Just a week after the Olympics ended in Vancouver, Russia’s snowboarding team, including 2010 Olympic silver medalist Yekaterina Ilyukhina, will compete in Moscow at the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup on March 6.
Some of the best snowboarders in the world, including men’s silver medalist in parallel giant slalom Benjamin Carl from Austria, will take part. Ilyukhina won the silver in women’s parallel giant slalom.
Russian female snowboarders are some of the strongest in the world and have won three of the six World Cup events this year.
For the first time in the history of the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup, the parallel slalom competition will take place on an artificial, outdoor ramp, said Pyotr Parkhitko, press manager for the Russian Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation.
The ramp has been constructed specially for the competition at Vorobyovy Gory, or “Sparrow Hills,” in southern Moscow. It is 60 meters high, 35 meters wide and provides a slope length of 200 meters. Made of steel, it weighs 1,300 tons.
Parallel slalom is one of the most grueling snowboarding events, with snowboarders racing side-by-side down two parallel courses. Parallel giant slalom was first introduced to the Olympics at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.
The LG FIS Snowboard World Cup 2010 will be held March 6 at 7 p.m. Moscow City Children’s Palace. 17 Ulitsa Kosygina. Metro Vorobyovy Gory. Tel. 939-8197. Entrance is free.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.