Take to the Air
Challenge yourself to master the sport of boardercross.
First one down the mountain wins!
Boardercross snowboard racing is a combination of roller derby and motocross (closed-course racing over natural or rough terrain). The rules are easy: First one down the mountain wins.
In most snowboarding competitions, the rider is against the clock, but in boardercross, four to six riders race each other. Along the way, they are faced with various obstacles: hairy hills, hairpin turns and hair-raising jumps. Some body contact is allowed, but everyone respects each other on the slope.
One of the best places to learn the ropes of boardercross is in the Aspen/Snowmass area, where snowboarder Chris Klug lives, plays and—when not competing—teaches.
“The Aspen/Snowmass snowboard schools are a great way to get comfortable with a variety of conditions you will see with boardercross, so they are very helpful,” Klug says. “For boardercross, you need to be a very versatile rider. The sport merges all mountain riding with freestyle, and you see all sorts of conditions. You need to be able to handle whatever the mountain throws at you, from carving powder to negotiating jumps to very high speeds.”
And it’s not just the kids who are jumping into the boardercross craze.
“I have taught classes with 12-year-olds and classes with 60-year-olds,” Klug says. “This is a sport that crosses all barriers and is exciting for everyone.”
But the most important thing to know, according to Klug? “You must be comfortable in the air.”
THE 12TH ANNUAL WINTER X GAMES (JAN. 24-27) features athletes from across the globe participating in ski, snowboard and snowmobile competitions. This is the premier winter action sports event in the world—so why not see it live? The event will remain in Aspen/Snowmass through Winter X Games 14 in 2010, so you have a few years to make the trip. Our advice? Go now.
www.expn.com
On the slopes, experience is key, so why not invest in snowboard school?
Beaver Creek Resort (www.beavercreek.snow.com) has schools for every level, which can teach the nuances of becoming the flexible rider that boardercross demands. Kids’ programs are divided by age and ability, and adults can take private or group lessons. The teachers at the Vail Snowsports School (www.vail.snow.com) can help the hesitant rider gain confidence to conquer any type of terrain. Choose from private, semi-private or group classes, as well as special programs for kids and teens. Chris Klug hosts Snowboard Camp 2008 (www.chrisklug.com/camp.html) at Buttermilk Mountain March 28-30. Designed for intermediate to expert riders ages 10 and older, the camp promises to take your riding to the next level.
