Updates from the Snowboard Cross Sub-Committee online meeting

A busy week of online meetings came to a close on Thursday with the congregation of the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski Committee at the 2021 FIS Spring Meetings. Originally scheduled to take place in Portoroz (SLO), this year’s gathering was moved to the virtual realm for some obvious reasons, and while we once again missed being able to see our snowsport family in person, each one of the subcommittees and advisory groups that met over the course of these past few days resulted in some productive sessions. While few major decisions were agreed upon as we head into an Olympic season, the wheels were put in motion for various potential refinements for most events ahead of the 2022/23 competition year. 

Read on for some of the main highlights and decisions from this spring’s meeting… 

Snowboard-Cross sub-committee meeting

• 2020/21 was an exceptionally difficult one for the snowboard cross World Cup, with late snowfall in Europe, critical financial situations at some of potential host resorts, and travel restrictions due to the pandemic all challenging the realization of the initially planned World Cup calendar.
   
• Additionally, the cancellation of events in the Southern Hemisphere and the cancellation of the World Champs in Zhangjiakou (CHN) brought more challenges on the table ahead of the season. 
   
• Fortunately, some events were able to return to the calendar while also, promisingly, two new venues were introduced to the FIS Snowboard Cross calendar in this challenging season – Reiteralm (AUT) and Bakuriani (GEO). The season was in the end saved with 6 individual races of exceptional quality taking place, thanks to the great team work of the National Ski Associations, the athletes and teams and a strong will to succeed amongst the ski cross circuit. 
   
• The Bakuriani event in Georgia was a test event for the 2023 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships, and it went in the books as a thorough success, receiving special mention during the snowboard cross sub-committee meeting and a thanks to the organisers who put in a tremendous effort to make the event happen.
   
• It was reported that no sanctions were made throughout the entire season and that the riding of the athletes was very clean and very strong. Also, the gap in speed from the top man versus top woman is getting smaller, which proves a development into the right direction for the quality of racing. It was noted that the perception of the athletes’ speed differs between the viewers, organizers and athletes, and is really related to a cumulation of things, like safety measures, spill zones and proportional size of features.
   
• The Junior World Championships in Krasnoyarsk (RUS) could be carried out as planned despite the difficulties of the pandemic situation. The OC organised all of the FS/SB/FK events in one venue, in two weeks with big success. Besides the traditional single cross events, the team events were also able to take place.
   
• A letter of intent to organise the Junior World Championships 2022 Cross and Alpine Snowboard in Valmalenco ITA was sent to the FIS race management. This application has still to be confirmed by the FIS Council.
   
• The FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup provisional calendar looks promising for the upcoming season including the major event of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022. Official confirmation of the calendar is set to be made by the FIS Council on June 4th. 
   
• It is all eyes on the upcoming Olympic winter season, and there’s a planned test-event there in China coming up early next season. Preparations are looking very good for the Games, and snowboard cross is primed to once again be a highlight competition. 40% of the medals given out during the Olympic Winter Games are going to athletes of FIS disciplines and we can’t wait to see who will be the big winners.