SNOWBOARD. This season, the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup opens in Landgraaf (NED) where the alpine snowboarders will be the first to begin the FIS World Cup season 2010/2011. On Sunday 10th October, the 8th edition of this now traditional event is the only indoor parallel slalom this season.

FIS Snowboard World Cup Landgraaf 2009, Claudia Riegler (AUT) vs Anke Karstens (GER), photo: FIS

The snowboard carving specialists will benefit from secure snow conditions on the 250 meter-long indoor slope at  the SnowWorld for the first race of the winter. After the summer break, a strong starting field will ready to test their fitness.

It is the second time after 2006 that the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season kicks off in Holland. After the originally planned opener in South America (snowboard cross in Argentina) had to be cancelled, it's time for the race boarders to battle it out in an indoor parallel slalom fighting for the podium and the first points in the race for one of the two new overall World Cup titles.

With the start of the 2011 World Cup season, the old event World Cup titles remain the same, but the overall World Cup is divided into two new titles. From now on, the best freestyle snowboarder (halfpipe, big air and slopestyle) as well as the best race and speed specialist (parallel and snowboard cross) will be crowned.

Every year, the world's best come to SnowWorld Landgraaf. Besides local hero Nicolien Sauerbreij (NED), who secured Olympic Gold last winter, also the 2010 Winter Games runner-ups in the parallel giant slalom Benjamin Karl (AUT) and Ekaterina Ilyukhina (RUS) are at the ready. In addition, Austria's Marion Kreiner and Claudia Riegler as well as their fellow countrymen Siegfried Grabner are in line for a podium finish.

Also the Slovenian men squad led by Rok Flander and the Canadian team with talented Michael Lambert, which has to handle the loss of retired super star and 2010 Olympic Gold medallist Jasey-Jay Anderson, are also aiming for a good result.

According to the pregnancy related absence of its top seller Amelie Kober, the German Federation pins its hopes on Selina Jörg and Anke Karstens, who finished fourth and fifth respectively at the Vancouver Winter Games as well as on 2009 WCS Bronze medallist Patrick Bussler. Switzerland crosses fingers for experienced riders Simon Schoch and Fränzi Mägert-Kohli. In total, more than 100 athletes coming from 19 nations are about to enter the slope.

Nevertheless, it will be an interesting season's opener as all riders have to deal with the fact that the former one-piece race suits are not allowed anymore from this season on.

FIS news
7.10.2010

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