The best snowboarders from 26 countries are currently in the Swiss glacier resort of Saas Fee for the latest stage of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup.
The racers are enjoying great conditions with 40cm (15 inches) of fresh snow fallen on the glacier in the past 24 hours, setting the area up for the main events later this week.
Around 130 riders are competing in the World Cup this week, among them leading names including Sergio Berger and Iouri Podladtchikov from Switzerland, Janne Korpi (the 2008 winner in Saas-Fee) and Antti Autti from Finland, Mathieu Crepel (FRA), Torah Bright (AUS) and Kazuhiro Kokubo (JAP).
Korath Wright who is the sole representative of Team Bahamas is also in resort and all the competitors are looking to score points for qualification for the upcoming 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver next February.
With the competition in Saas-Fee amongst the few that will be taking place before the Games the goal of the athletes competing in the resort’s Freestyle Park Allalin is to give the perfect performance.
Saas Fee has spent weeks on the glacier competing ‘the perfect pipe’ in the park, which, located at 3,300 metres above sea level, is open to all for much of the year, with Saas Fee’s glacier area open for snow sports almost year round.
In parallel with the competition pipe the training pipe is once again available for use by and open to everyone prior to and during the racing. This form of double pipe which Saas-Fee has now been making available to the athletes during the World Cup and the European Cup for three years in a row remains a highlight in the World Cup circus, meaning no waiting times between the rides, so the riders can also practice a few tricks during the competitions and the crowd and fans will have the opportunity to hurtle through the pipe side by side with the stars.
For the first time this year Roxy/Quiksilver are providing a varied party programme during the competition. There are movie nights, DJ rotations (with Fredy K), poker nights and fashion shows.
Six action-packed party nights will be held in the Livingroom or in the Popcorn bar altogether.
Training continues today (Wednesday 4th November) with the competition proper taking place on Thursday, 5th November with Friday a reserved day in case conditions are not perfect on Thursday.
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