Slopestyle is the newest discipline in FIS World Cup competition. Canada is will host the first ever Slopestyle World Cup contest at the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in Calgary from January 28th to 31st.
In addition to the Rider Search, riders will be able to earn spots in the Slopestyle World Cup by competing at the Canada~Snowboard Tour Slopestyle event in Calgary on Jan. 16.
The Big Air contest, the only of its kind in North America on the World Cup tour, will be held in downtown Québec City during the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup at Stoneham from January 19th to 24th.
Selected riders will have a chance at grabbing the C$10,000 winning purse allocated at each of the World Cup events, as well as representing Canada on the world stage and making Slopestyle history. The total prize pot for each World Cup competition is C$25,000. Between the Calgary and Stoneham World Cups, a total of C$175,000 in prize money in seven freestyle snowboard competitions – men’s and women’s Halfpipe at each World Cup, in addition to the Slopestyle and Big Air contests – will be handed out.
Both Big Air and Slopestyle World Cup disciplines are full World Cup medal events with points awarded towards the World rankings and Nations Cup.
Slopestyle, a freestyle discipline for both genders, has gained huge popularity in the past few years in terrain parks across the country. Riders compete on a course containing a variety of large jumps, terrain features and rails. They are expected to flow smoothly from start to finish without stopping. Slopestyle is not yet an Olympic discipline, but it is expected to be added to the major events portfolio in the next few years. Canada~Snowboard has formally asked the FIS to add it to the program of the 2011 and 2013 World Championships.
Big Air, a men-only event, is the “wow” discipline in snowboard. Riders approach a large single jump, a "kicker," and perform tricks in the air before landing on a slope of around 30 degrees. Judges award points based on overall impression which will include style, degree of risk and of course a clean landing. For photo opportunities and a big crowd atmosphere, the Big Air event is without peer.
Interested riders must meet the minimum eligibility criteria: have a valid FIS License, have 10 points in the most recent FIS Points List, be a member in good standing of Canada~Snowboard, and have Canada~Snowboard approved medical insurance.
Rider Search Application must be sent by Dec. 15 to Robert Joncas, High Performance Manager at Canada~Snowboard. Interested riders can send in their resumé, portfolio, photos and videos via email to lebob(at)canadasnowboard.ca. Competition resumés must include a minimum of three Slopestyle or Big Air competition results including the name, location, and date of each competition.
Riders will be evaluated, by the Freestyle Selection Committee, on their results and portfolio. Full information on the evaluation process is contained in the Canada~Snowboard Selection Protocol for Freestyle World Cups, available at www.canadasnowboard.ca/en/team/docs.
