Have you ever wanted to race your snowboard buddies down a roller coaster on snow? The Snowboard and Ski cross course is a four man wide racetrack with jumps, banks, gates and turns. As the starter fires the gun the four competitors pull out of metal gates and launch down a weaving, park style race course. Each racer wears full body armor as this is defiantly a contact sport and crashes are frequent. Blackcomb Mountain hosts a series of these races for both skier and snowboarders; The Whistler Ski & Snowboard Cross, a series of two day competitions at WhistlerBlackcomb Nintendo Terrain Park Snowcross Course is kicking off in January 2012. The competitions are open to ALL ages and registration fills up fast, plus there are awards to be won so get involved! If you’re not here in January, don’t stress as they are on again for two days in February & March 2012.

This event is rising in popularity and received huge coverage from world wide media during the Winter Olympics hosted here in 2010. British Columbia has been developing a team for the past five years and won gold in 2010 when Ashleigh McIvor took first place in the women’s final. This local athlete became an overnight sensation and was one of the faces of the 2010 Olympic games. Between events the course is open to the public and you can pull out from the start and race down solo or against your buddy, as you fly down try and picture the crowds, cow bells and fanfare the athletes face on race day. The course is located next to the Blackcomb terrain park and helmets are mandatory.