After two years in the making, now it’s official! FIS freestyle skiing competition is coming to Québec City, with big air and slopestyle World Cup events now added to the lineup for the Jamboree presented by Vidéotron Mobile from February 9–12, 2017.

And since good things come in pairs, the organizers are pleased to confirm that also snowboard slopestyle is returning to Stoneham Mountain Resort for this year’s event. “

This is the 18th year we’ve hosted FIS snowboard events in Quebec City, and this year we have eight World Cup competitions on the lineup,” said Patrice Drouin, President of Gestev.

“We’ve worked hard for this and are very proud to add these events to the festival program.”

For High Performance Program Director at Canadian Freestyle Ski Association David Mirota, this is a major boost for the sport development in the country.

“It is great to have freestyle disciplines added to the Jamboree this year. As a World Cup host country in Slopestyle and Big Air, we will have more athletes from the next generation taking part in the event. This will be a great opportunity for them to measure up to the best international athletes in their sport. “ 

Homegrown athletes confirmed

Last year’s winner of the snowboard big air event, local athlete Maxence Parrot, has already confirmed he’ll be back in Quebec City to defend his title.

Parrot, who finished fifth in the slopestyle event at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, will also be heading to Stoneham for this early 2017 event to prove he still has what it takes to go big on a slopestyle course. He’ll be up against some strong competition this year with fellow Quebecer Sébastien Toutant - the 2011 big air winner in Quebec - having confirmed he will be lining up again.

Another homegrown athlete, big air champion at the 2016 X Games and the last World Cup event in Boston Vincent Gagnier will also be in Québec City to go for another win.

And in Stoneham, Quebecer Kim Lamarre who took bronze at Sochi in the slopestyle event will also one to watch out for.

All in all, some 200 athletes from no less than 20 countries are expected to descend onQuebec City next February.

Program shaping up

It’s going to be another action-packed program as the Jamboree pursues its quest to stay ahead of the game as Quebec City’s ultimate winter sports fest.

Bringing the action back to Stoneham and spicing things up with some freestyle skiing the event promises spectators a long weekend full of steez and excitment.

Full details of the program will be revealed within the next few months.

Source: fis-ski.com