From January 20th to 24th, the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup returns to Stoneham and Quebec. The capital of the Quebec province and the ski resort located in the close area with only 20 min with the car welcomes some hundreds riders to the season's next stop as competitions in all four disciplines take place.
While the snowboard cross athletes kick-off the snowboard days in Stoneham on January 20th (qualifiers) and 21st (finals) with the halfpipe cracks to follow on January 22nd and the race boarders to wrap things up in a parallel giant slalom on 24th, it's the big air show all eyes will be on as the season's first final will take place on 23rd.
Duel for season's first Crystal Globe
Main actors are two men from Europe. Current World Cup leader is close to his fourth ever Big Air World Cup title - his third consecutive one - by leading the pack with 3.800 points. The only one being able to beat him is Switzerland's hopeful Gian-Luca Cavigelli. The young talent currently sits in the runner-up position having earned 3.100 points so far.
So, to bring home another Crystal Globe, Gimpl , who has won three out of four big air contests so far, has to place at least eighth to earn the 320 points needed to secure the title if Cavigelli would win. However, it's a pretty likely possibility to see the Austrian veteran shine from the final podium again as he not only had placed on all four podiums this season so far but also won the big air in Quebec last season.
