The FIS World Cup tour is coming to Ontario January 19-20 with the Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix at Blue Mountain...

It is part of the FIS Freestyle World Cup  just weeks before the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Canadian ski racers, such as Ashleigh McIvor, the 2009 FIS World Champion in ski cross and Stanley Hayer, the 2009 Winter X-Games winner and multiple World Cup medalist, will be racing in front of a home crowd for the first time ever at Blue Mountain.

Cam Bailey, President of Canada Ski Cross, will officially name its 2010 Olympic Team shortly following the Rockstar FIS World Cup Ski Cross event.

“Our goal is to showcase ski cross as the coolest winter Olympic sport in Canada,” Bailey said. “Having the sport’s Olympic debut at home presents a tremendous opportunity for us to ignite a passion for ski cross in the hearts of all Canadians.”

“This is where it starts for us; winning medals at this venue is an extremely powerful tool for us to give the sport the credibility it needs to build a solid foundation from which to develop the next generation of athletes, and engage future partners for the sport.”

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association has also just received a six-month, $124,200 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which is an agency of the Government of Ontario.  The funding from the grant is being used to help with the hosting of the event with regard to promotion, training for volunteers, community school programs, course building expenses and other equipment costs.

“The world’s best are coming to compete in the Blue Mountains and that’s great news for our area,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson.  “This will be an exciting event and I’m pleased that the province was able to support this initiative.”

Blue Mountain, a long-time supporter of snowsports events, is ready to host the world for the event. “Blue Mountain Resort is extremely proud to be host to the FIS Freestyle World Cup.  The whole resort is buzzing with anticipation over introducing our area to the world,” said Paul Pinchbeck, Director of Marketing, Blue Mountain Resort.

The official training and qualifying will be completed on Jan. 19, 2010 with the heats, semi-finals and finals on Jan. 20, 2010.

Photo credit: Ski Cross Canada