By Press Release

December 2, 1999

Whistler, BC - With just over a week to go until the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup returns to Whistler, the World Cup sites on Blackcomb Mountain already enjoy excellent snow cover and are being tested by local riders. Part of the HSBC Whistler WinterStart Festival, the World Cup events will be the final highlight of this ten day season opening celebration, which runs from December 3rd-12th.

This is the fourth consecutive year that FIS World Cup events have been staged in Whistler and will include Giant Slalom, Audi Snowboard-Cross and Telus Mobility Halfpipe, December 10, 11th and 12th. Whistler will be the fourth stop on this year's Snowboard FIS World Cup Tour - the first event in Tandadalen, Sweden had to be postponed, but athletes will have competed in three European events before coming to Whistler.

Giant Slalom replaces Super G Whistler has been able to stage Super G races for the past three years on the Dave Murray Downhill Course on Whistler Mountain, which has traditionally been prepared for men's alpine racing a week earlier. As the alpine events will not take place this year, the race has been changed to a Giant Slalom on Blackcomb, adjacent to the Snowboard-Cross and Halfpipe areas. Race Chairman, Mark Taylor says, "This year all three events take place on Blackcomb and we've changed the Super G to a GS race. Without the safety systems and snowmaking, which have in the past been in place for the men's alpine ski events, the logistics of running a snowboard Super G were not feasible. We're again offering a total purse of $120,000 and are expecting the whole Canadian National Snowboard Team to compete, as well as a strong field of pro and international riders."

Superpipe pushes riders to new heights A 'Superpipe' dragon will be used for the first time to groom the halfpipe on Blackcomb. One of only three such grooming machines in North America, the 'Superpipe' dragon means the World Cup pipe will be one of the biggest on the circuit. Built to the maximum of FIS specifications it will offer riders a smoother, bigger in-run, with an easier transition and landing. The walls will be 4 metres (13 feet) high - the maximum allowed on the circuit.