June 16, 2022. Vancouver, B.C. – Returning to Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario in January 2023 will see the Alpine TKO, North America’s premiere FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup. Fast paced and action packed, the head-to-head knockout format is simple for spectators to enjoy. Two start, first to cross the line progresses to the next round until only one rider stands alone atop the podium with the prestigious Alpine TKO Championship belt held high. 

Blue Mountain Resort and the surrounding community is the home of Alpine snowboarding in Ontario, who have hosted highly successful past World Cup events on a mountain with terrain perfectly suited to this Snowboard discipline. From the village the whole course is clearly visible. Spectators line the course, rooftops, bars, and restaurants with the course finishing in the village square surrounded by supporters, family, and friends. 

‘Blue Mountain is very excited to see the Snowboard World Cup series return in January! We have a rich history of hosting world cup events here at Blue, and after two years of restricted travel welcoming elite athletes from all over the World is certainly extra special. We can’t wait to watch these athletes raise their country flag, wax up their boards, put their game face on and go fast to take the gold.’ – Blue Mountain Resort Management 

“The future of our National Team is drastically improved by hosting World Cups in Canada. The grand share of the FIS Alpine World Cup Tour is Europe based which reduces the exposure level for the discipline here in Canada. Hosting our own World Cup is vital to inspire the youth and provide home turf support opportunities for family and friends. The last Alpine TKO World Cup in Blue Mountain that took place just as COVID set in across Canada has been one of the most talked about events on the tour since. The perfectly prepared race pitch, the course location, the army of volunteers supporting the event matched with phenomenal conditions has made the last event almost legendary. We thank Ontario Snowboard as our hosting partner for the event as their backyard and community has delivered in the past and undoubtedly will again.” –Dustin Heise, CEO Canada Snowboard 

Coming off the success at the Olympics and the Junior World Championships the Canadian Alpine scene is strong moving into the 2022 / 2023 World Cup Series. In April this year, Ben Heldman, Canada’s top junior took the title of Junior World Champion in both Alpine disciplines in Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy. This year’s Alpine TKO will be his chance to step things up on the World Cup Tour. 

‘I am so excited to come back and compete in Canada this season! In 2020 when I had my first World Cup start in Blue Mountain I had so many positive experiences racing at home, especially being able to have my family and friends there to share that experience was surreal. The first Alpine snow TKO was so fun and I can’t wait to show the crowd our speed when it returns this season!’  – Ben Heldman, Alpine Snowboarder

Megan Farrell comes off the Beijing Olympics as Canada’s highest performing rider and is trending upwards with repeat strong performances on the world stage. 

‘I am very excited to compete at home once again! Growing up, I was inspired watching the best Alpine athletes compete at the World Cup in Quebec. As a team, we have been working very hard and the results are finally being shown on paper. I can’t wait to bring that excitement back to Canada and show off what Team Canada can accomplish.The first Alpine Snow TKO Event was a great success. Perfect snow and weather conditions, amazing hard-working volunteers, and the best cheerleaders at the bottom. I can’t wait to experience that home event energy once again. Competing at home is exhilarating. The feeling at the top of the racecourse, knowing that your family and friends are cheering at the bottom… it gives you the extra edge. The extra encouragement when you need it the most. Having the small comforts of home, I think will do great things for our team!”

Canada Snowboard partners with snowboarding’s Provincial and Territorial Snowboard Associations with its major events. Ontario Snowboard is a highly valued and experienced partner with World Cups having hosted many World Cups in multiple snowboarding disciplines. 

“Ontario Snowboard and I are excited for the return of the FIS Alpine Snow TKO World Cup snowboard races to be hosted at Blue Mountain Resort, Town of the Blue Mountains ” said Rod Frost, Chairman of Ontario Snowboard. Hosting World Cup races provides our Ontario athletes with an incredible opportunity to race against the best athletes from around the world on their home soil. It will be a fantastic event for spectators and supporters to come out to watch and cheer for all the athletes live on snow” 

A big thank you goes out to our funding partners at Sport Canada and the Government of Ontario. 

Further details including detailed schedules, and additional festival elements will be announced over the summer and into the fall.

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