco.
The X Games Global Championship was held in Whistler, British Columbia, in May 2003. The Global Championships included winter sports and summer sports. Athletes from five continents competed in the event.
X Games Events
The event includes women’s ski SuperPipe, which begins at 7 p.m., and a snowboard SuperPipe. Defending X Games Aspen slopestyle gold medalist Alex Hall will compete. Aside from Hall, other snowboarders expected to compete are Rene Rinnekangas, Tes Ledeux, and Alex Ferreira. The event will include competitions for most air and overall impressions.
The event is open to both able-bodied and disabled snowboarders, and will pair pros with Special Olympics skiers and. The athletes will compete in a 20-minute jam session at a big air facility.
ESPN will broadcast the event live, with additional live coverage on YouTube and Instagram. Additionally, the X Games will feature Q&A sessions with athletes and free photography tutorials from National Geographic. The event will also include live DJ performances.
In addition to ESPN, the event will be aired on ABC and ESPN’s sister channel, ABC. The event will also be streamed on the official YouTube channel, as well as on Facebook.
Lake Creek Skiing and Snowboarding
XC skiers at Lake Creek are well served by a plethora of choices. The Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) has trails to suit all tastes. The granddsaur of the bunch is the North Fork and Durrance Loop, which in a pinch can be a quick jaunt to neighboring Ketchum and Driggs. The aforementioned loop is a tad over 17 miles from the aforementioned hot spots. The aforementioned loop is not without its detractors, however, and if you are looking to snag the elusive big kahuna on a drizzly weekend evening you best get there early.
The BCRD’s most highbrow offerings are the forested woods of the North Fork and Durrance Loop, as well as the well groomed trails of the rest. The best time of year for skiing is arguably in mid-February to mid-March. The aforementioned loop is a nice place to be during this time of year. The aforementioned loop is a great place to pick up a ski or board after work, or to snag some much needed R&R prior to your next day on the slopes.
Future of competitive snowboarding
Throughout the history of competitive snowboarding, there has been tension between competition and style. The past few years have seen snowboarding’s focus on style and innovation. The popularity of athletes like Halldor and Muller has led to a desire for tricks that aren’t usually seen on the tour.
The WSF and TTR agreed to create a new governing structure for international snowboarding. This is a partnership that will benefit snowboarding on all levels. It will provide a unified sports system that is accessible around the world. It will also provide a non-confrontational, transparent system.
The first World Snowboarding Championships were hosted in Oslo, Norway in February 2012. This event unified riders under one banner. It also brought events TV distribution deals with worldwide partners. These partnerships are now in place for the World Snowboarding Tour.
This organization has a long term and short term plan. It will focus on the success of the competitive freestyle snowboarding landscape. It will identify the best venues for top level events and will develop a long-term strategy.
FIS
FIS has evolved from its founding four years ago. It now works for national teams and provides clear qualification paths. FIS’s World Cup will start next month. It has a small number of early season qualifying events.
The USASA is an integral piece of the athlete development pipeline. It has just completed its 30th anniversary. It focuses on youth and creating opportunities for future athletes.
Women’s skiing and snowboarding is growing quickly. It has quality riders and it continues to pave the way for future generations.
As snowboarding evolves, it will need to adapt to the new technologies that will become available in the coming years. It will also need to find ways to lower the price point of skiing and snowboarding. It will also represent an opportunity to attract new consumers.
The next step is to find a solution that will be beneficial for both snowboarders and organizers. One solution may be a rider-led union. Another may be a change in the rules to ensure safety.