Snowboard Update from Portoroz

The FIS Calendar Conference featured the first meeting of the newly created Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski Committee, which was attended by more than 120 participants including a significant number of Organising Committees and other stakeholders.

Under the revised structure, the four new Sub-Committees for Park and Pipe, Cross, Moguls and Aerials, Snowboard Alpine, as well as Youth & Children’s Questions also met.

In addition to harmonising the established rules and regulations, discussions focused on staging more Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard events together.

In particular, the World Cups will see approximately half of the events in halfpipe, slopestyle and big air held together.

In general, the snowboard calendar provides an interesting mix of classic event locations and brand new venues such as a number of new city events including big air events in Bern (SUI) and Copenhagen (DEN)and Beijing (CHN), as well as a snowboard cross sprint event in Moscow (RUS).

Other new locations include Secret Garden (CHN) where a halfpipe event will be staged. The venue will host the 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships and will host events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, too.

The FIS World Cup Big Air Super Series will continue in the upcoming season following its successful debuts last winter. Meanwhile, a Cross Alps Tour for Snowboard will start next season, sharing some of the venues with ski cross.

In total, 31 resorts in 17 different countries will host 92 World Cup competitions.

**Exposure
**The Committee evaluated reports from the television distribution and the different communication platforms showing significant increases.

As a new feature, the Behind the Scenes video series was introduced last season featuring clips across the various Freestyle, Freeski and Snowboard events, which were warmly received and tagged as a favourite among fans and athletes.

**Strategic Direction
**The strategic direction of the Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski Committee will continue to have a heavy focus on further increasing the appeal and exposure of the various events while respecting their unique cultures and histories.