The 2001 World Snowboarding Championship will return to Whistler in April as part of the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival.
"Last year’s World Snowboarding Championship at Whistler Resort exceeded all expectations," says John Textor, CEO of Sims Sports. Tom Sims, one of the originators of snowboarding, started the World Snowboarding Championship in 1983 to increase the legitimacy of the sport in its early years.
"Where else but in Whistler could you find such awesome terrain, world-class halfpipes and parks, incredible snow conditions, plus 20,000 fans watching the Big Air competition. As a result, we’ve made the decision to award Whistler with the 2001 event," said Textor.
The invitational event, which includes slopestyle, superpipe, and big air disciplines, will feature some of the top riders in the world. Athletes are chosen based on their world rankings from the season’s global competitive circuit. Results from all FIS and ISF competitions will be assessed, plus results from such high profile competitions as the Air & Style in Austria, the U.S. Open, the Vans Triple Crown, the X-Games, and the U.S. Grand Prix.
This year the event has secured a six-hour television deal with ESPN, and will attract more than 200 journalists from around the globe.
"It’s a huge honour to host such a high-calibre event," says organizer Doug Perry, managing director of Resort Communications Group. "It’s also a great opportunity for Whistler to gain major international media exposure, and to show the world what we can do here."
The World Snowboarding Championship is scheduled for April 19-22, and will feature the largest prize purse in the history of snowboarding.
