The FIS Para Snowboard World Cup is returning to the United States for the first time since 2017, with a set of snowboard cross races scheduled at Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado, from 25th to 27th February. The event, organized in collaboration with Steamboat Ski Resort and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, will feature two World Cup races, alongside three NorAm Cup races and the U.S. Para Snowboard Championships.
This addition to the calendar comes as a result of earlier World Cup cancellations in Europe, ensuring a complete schedule for the snowboard cross season. The event marks a significant opportunity for U.S. athletes to compete at the World Cup level on home snow for the first time in years.
"We’re thrilled to welcome the FIS Para Snowboard World Cup back to the United States for the first time in nearly a decade,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Hosting this event at Steamboat Ski Resort not only highlights the incredible talent of our Para snowboard athletes but also underscores our commitment to growing the sport and creating more opportunities for fans to experience the excitement of World Cup competition on home snow.”
“Steamboat has a long history of supporting world class athletes and competitions, so it’s only fitting to have the Para Snowboard World Cup’s return to the states be in Steamboat,” said Dave Hunter, president and CEO of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “The way this community rallies around athletes, I know the competitors will feel how magical it is to compete in Steamboat.”
For many athletes, including two-time Paralympic medalist and 2024 Crystal Globe winner Noah Elliott, this competition is especially meaningful.
The Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team has continued to excel in the 2024-25 season, building on their success from the previous year, which included winning both Nations Cups and six individual Crystal Globes. The team recently recorded four podium finishes at the season-opening World Cup in Landgraaf, Netherlands, and will now turn their focus to the snowboard cross events in Pyhä, Finland, on 18th and 19th February.
The upcoming event in Steamboat reflects ongoing efforts to expand the reach of Para snowboarding and provide more opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level. It also serves as an ideal introduction to North American snow ahead of the season’s pinnacle event: the FIS Para Snowboard World Championships at Big White (CAN).
