Laax, December 3, 2020. The LAAX OPEN on January 19, 2021, marks the start of the World Cup circuit for freestyle snowboard pros in the slopestyle and halfpipe disciplines. It is the first international competition of the season, it is the pre-Olympic winter, and it is all about quota places, snowboarding at the highest level, and prestigious titles. In addition, the LAAX OPEN is considered the favorite contest of many riders.
So it's no surprise that the entry list features some big names who have already secured their place in the Hall of Fame in Laax with victories. Leading the way is a trio from Canada: Seb Toutant (2020), Max Parrot (2017), and Mark McMorris (2016). Stale Sandbech/NOR (2015), Chris Corning/USA (2019), Enni Rukajärvi/FIN (2010, 2017), and Julia Marino/USA (2020) are also on the slopestyle winners list, as is Jamie Anderson/USA, four-time OPEN winner (2008, 2011, 2012, 2016).
The action continues in the halfpipe with Scotty James/AUS (2019, 2020), Chase Josey/USA (2017), Arielle Gold/USA (2016), Jiayu Liu/CHN (2018) and Queralt Castellet/SPA (2020), who is currently training in LAAX.
The aforementioned athletes have won numerous Olympic medals and world championship titles. The same applies to challengers such as Yuto Totsuka/JPN and Anna Gasser/AUT. The next generation is also waiting in the wings, eager to get on the podium, including Annika Morgan/GER, Katie Ormerod/UK, Reira Iwabuchi/JPN, and Marcus Kleveland/NOR. Host country Switzerland has 25 riders in its line-up, including Pat Burgener, Jan Scherrer, Celia Petrig, and Moritz Thönen.
A total of 28 nations have submitted their entries. Over 200 snowboarders are expected to compete in the only FIS Snowboard World Cup in slopestyle and halfpipe on European soil. The LAAX OPEN will follow a COVID-19 protection measures concept developed by the experienced event team in LAAX in collaboration with Swiss-Ski, which will ensure a safe contest for the riders and everyone involved.
What OPEN has been offering in snowboarding for decades can also be seen in the latest clip. Immerse yourself for a minute witha flashback edit of the 2020edition.
If you want to watch the full 2020 slopestyle and halfpipe finals, visit the websites of LAAX OPEN partnerseurovisionsports.tvorredbull.tv.
About the LAAX OPEN
LAAX has been hosting world-class freestyle events for three decades and boasts a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion for the sport and its riders. The LAAX OPEN will take place for the sixth time from January 19 to 23, 2021. It is considered the snowboarding highlight of the year and guarantees snowboarding at its finest. This includes high-quality slopestyle and halfpipe contests for women and men, sanctioned by FIS and WSF, with prize money totaling CHF 150,000. Music, culture, and cuisine complement the LAAX freestyle lifestyle experience. Innovative and safe in times of COVID-19.
