RIGA - To say the least, it has been a dismal year for snowboarders. What little snow came throughout the season was inevitably followed by piste wrecking rain.
Inars Birmanis, a Latvian snowboard instructor from the Riga Snowboard School, has not let the bad weather discourage him. Instead, he helped organize a grand competition, cleverly dubbed "Snowboarders without borders," where the best snowboarders from Latvia and Estonia will be able to strut their stuff at the border town of Valga/Valka.
Not that the Baltics are particularly well known for snowboarding. The three countries are notoriously flat. The biggest hill in Latvia, Gaizinkalns, is only 312 meters high. Estonia is not much better with Big Egg Mountain rising a mere 318 meters above sea level.
This does not mean, however, that there aren't any good snowboarders in the countries. It is not necessary to have a big mountain in order to build a big jump 's Baltic snowboarders are able to compete with some of the best in Europe when it comes to big air and other "trick park" acrobatics.
"Snowboarders without borders" will be the last great hurrah of the Baltic snowboard season. An Estonian and a Latvian team will go head to head in a jam session format where riders do as many good tricks as they can in a set amount of time. Judges will then determine which riders did the best and which country wins the competition.
Riders will be able to choose between two different kinds of slides for their tricks, a rail slide on a round and a box slide on a flat one. The slides were built specifically for the event.
The two six person teams were chosen in qualifying events earlier this year. The Latvian team will be led by Stas Korotkovs and the Estonian team by Juss Apivala 's two of the best snowboarders that the country has to offer. The winner will be awarded prizes from event sponsors Burton and Red Bull.
Event organizers pray that there will be enough snow, but if mother nature fails to come through artificial snow will be brought in from the nearby Estonian Otepaa ski resort.
"Snowboarders without borders" will be as much of a big party as it will be a snowboard competition. Snowboard shows and flying snow will mix with live music and good food to make the event something special.
The event is meant to symbolize more than just the end of the season. It will also be a celebration of the Schengen border agreement and all of the freedom and unity which goes with it. The twin towns of Valga and Valka were chosen to host the event 's the town was divided down the middle until the start of this year.
"Last year Latvia and Estonia entered into the "Schengen" countries league and lost their physical borders. Two cities - Valka and Valga 's for many years were border towns and now they have lost their boarders also. Snowboard-ing is a sport without borders and this event will contain these aspects," Birmanis told The Baltic Times.
"Snowboarders without borders" will give spectators and a few lucky riders the chance to get a little closure to a dreadful winter while celebrating the open borders which came with it.
Snowboarders without borders
Riga and Raja streets border point
Valga/Valka
April 5, 13:00.
