Where to Ski And Snowboard - Snowcross back at Glenshee

Snowcross back at Glenshee

24th February 2011, by Chris Gill

Last winter at Glenshee [(c) Scottish Snowports Snowcross]

The thrill of snowcross events comes to Scotland on 5 and 6 March, when the two-day Western Saab Challenge heads for Glenshee.

Over 100 skiers and snowboarders will race head to head in the Scottish Snowcross Championships, which returns to the resort for its second year. Organised by the Aberdeen Snowsports Club and sponsored by Saab, the action-packed event features opportunities for all ages to compete – including a children’s category for the 8-11 year-olds.

Anyone who has watched snowcross before will know how nail-biting and exciting it can be. The Glenshee course has been specially prepared and features man-made rollars, jumps, kickers and banked turns, all taken at high speed. The event is also delighted to have the support of two Olympians, Alain Baxter and Ben Kilner. Both of them will attend and award the prizes.

Three-times Olympian Baxter said: “Last year’s Championships were a great addition to the Scottish and British snow sports scene and it is fantastic to see such a prestigious sport coming to the UK. I can’t wait to see the action at Glenshee for myself.”

Local rider and Olympic Snowboard Super-pipe finalist in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Ben Kilner added: “Snowcross is a great event and I’m stoked that Aberdeen Snowsports Club have brought this to Glenshee where I learned to ride all those years ago! It’s really exciting for spectators and competitors alike, bringing together alpine and freestyle skiers and boarders in the same event.”

And by all accounts it looks set to be another success: the snow cover at Glenshee is pretty good right now, with all but one lift open. The teams have worked hard to shift the required snow for the course and the weather has been fairly settled – for a relatively high and somewhat exposed Scottish ski area.