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World’s best Freestylers test out 2010 venue this weekend

Cypress Mountain Resort gets ready to host Canada Post Freestyle Grand Prix

 

Clare Ogilvie

 

The best freestyle skiers in the world are coming to Cypress Mountain this weekend.

More than 130 mogul and aerial athletes from 17 countries arrived this week and started training yesterday.

“This is really exciting,” said 2007 World Champion mogul skier Kristi Richards of the Canadian team.

  “All the teams are buzzing about getting onto these courses and when we were here in January for a training camp, we realized what awesome sites these are – the courses are tough but fair – it’s going to be a great competition.”

Said Canadian Freestyle Ski Association CEO Peter Judge: “We’ve received unprecedented corporate and funding partner support for this event, the Canadian team is having a strong year, and with the addition of some great off-course entertainment it’s going to be a fun time for everyone who comes up to watch.”

Conditions were definitely challenging earlier in the week with significant snowfall accumulation and strong winds.

But, said Cypress Mountain spokesman Kent Rideout, the courses were laid down before the weather hit and snow management teams were ready to go to keep the courses in top shape.

“We are just really excited,” he said.

  “This is the first time we have ever hosted a World Cup.”

World Cup action on Cypress will start with Opening Ceremonies at the Village in Park Royal at 4 p.m. Friday Feb. 8 th .

The show will include bands, street entertainment, a fire show, a parade of athletes and more. The mind-boggling trampoline feats of the Flying Canucks will also amaze during the Opening Ceremonies show.

Competition starts on Saturday morning with moguls qualification at 9 a.m. and finals at 1:15 p.m.

Sunday will feature the awe-inspiring aerials with qualifications at 9 a.m. and finals at 1:15 p.m.

FIS World Cup aerial champion Steve Omischl of Kelowna will also be competing.

Everyone is welcome and admission is free.