Tabor Mountain Ski Resort has passed with flying colours as the host site for snowboarding for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
The seal of approval comes after the ski hill east of Prince George hosted the B.C. Snowboard Federation's Like Me Snowboard Series tour stop last weekend.
Saturday's slopestyle competition was the first B.C. Snowboard provincial series sanctioned slopestyle event held in northern B.C., while Sunday's snowboard cross event was the second sanctioned competition in northern B.C.
Both events will be front and centre at the 2015 Games a year from now.
"It was an awesome weekend," said Tracey Green, the test event chair for snowboarding for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
"Every kid who came down across the finish line today [Sunday] had a smile on their face. That's the best thing about snowboarding."
Sunday's snowboard cross event featured a field of 50 athletes in several open age group classes as well as Masters and Federation Internationale Ski classes. It was contested on the eastern slopes of Tabor Mountain as riders raced each other in several heats down a narrow course with banked turns and jumps, covering steep and flat terrain.
Saturday's slopestyle contest involved 24 athletes sliding length-wise over obstacles such as boxes and metal rails on a downhill course that leads to a series of jumps on the newly constructed terrain park. The riders were judged on their ability to execute tricks.
"Everything went off without a hitch," Green said. "Registration, running each of the heats, and getting the results went really smooth. We have a set-up and take-down plan in place.
"Tabor Mountain staff were excellent to work with, the track [course], the athletes, the people were amazing."
The snowboard cross course is a permanent track made from dirt. All that'll be needed for 2015 is snow. A start and finish hut will also have to be built.
What's needed the most?
More volunteers.
While the weekend was pulled off with about 30 volunteers, 100 more will be required for the 2015 Games.
"Snowboarding is a relatively new sport," Green said. "The parents are learning on the job too and they're helping out."
Teresa Ellison, the officials representative for snowboarding for the 2015 Games, said the majority of volunteers will be needed to work as race officials from the start line to the finish line.
"They must have a passion for snowboarding and the mountain," she said. "And they want to be part of a team, who are willing to learn and do the grunt work."
Once the volunteers register, they'll be trained and learn the ropes of the sport and officiating it.
"We want everyone to have fun and enjoy their time."
For information on how to volunteer, visit http://www.canadagames2015.ca/volunteers
