Do you feel intimidated by the Park?

Don't really know what the boys mean when they say 'I just did a method' or 'that was a sweet Indy'?  And feel a little dumb asking?

Here is the girls guide to snowboard tricks, build your confidence by knowing what the terms mean - I mean really if the boys can figure it out so can we!!

Rossland BC

January 24-27th, dom dom dom.....Winter Carnival!!!

What an awesome time, as usual!  Almost two weeks ago, yet seems like yesterday.  Rossland hosted their, 116th Winter carnival celebrations this year.

Winter Carnival, what can I say, Its about being in thee MOST amazing fantasy for any outdoor enthusiast.  Happening in town are events and gatherings all weekend long.  Friends hanging with friends, watching races and bobsledding down the streets.  Take a walk a block further and you'll find random igloos filled with more friends and warm fires.  Really!?..Whats better?

Red Mountain had it going on too, fun parties, night skiing and of course more bonfires.

Rossvegas (Rosslands trusty boardshop) takes the reigns and organizes massive amounts of snow to dump on the streets.  Volunteers gather and work super hard to bury rails, build jumps and just dominate at bringing us an amazing riding course for competitors to play in.

"THE GAME" has different riding and skiing level categories and anyone is able to sign on to compete.  There are tons of features planted downtown on the  course built to allow the town to gather round and cheer on the riders and skiers as they lay down their best tricks for prizes from Rossvegas and a placement in the Finals.

There is seriously zero exaggeration about the amount of town spirit you're going to find the second you step outdoors - and it last all weekend!  The only thing you'll miss on a weekend like this is sleep. And who needs it anyway!

This year was as beautiful as any other.  Everyone in town, and I mean EVERYONE, was out, proud and loud!!  The sun was shining, the DJs were awesome, as were the announcers that kept us laughing all day!   LOL, such a fun day!

Players were out in full force and game well played by everyone.

The results are in and turned out to be an awesome game played by all.

I've found the Snowboarding results, but please accept my apologies on any misspelled names.

Ladies Pro Riding~~

1st- #63 Sabrina Gauthier - Sabrina rides for Someone Collective

2nd- #2 Hanna Bilodeau - 2nd time winner, Rider for Ripping Girrafe

3rd- #114 Bella Beahrrel-  Rider for Ripping Girrafe

4th- #87 Amella Olafson

5th- #107 Kezia Bahlmanm

Awesome awesome play Ladies! Thanks for showing us some amazing talent and representing for all of us out there cheering you on!

Guys Pro Riding

1st- Tyy Clark - Rides for Ripping Giragge

2nd- Brad Hesson

3rd- Hugo Chartier - Rides for Ripping Giraffe

4th- Alex Beaucage - Rides for Ripping Giraffe

Advance Riding

1st- #126 - Pele Kremple

2nd - #142 - Dan Brett

3rd - #116 - Sam Butler

4th - #149 - Noah Delfiner

Beginner winner

Neko Reimer  ~~  Absolutely amazing stuff coming from this young guy.  He's been working hard and it shows! At 6 years old and into his 3rd winter riding, Neko is doing so well.  Keep it up little buddy, show us how it's done!!  Here's a video of Neko at Big White this year, enjoy...so cute and only 6!!    Go NEKO Go!!

Thanks to Blow-up Photography for sharing some awesome moments of the day!  Check out more photos from the Carnival at http://www.blowupblog.info/

See You Next year!!!  Can't wait!

Rossland is a town that lives and breathes the outdoors.  Opening day used to be sacred; always on a Friday to ensure that the truly committed, powder junkies willing to ditch work could get a good head start on the crowds of of the weekend.  The snow would be epic, not a track on the hill, virgin untracked snow just waiting for the kiss of boards to float past.

World Cup athletes ready to impress

North America is currently in the middle of their summer but winter never sleeps.  New Zealand is preparing to host the world in their 2012 Winter Games.  These games will be host to a number of World Cups as they kick off the countdown to Sochi, Russia in 2014.  With a high level of competitors traveling to compete this year it shows the level of prestige New Zealand has gained for their winter games event.

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (August 6, 2012) – Elite skiers and riders representing twenty four nations are lining up to compete in the FIS Snowboard and Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cups at Cardrona Alpine Resort from 20-26 August 2012.

Olympic medallists, World Cup champions and Winter Games 2011 medallists all feature in the field of athletes as they compete in the first event of the official Olympic qualification period for Sochi, Russia in 2014. The upcoming event is this year's sole World Cup stop in the Southern Hemisphere.

Top riders planning to compete in the snowboard halfpipe include Nathan Johnstone (AUS) who finished the 2011 season as the highest ranked halfpipe rider on the World Cup circuit and is the current Bronze Olympic medal holder, Ryo Aono (JPN) runner up of the 2011 World Cup circuit and Arthur Longo (FRA) who placed third. Also to compete are Tore Holvik, Norway’s national champion, Dimi De Jong (NED), who is currently third in the World Cup standings, Johann Baisamy (FRA) And Taku Hiraoka (JPN).

The women’s snowboard field is equally strong with nine of the top ten Olympic field on the start list including Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists: Torah Bright (AUS), Hannah Teter (USA) and Kelly Clark (USA) respectively. Also competing is last season’s Wold Cup halfpipe champion Cai Xuetong (CHN) who will be looking to retain the New Zealand World Cup title. Holly Crawford (AUS), 2011 World Cup series runner up and Stephanie Magiros (AUS) who is currently second on the TTR rankings.

The international riders face strong competition from New Zealand’s home grown snowboarding talent. Mitchell Brown (Mt Maunganui), James Hamilton (Auckland) and Ben Stewart (Christchurch) are all on the start list. Mitch’s sister, Kendall Brown (Mt Maunganui) and Olympian Rebecca Sinclair (Wanaka) will be vying for top spots in the women’s competition.

The freeski athletes will enter a new era as their competition points, for the first time, will count towards gaining an Olympic spot. The International Olympic Committee announced in April that men's and women's halfpipe skiing will be an Olympic sport at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Last season’s Freestyle Ski Halpipe World Cup champion Benoit Valentin (FRA) has confirmed he will be competing later this month alongside the talented USA freeskier Torin Yater-Wallace and Gus Kenworthy (USA) who placed first in freestyle ski halfpipe of the 2011 Winter Games NZ. With the home advantage Jossi Wells, second at the 2011 Winter Games NZ and AFP Overall World Champion in 2010, together with brother Byron Wells and Lyndon Sheehan will be representing New Zealand.

In the women’s freestyle ski competition top freestyle skier Virginie Faivre (SUI), who placed 4th in 2012 Winter X Games Europe Halfpipe, will have strong competition from Manami Mitsuboshi (JPN) and Kimmy Sharp (USA). New Zealand’s Janina Kuzma (Wanaka), two-time Canadian Freeski Champion and two-time World Heli Challenge Champion, Rose Battersby (Taupo) and Amy Sheehan (Wanaka) will be aiming for positions on the women’s podium.

Winter Games NZ CEO, Arthur Klap is thrilled the World Cups have attracted such an elite field of athletes. “The competition will be fierce which is great for both the athletes and spectators who will be entertained by the creative mix of tricks, back-to-back rotations and big air grabs,” he said. “Being a year out from the Winter Games 2013 and attracting this calibre of athletes gives us a message how highly regarded New Zealand is as a snow sports destination capable of staging world class competitions.”

Off mountain the Winter Games Adventure Film Festival from the 24^-26 August returns to Queenstown. There’s an action packed programme of spectacular adventure films to inspire and entertain.

The FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup will take place on 22 August while the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup will take place on 25-56 August, both at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

For further information, visit www.wintergamesnz.com

Thanks to Canada Snowboard for the information on Maëlle Ricker and her latest World Cup SBX win in Valmalenco.  Stay tuned finals tomorrow.

www.canadasnowboard.ca

Tight race for the Crystal Globe comes down to final event

(Valmalenco, Italia – March 14, 2012) Olympic gold medalist Maëlle Ricker from Squamish, BC, won her second straight World Cup event today in Valmalenco, Italy. Ricker entered the race on a high note after winning in Stoneham, QC, and carried the momentum into today’s race in Italy. Maëlle qualified in first yesterday and kept the hammer down to take the top position on the podium.

With the victory, Maëlle joins a tight race for the Crystal Globe, which is still undecided going into the final SBX of the season. The winner will be decided after Friday's race. Dominique Maltais from Petite-Rivière-St-François, QC, is in contention along with Ricker and Alexandra Jekova from Bulgaria. Maltais finished in fourth place at today's race.

On the men's side, Kevin Hill from Vernon, BC, finished in 29th and Robert Fagan from Cranbrook, BC, finished in 47th position.

Results:

Women:
1st Maëlle Ricker (CAN)
2nd Alexandra Jekova (BUL)
3rd Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA)

4th Dominique Maltais (CAN)
15h Carle Brenneman (CAN)
18th Michelle Brodeur (CAN)

Men:
1st Stian Sivertzen (NOR)
2nd Alex Tuttle (USA)
3rd Tony Ramoin (FRA)

29th Kevin Hill (CAN)
47th Rob Fagan (CAN)


Valmalenco World Cup Schedule:
Valmalenco will host the final Snowboardcross and Parallel Giant Slalom events of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup tour this season. Please see below for details.

Snowboardcross:

Thursday, March 15th - Qualifications Men & Women

Friday, March 16th – Finals Men & Women

Parallel Giant Slalom:

Saturday, March 17th – Qualification and Finals Men & Women


For more information, complete results and more, please see the following link:

http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=SB&event_id=30277

ABOUT CANADA~SNOWBOARD
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