VANOC wraps up operational testing at Cypress Mountain Snowboard Sport Event
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Vancouver, BC - Today, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) completed day three of its field of play testing at World Cup snowboard competition at Cypress Mountain. Despite successful snowboard cross and half-pipe competitions over the past two days, the local organizing committee together with the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) has cancelled tomorrow's (Sunday, February 15th) event -- the men's and ladies' Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) -- due to unsuitable competition terrain resulting from a combination of factors including mild weather and limited time to prepare the course both in advance of the event and in between the last two events. Spectators with $10 tickets for tomorrow's event can return to the West Vancouver Aquatic Center for a full refund.
"We're pleased to have been able to stage three highly successful days of full competition, and feedback from all participants on the field of play has been positive." said Tim Gayda, VANOC vice president, sport. "Our hill prep crews have been working 24/7 to ensure a successful week of training and competition -- our hats are off to them for an outstanding job. Cancelling the PGS is due to a few factors, including that we had limited time in advance of the event to prepare the terrain, and a shorter conversion time than at Games-time to alter the terrain from snowboard cross to PGS. This, combined with mild weather has resulted in a field of play with snow that is simply too soft to sustain a World Cup PGS competition tomorrow. This will not happen next year for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games as we'll be on the mountain much sooner with significantly more time to prepare the competition hills and we will have twice as much time between these two events to convert the course. On behalf of everyone who worked on this event, we share the disappointment of the athletes who were ready to showcase their sport and the spectators who were looking forward to attending."
"Vancouver has been a spectacular host to the snowboard athletes for the past several days and we are fully satisfied with this venue for the 2010 Winter Games." said Marcel Looze, snowboard race director with FIS. "While it's always disappointing to cancel an event, it's the right decision in these unique circumstances and we look forward to seeing everyone at the PGS snowboard competition at Cypress Mountain in 2010."
Testing for VANOC at Cypress Mountain over the last two weeks of two separate sport events -- freestyle and snowboard -- included timelines for building and designing, as well as grooming and maintenance of the competition courses. The key learnings at the end of the two weeks of competitions include confirmation of the need for early access to the competition terrain allowing adequate time to create a stronger base that can be maintained in the event of mild weather conditions.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
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Media Contacts
Mary Fraser
VANOC Communications
778-231-5739
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com