OARDERCROSS(R) - The Formula-One Of Snowboarding

(INTERNET WIRE) -- 10/17/00 -- BOARDERCROSS(R), the tour event of the Motorola ISF World Championship Tour, is not only the newest of all snowboard disciplines, but probably also the most spectacular one. A racy run, spectacular jumps in combination with risky overtaking manoeuvres.

The riders have to prepare themselves for an approximately 800 m long obstacle course containing steep turns, water jumps, tunnels, mogul piste sections and jumps.

Per run six riders compete against each other. Besides speed and stamina, the obstacles and jumps demand extreme skilfulness and physical control from the riders.

As the competition is carried out in a knock out system, and only the first three reach the next run, the course has to be completed fast and perfect and the rider also has to use good tactics.

Therefore the BOARDERCROSS(R) makes the most different demands on the riders, exactly that is the reason why it became the "royal discipline" of snowboarding: It combines and demands the skills of freestylers and alpine racers equally. It is no wonder that here gather besides a number of all-round talents also experts from all areas of snowboarding.

Corresponding to the variety of the challengers and the different preferences, the equipment of the riders also differs. The BOARDERCROSS(R) is the only contest where riders with hardboots compete against riders with softboots. A long time ago the industry reacted to the extreme demands and risky manoeuvres: All riders are equipped besides high-tech boards with purpose-built helmets and protections.

The BOARDERCROSS(R) has already its stars: Philippe Conte (France), Catherine Poetzl (AUT) and Katharina Himmler (GER) are some of the riders, who have been especially successful by now and are also expected like the winners of the last years competition, Xavier Delerue (FRA) and Line Oestvold (NOR).

Since 1994 the ISF has organised the BOARDERCROSS(R) Tour. The competitions, which have their origin in the USA, are held in the meantime in Europe, America and Japan. Due to the increasing popularity, the ISF changed the participation rules at the beginning of the season 2000/2001. Whereas BOARDERCROSS(R) has been open for everyone in the past, now only the best of the world rankings can participate, after having qualified in national races.