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Snowboarding in the EYOWF 2011 Competition Programme
| Categories |
Races |
| Boys |
Snowboardcross |
Parallel giant slalom |
| Girls |
Snowboardcross |
Parallel giant slalom |
Detailed Snowboarding programme here.
For Invitation and Official Programme of Snowboarding click here.
ABOUT THIS SPORT
Snowboard is a modern winter sport which originated in North America in the 1970s. It was essentially created by introducing a surfboard onto snow. The original name was consequently snurfing (a compound of snow and surf). A snufr board included a rope which helped control the direction.
The first World Championships in snurfing was held in Michigan in 1979. It was attended by Jake Burton, on an improved board, he made himself, with fixed boot holders. It was one of the key moments for renaming the discipline to snowboarding, and for the development of a new equipment style. Since the 1990s, snowboarding has become a fashionable sport, massively developing, particularly among the younger generation.
The original conditions for snowboarding were not particularly supportive; many downhill courses banned snowboard riding. At present, however, the majority of large resorts attract snowboarders to their slopes, offering special snow parks with U ramps, a variety of different levels of jumps, or snowboard cross courses. In Nagano in 1998, snowboarding became a new Olympic sport.
Nevertheless, its rapid development over the 1990s was accompanied by strong diplomatic division. The International Snowboard Federation, founded in 1991, began with close cooperation with the International Ski Federation (FIS); it became a part, in the same fashion as the national snowboard organisations entered the national ski federations. This institutionalisation was viewed in a negative manner by many athletes and functionaries, who emphasised the freestyle disciplines. They eventually created their own association, the World Snowboard Federation. Simultaneously, the Czech Snowboard Association was founded in the Czech Republic. The snowboard movement was thus divided into two groups.
This duality lasted for approximately 12 years. Around 2005, however, due to pressure from manufacturers, sponsors, and both international and national institutions, both organisations initiated a gradual process of convergence. In many countries, united federations have been created; or as in the Czech Republic, organisational roles have been established. The institutions under the FIS are chiefly focused on the organisation of top competitions and representation. Their independent partners are in charge of the development of snow parks, base extension, referee training, and the development of those freestyle disciplines which are not included in the Olympic Games (slopestyle or big air).
Snowboarding disciplines are divided into so-called Alpine disciplines, judging the speed and using the so-called plate binding; and freestyle disciplines using the strap-in binding, which focuses on the technique of tricks performed.
| Interesting numbers |
| 4x |
Snowboarding has been included in the Olympic programme, for the first time in 1998 |
| 5% |
Only this small percentage of American ski runs allowed snowboarding in the year 1985 (95% in the year 2006) |
Disciplines of snowboarding
Giant slalom
Giant slalom was only introduced to the Olympics once, in Nagano in 1998. It is an individual race consisting of two competition rounds. The competitors descend the course as fast as possible passing through the gates. The competitor with the best total time wins. At the Olympics in 2002, the giant slalom was replaced by the more popular parallel giant slalom.
Snowboard cross
Snowboard cross is a demanding and high-contact discipline. The competitors have to descend a technically demanding course full of turns, jumps, and other obstacles in the shortest time possible. This discipline became an Olympic sport in Turin in 2006. The most frequently used system of racing is the following: the qualification consists of two rounds; each competitor starts individually, the better of the two times is recorded for progression. The 32 best competitors enter the final. The final rides are very dramatic and high-contact: four competitors start at once; the fastest two proceed into the next round.
Half pipe
Half pipe is the only freestyle discipline which was included in the Olympic programme in Nagano in 1998. Particularly due to the individual difficult elements, it is often called the royal freestyle discipline. The course is in the shape of the letter U, its sides are 5 meters long. The competitors perform various demanding tricks and jumps, including somersaults and multiple turns. Each trick is assessed according to various factors: height, execution of the trick, difficulty, landing, etc. Freestyle is primarily a lifestyle for many of its fans. This is well illustrated by the approach of the greatest snowboard legend Terje Håkonsen from Norway, who refused to participate in the Olympic Games in 1998, despite being the best world rider at that time. He stated that competition is not the meaning of snowboarding.
Big Air
This is an attractive discipline where the competitors perform unbelievable tricks on a man-made snow jump. During their jumps, they may get as high as over 10 meters, flying through the air into distances around 30 or 40 meters. The judges assess the difficulty, height, ad performance of the jump, as well as the smooth landing. The competitor with the highest score is the winner.
This is a free ride discipline focusing on trick technique and performance. One by one, the contestants descend the slope, going through jumps and obstacles, while adding their own tricks. Five judges assess the complexity and precision of their jumps and tricks, awarding them with points from 0 to 10. The main judge checks and adjusts the assessment of the individual judges, which is then added up. The contestants attempt to demonstrate as many of the most difficult tricks as possible, employing a perfect technique. They lose points due to bad performance, falls, or interruptions. When jumping, they can reach a height of several meters. One of the formats used for racing is the following: the race contains two qualifications; the better result is taken for advancement into the final, where the best 15 snowboarders compete. The final also consists of two rounds. The final position is counted from the better of the two final rounds.
Parallel giant slalom
Two identical courses are built in the parallel slalom (red and blue). Competitors descend the course and must, in similar fashion as with the classic slalom, go through the gates built of poles. The most common format for the parallel race is the following: the race begins with a qualification round, selecting the 16 fastest snowboarders from each course. In the second round, the 32 best competitors from the first round compete; the second round takes place on a course different from the one they used for the first round. The 16 snowboarders, with the best total in both qualification times, proceed into the final. They start in pairs, each of them going through both the red and blue course. The competitor with the best time proceeds into the next round. The winner is the one who has better time totals in the last two rides than his or her opponent.
Parallel slalom
Parallel slalom is not an Olympic sport. It is only included in the World Championships and World Cups. It is similar to the giant slalom; the race takes place on a shorter course, with a shorter distance between the individual gates.
ABOUT THE VENUE - SNOW PARK REJDICE
The snowboard competition will be held in the furthest centre from Liberec – in the Snow Park Rejdice.
At present, Rejdice is one of the most sought out winter resorts for snowboarders. The venue is east of Liberec, approximately 30 kilometres distance. Depending on the weather, one can reach it within 45 - 60 minutes.
The venue features one chairlift able to transport 950 people per hour, a lift, and a children's lift used by the ski school. The ski slopes, which are covered with artificial snow, are almost one kilometre long.
Although the ski venue Rejdice is a small centre, it is nevertheless very modern. It uses, for example, a contactless validation system. The mountain rescue has its office directly at the venue at the upper stop of the chairlift.
 There are three catering facilities, the same number of car parks, one of which, with a capacity for 180 cars and 6 buses, is located directly next to the venue. The other two lie about 300 m away and can hold over 100 cars.
The snow park contains a snowboardcross track and other ramps. The most interesting is undoubtedly the 10 m high “big air”, one of the largest in the Czech Republic.
Competitions held here:
European Cup Snowboardcross 2009 and 2010
Snowboardcross Championship of the Czech Republic 2010
Games of the IV. Olympic Days for Children and Youth of the Czech Republic
Horsefeathers Jibmasters 2004
National Championships
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