Koenz and Tonteri descend on Spain to defend big air title

A big, deep and strong field will be lining up in the biggest resort of the Iberian peninsula to go for Gold, Silver and Bronze in the big air contest of the Sierra Nevada 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships the next couple of days.

Riders will wrap up things for the snowboarders at the world champs on Thursday (qualifiers) and Friday (finals) with Elena Koenz (SUI) and Roope Tonteri (FIN) ready to defend their title.

But as several athletes have jumped the plane to travel from the European X Games to Sierra Nevada which haven't been on the original inscription list, things haven't gotten easier for the 2015 champs to keep hold to their titles.

In the women's field, the dominating woman of the last big air season, Anna Gasser (AUT), might be the strongest call for a podium finish while Enni Rukajarvi (FIN), Cheryl Maas (NED), Klaudia Medlova (SVK), Silje Norendal (NOR) or Spencer O'Brien (CAN) have also defined the level of riding since the the big air women event has become a world championships discipline two years ago.

Over in the men's event, watch out for spinning wonder Marcus Kleveland (NOR), 2017 slopestyle world champion Seppe Smits (BEL), Billy Morgan (GBR), Vlad Khadarin (RUS), Sven Thorgren (SWE), Staale Sandbech (NOR) or Darcy Sharpe (CAN) going big on the jump which has been replacing the aerial take off in order to provide a great set-up for a massive showdown under the lights end of this week.