SBX World Cup continues in Europe

With the season's opener in Argentina already dating back more than three months, it's finally time for the snowboard cross stars to strap in again and to compete in back-to-back races as the World Cup tour returns to Europe with stops in Val Thorens and Montafon this week.

While the Austrian resort has been on the calendar for a while now, Val Thorens will celebrate a remarkable first slated to take place tomorrow and on Wednesday.

But the last couple of days haven't been providing what riders and Local OC had been hoping for as heavy snowfall and freak weather gave course builders some hard times on the mountain to adjust the track from ski cross to boarderX.

On top of this, loads of new snow and wind forced Race Organisers to call off today's training therefore mixing up the programme a little bit.

The last forecast however predicted the storm to push through the valley until tomorrow leaving a decent window to run both, training and qualification on Tuesday (DEC 12) with the finals still slated to take place on Wednesday (DEC 13) at 12:30 PM CET - live on several TV stations, check for an update on live times here.

If the new schedule works out, Val Thorens, already no stranger stop to the Snowboard Europa Cup and Ski Cross World Cup circuit, will finally end a long waiting time as the event on the slope named after local ski superstar Jean Frederic Chapuis will be the first in France since 16 years!

Back on November 2017, Tignes was the last French resort to welcome the SBX World Cup tour.

If everything goes according to the plan, the world's best can celebrate some fine back-to-back racing within less than a week with Montafon being already in shape for this weekend and set to run and individual race on Saturday (DEC 16) at 12:30 PM CET and one team event on Sunday (DEC 17) at 11:30 AM CET.

But before it's time for the Austrian resort to keep on writing its impressive story of hosting SBX events which showcase the true beauty of the sport, all eyes will be on France and local favourite Pierre Vaultier.

The reigning Olympic and World Champion had a decent start into the season finishing seventh and fourth in Cerro Catedral last September and is willing to make it on the podium in his home soil race.

But the 30-year-old from Saint Chaffrey has some strong competition to face as the men's field is as deep as always with at least ten to twenty riders being able to dominate the course.

However, Vaultier's strongest rival will once again be Alex Pullin with whom he has already had several close fights around the world. And as the Australian descends on France with the momentum of back-to-back wins in Argentina, the main question will be if Pullin is able to extend his winning streak.

In the women's field, the hosting nation has arguably the strongest roster with 2014 Olympic Bronze medallist and winner of the World Cup opener Chloe Trespeuch leading the squad which also features Nelly Moenne Loccoz, Charlotte Bankes as well as Manon Petit Lenoir.

However, Sochi Gold medallist Eva Samkova (CZE), US superstar and five-time World Champion Lindsey Jacobellis as well as Michela Moioli (ITA) will give the French girls some hard times blasting down the Val Thorens course for sure.