January 11, 2005

SNOWBOARDING SPIRIT TAKES OVER WHISTLER AS COMMUNITY PREPARES TO HOST THE WORLD

FIS 2005 Snowboard World Championships Presented by Nokia kick off with opening ceremony Saturday

 

After months of preparations, the world is arriving in Whistler this week for the FIS 2005 Snowboard World Championships presented by Nokia, and the community is celebrating the arrival of one of the biggest events to ever hit the world-famous resort town.

 

The local community will be well represented this Saturday when the event kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies with participation from British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, Whistler Mayor Hugh O'Reilly and participating local athletes, including Crispin Lipscomb, Neil Connolly, Justin Lamoureux, Maëlle Ricker, Mercedes Nicoll and Dan Raymond.

 

Also representing the local community will be over 1,000 volunteers who are contributing their time and talents to help make this Snowboard World Championships an international success.

 

Throughout the 10-day world championship event, Whistler Village will also be proudly decorated by artwork created by local students.  The young artists will have their work displayed on banners throughout the village after participating in a promotion through Arts Umbrella in Vancouver and the Whistler Arts Council.

 

"While we are proud to be welcoming the world to Whistler for the FIS 2005 Snowboard World Championships, we are also proud to be celebrating the community spirit that makes this province, and this country, great," said Mark Taylor, vice president of IMG Action Sports and President of the event organizing committee.  "There is no doubt that Whistler will make this Snowboard World Championships the best ever."

 

From January 15-23, Whistler will host the FIS 2005 Snowboard World Championships presented by Nokia, marking the first time the event will be held in North America in its 10-year history.   All of the World Championship snowboarding action will be free to spectators at Base II at Blackcomb Mountain.

 

On Saturday, the opening day of the event, Whistler Village will celebrate the arrival of the World Championships with an opening ceremony that captures the spirit of international excellence in sports as well as arts and culture.  Beginning with a special lantern parade through the village, with lanterns crafted by local students through a workshop with Whistler Arts Council, and led by live musicians and local athletic and community organizations, the international competing athletes will proceed to Base II where the event will officially be opened by FIS President Gian Franco Kasper.

 

Following the official opening ceremonies, the competition will kick off with the McDonald's Rail Session, a competition pitting Team Canada against a World Team in a fun, head-to-head format with $5,000 up for grabs!

 

The event will wrap up on Saturday, January 22 at 9:30 p.m. with a special concert performance from chart-rising Canadian Hip-Hop artist, k-os.

 

FIS 2005 Snowboard World Championships presented by Nokia

Event Schedule

 

Saturday, January 15         Opening Ceremonies featuring the McDonald's Rail Session

Sunday, January 16           Nissan Snowboard Cross

Tuesday, January 18          Parallel Giant Slalom

Wednesday, January 19      TELUS Parallel Slalom

Friday, January 21             The Province Big Air

Saturday, January 22         McDonald's Half Pipe and k-os Concert