He was joined by Pierre Karl Péladeau, President of Québecor, who will present the World Cup, to announce the course that will welcome snowboarders from across the world next year.

Halfpipe, snowboard cross, parallel giant slalom, slopestyle, big air and parallel slalom competitors will all be in action here and in Stoneham from January 16 to 27.

Over 75,000 people are expected to visit the event, and Kasper said: "It is two firsts for the province of Québec: the first senior FIS World Championships in any discipline and a first FIS Cross Country World Cup in the heart of any city in America."

Skiers from around 25 countries will be racing around the course (pictured above, behind Canadian cross country skier Alex Harvey, and below), which is 800 metres long and not far from the Parliament of Québec.

"It will be a great opportunity for the public to watch the cross country ski racing up close and to encourage our Canadian world and Olympic champion athletes," says Cross Country Canada President Jim McCarthy.


The last World Cup took place in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Patrice Drouin, the President of GESTEV, the event management company putting on the World Cup, said: "I found the format very interesting and so we decided to take another look at the Québec City course and to work on a new vision as a group.

"It promises to be even more spectacular for the public."

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