Within the next weeks and months, the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup is fully characterised by the freestyle snowboarders; especially the kicker cracks get their money’s worth. Besides one halfpipe contest in November, three big air competitions are on the schedule being hosted in three different European major cities.
The freestyle weeks kick off on October 31st in London. Like last year, the 35 metres high and 100 metres long ramp will be build next to the iconic Battersea Power Station. 600 tons of snow will provide the perfect base for some famous shredding making the Saturday of the London Freeze Festival a highlight to remember. Already weeks before the competition takes place, a superb rider line-up looms. While defending champion Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) will try to repeat his London victory, also Scotty Lago will jet across the pond. The US-boy who claimed the best trick award (“Double Backflip late Backside 180”) last year, aims to get more than two runs this year by making it to the finals.
One week later (November 4th and 5th), the snowboarding elite meet again in the glacier village of Saas-Fee in order to score some crucial ratings points in their quest to become the 2010 Halfpipe World Cup winners, whilst also improving their chances to qualify for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. The contest on an altitude level of more than 3,000 metres is the second out of four chances within the running season to fulfil the official and national quotas.
First ever big air in the World Cup history in Spain
Two days after, the World Cup circus travels to Spain to celebrate a World Cup history’s premiere. On November 7th, the boarders will battle it out in the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys when the first ever big air contest will take place in Barcelona.
What’s entering an unknown territory for some is tradition for others already. Two weeks later, the freestyle cracks will soar through the Stockholm night for the fourth consecutive year at the Winterjam. Will this year bring the first Swedish home victory? Chris Soerman almost celebrated last year being only beaten by Janne Korpi (FIN) after cinching the first podium result for the hosting country in the Olympic Stadium of 1912.
The freestyle discipline’s time schedule for October and November:
October 31st, 2009: Big Air London
November 4th and 5th, 2009: Halfpipe Saas-Fee
November 7th, 2009: Big Air Barcelona
November 21st, 2009: Big Air Stockholm
For further information, changes as well as the latest results and the complete World Cup calendar visit: www.fis-ski.com. To check out latest news and video footage of the 2010 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup go to: www.fissnowboardworldcup.com.