VANOC Feestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Events at Cypress Mountain

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The top freestyle skiing and snowboard athletes competing for a podium finish will dazzle the crowds with their best Lincoln loops, spread eagles, alley oops and 720 Airs at Cypress Mountain starting next week.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will be making efforts to help the venue operator accommodate spectator interest as much as possible given the venue's limited capacity; however VANOC will not be testing transportation and spectator services due to the operational differences at Games-time.

VANOC, with a staff and volunteer workforce of over 700 (136 staff, 582 volunteers, 72 contractors and eight RCMP flag bearers), will begin testing its operational readiness during the Sport Events at Cypress Mountain, which will serve as a venue for these competitions at the upcoming Games, just over a year away.

The freestyle skiing Sport Event, starting Thursday, February 5 and running until Saturday, February 7, will showcase three freestyle disciplines "aerials, moguls and ski cross. Approximately 300 athletes from 28 countries will be participating. The discipline of ski cross, with its mass start that sees skiers jostle for position down a steep, tight, winding course filled with jumps, rollers and tabletops, will have its Olympic debut at Cypress Mountain in 2010.

The snowboard Sport Event scheduled for February 12 to February 15 will feature approximately 320 athletes from 20 countries competing in the half-pipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross competitions.

The next two weeks will be critical for all our functions conducting operational testing for snowboarding and freestyle events at Cypress." said Tim Gayda, the VANOC vice president, sport. "Sport Events provide us with an invaluable opportunity to learn how we all jell together as a team under Games-time-like pressure on the mountain."

Testing by VANOC at the freestyle and snowboard venue will include field-of-play testing, including timelines for building and designing the courses for competition, as well as grooming and maintenance. Transportation, cable management, tenting, power and lighting will also be put to the test. Technology, anti-doping and medical services will be tested in a consistent manner with other recent Sport Events where VANOC tested its operational readiness. Both Sport Events will also mirror some of the Games-time Competition Schedules with aerials and moguls qualifying rounds and finals held in the evening, and snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom held in the late afternoon.

Important Information for Spectators

In order to address public interest in attending the upcoming Sport Events at Cypress Mountain, the District of West Vancouver will be offering a spectator shuttle service to and from the venue, departing from the northeast side of Park Royal Shopping Center in West Vancouver.

"We've learned from recent Sport Events in Whistler that the interest from the public to attend these events is extremely high," Gayda added. "We'll be working collaboratively with Cypress Mountain and the District of West Vancouver to provide an exceptional field of play for athletes while respecting the normal business operations of the resort and maintaining a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all skiers and spectators on the mountain."

Beginning Sunday, February 1, limited tickets to the freestyle skiing and snowboard Sport Events (whose cost is based solely on the included spectator shuttle service) can be purchased for $10 per person at the West Vancouver Aquatic Center. During the events, the shuttle will run until capacity is reached at the venue. During the Sport Events, anyone with a valid Cypress Mountain season pass or ski lift ticket will have complimentary event access.

Limited spectator tickets available as of February 1.