Afriski set for Quiksnow SA National Snowboard Champs

All the action will be taking place at the resort's Kapoko Park which is situated alongside the main 900-metre-long run. Awards will be given out to the top places in the Mens, Ladies and Junior Slopestyle divisions as well as Freestyle Skiing. Slopestyle is the youngest and most popular of the snowboarding disciplines and has evolved into a competitive event for freestyle snowboarders. Slopestyle sees athletes performing tricks in the air as well as on rails and boxes. Unlike racing, there is no clock, competitors are awarded points for style and difficulty of their run by a group of judges.

A line-up featuring popular competitors and performers

Favourites include Marcin Jeckot (Durban) and Luke Dutton (Durban). Dutton will be competing in the Mens and Junior Slopestlye divisions and will be a force to be reckoned with after spending time training abroad in Europe. Other top riders to keep an eye on are Matt Amoretti, Robbie Alunni and Dean Van Gruenen all from Johannesburg. A new edition for 2013 is the Nixon WTA (Winner Take All) watch. The watch is valued at R11,000 and will be awarded to the rider that blows minds with his or her riding, does something out of the ordinary and does not necessarily make a podium placing.

Apart from the riding and competing, the nightlife at this year's event is sure to keep fans and riders alike rocking until all hours of the morning. Durban-based band City Bowl Mizers will be heading for the snow for one big performance; they also have ambitions of taking to the slopes during the day. "We're very excited about being asked to play at Quiksnow this year, we've heard it's a rad atmosphere up there so it should be good. A few of us surf regularly so we're amped to try our hand at snowboarding," said Steve Jones, drummer for the band. Another act to feature at Quiksnow this year is Afrikaans rapper Jack Parrow. Parrow released his second album "Eksie Ou" in 2011 which reached gold status within four months. The highlight of the album was the very popular "Hosh Tokolosh" with Gazelle which was the first Afrikaans song in the station's history to reach Number one on 5FM's Top 40. He is sure to bring some colour and entertainment to the event this year.

The Quiksnow SA National Snowboard Champs are proudly sponsored by Quiksilver and are hosted by Afriski in association with SnowSports SA, the winter sports federation responsible for competitive snowboarding in SA. Other sponsors include Red Bull, Skullcandy and Nixon.

For more information, go to www.afriski.net.