Bad Gastein ready for another historical event

Over the next two days, Bad Gastein (AUT) becomes once again the focus of attention; not only of the snowboard world but the international winter sport scene.

Having hosted 53 World Cup races since 2001, this true classic of the alpine snowboard World Cup tour is having the honour to celebrate a special jubilee together with the OESV family.

The World Cup stop which features both, a parallel slalom and team parallel slalom event, on January 10 and 11, 2017, marks the 150th FIS World Cup in history staged in the Salzburg countryside.

In order to celebrate this anniversary, Olympic champion Olga Pall (AUT), winner of the first ever FIS World Cup race in Bad Gastein, which was staged on Graukogel Mountain back on January 17, 1968, will be at site together with Kathrin Gutensohn (AUT), another highly decorated former ski racer.

Deep field to battle for the win in this parallel classic
In addition, the world's best raceboarders are ready for their second of four stops in the race for the PSL Crystal Globe. Besides last year's winners Ekaterina Tudegesheva (RUS) and Radoslav Yankov (BUL), the main focus will be on some well-known faces who have underlined their strength this season already with some podium finishes.

In the women's event World Cup leader Ester Ledecka (CZE) will have to fight off a strong Austrian team consisting of Ina Meschik, Daniela Ulbing, Julia Dujmovits (who will decide on a start on short notice after having undergone surgery at her left ring finger) and Sabine Schoeffmann who are ranking second to fifth in the alpine snowboard overall World Cup ranking.

In the men's event, Andrey Sobolev (RUS), Roland Fischnaller (ITA) and local hero Benjamin Karl (AUT) are the main favourites for another shot on the top-3.

Event schedule
Qualifications for the single event staged in the direct Knock-Out format are slated to take place Tuesday, January 10 at 2 PM CET with the finals taking place under the lights at 6:45 PM CET.

The parallel slalom team event is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11 at 1:30 PM CET.

TV Times
ORFeins as well as Eurosport 2 and eurosportplayer.com are broadcasting both finals live.