SNOWBOARD. The FIS Junior Snowboard World Championships concluded Sunday on the Sulayr Snowpark course in Sierra Nevada, Spain. Despite record low amounts of snow, the Organizing Committee managed a successful Championship. Thirteen different nations were awarded 30 medals across five events for ladies and men during the ten-day championships. Russia, showing their strength leading up to the Sochi 2014 Games, received the highest number of medals with six podiums as Switzerland and France were close behind, each winning five medals. The coveted Marc Hodler Trophy, awarded to the nation with the highest cumulative results in the top ten across all events, went to Switzerland for the second year in a row. Thanks to their strong team performance in PGS, PSL, SBX, halfpipe and slopestyle, the Swiss delegation took home to trophy as the best team at Sierra Nevada 2012.

Although Switzerland came out on top, FIS Race Director Peter Krogoll was very happy with the number of nations showing promise as eight different nations won gold medals in the ten events. "It is always interesting that we have so many different nations participating and competing for the medals. Many small nations are taking the chance to send athletes, and the results have shown it worthwhile," he stated following the final ceremonies. He continued: "It was a big success and the best test for the Organizing Committee for future competitions. Even with their great experience from the past such as the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1996 and other World Cups it was a challenge to organize a Junior World Championship in Snowboard, especially with the new events of halfpipe and slopestyle." He concluded: ""We've been lucky to collaborate with such a fantastic Organizer as Sierra Nevada since they provide a fantastic venue for all our disciplines- we are looking forward to the 2013 Snowboard and Freestyle World Cup Finals and hopefully, the FIS Snowboard and Freestyle World Championships 2017."

Also impressed by the success of the event were the FIS judges. The FIS Slopestyle judge representing Spain, Jesus Fiochi, noted that both athletes are now at a level with tricks that were once reserved for only for Olympic Winter Games. He referred specifically to the "backside double cork" rotation which, according to Fiochi, is a maneuver "used by only the best in the world and only a very few times...[the trick] began to run shortly before the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and today it has been in Sierra Nevada! " The slopestyle gold medalist on the ladies side, Katarzyna Rusin of Poland, is already looking towards the future: "The slope was very well done, so we must thank the shapers who have done a great job. I love Sierra Nevada and I hope to come next year to the finals of the Snowboard World Cup."

The Organizers were pleased with the outcome of the two weeks of competitions. "Not only for Sierra Nevada but for FIS and the whole of the snow industry, it is very important to offer something which is able to attract the youth to the slopes. The Snowboard Junior World Championships fit perfectly with this goal," concluded Eduardo Venuzuala, Sierra Nevada Mountain Manager.

As the sun set on Spain's southernmost mountains, the closing ceremony of the FIS Junior Snowboard World Championships was celebrated with 7 DJs, two 80 square meter LED screens, towering audio masts amongst a well-attended crowd of athletes, volunteers, spectators and staff.

Contributed by Mari Mathews
FIS news, 05/04/2012

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