The most skilled snowboarders in the world are now in place at Baldface Lodge in Nelson, BC, Canada for the opening of the Red Bull Ultra Natural event window. For the next seven days, organizers will look for a single day with optimum conditions -- a mix of deep powder, good sunlight and snow safety -- to call the ultimate all-mountain snowboarding contest “on” and unleash the riders on an unparalleled snowboarding dream course.
For 2013, the course has been updated and enhanced, with a wider start area and more line options on Baldface’s 45-plus-degree slope known as “Scary Cherry.”
Travis Rice, winner of the event in 2012, has pointed out that the 2013 title is up for grabs in this completely unique event. "It's not really like going into a halfpipe contest or a slopestyle event where you have a pretty good idea who's going to be on the podium," he said. "Anyone can take it. It depends who's having their day.”
The Red Bull Ultra Natural Competitors
Judging by the amount of all-around snowboarding skill represented in the competitor list below, we’d have to agree with Travis -- it’s guaranteed to be a hell of a ride, but we won’t know the winner until the day is over.
| Travis Rice | Terje Håkonsen |
| Gigi Rüf | Mark McMorris |
| Nicolas Müller | Pat Moore |
| Lucas Debari | Mikey Rencz |
| Jake Blauvelt | Torstein Horgmo |
| David Carrier-Porcheron | Bode Merrill |
| Eero Niemela | Jussi Oksanen |
| Wolfgang Nyvelt | Bryan Fox |
Red Bull Ultra Natural By the Numbers
32,000: Number of acres on Baldface
9: Number of times Vail resort in Colorado would fit into Baldface
6: Number of times Whistler resort in British Columbia would fit into Baldface
80: Number of features on the Red Bull Ultra Natural course
10: Number of kickers on the Red Bull Ultra Natural course
6,750: Number of feet the lodge is above sea level
6: Number of cats the lodge has to transport riders to the mountain top
2: Number of helicopters available to transport people to the lodge
Red Bull Ultra Natural presented by Nike Snowboarding runs from February 15-21. It will air on NBC as part of the Red Bull Signature Series on March 30 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT.
Follow Red Bull on Twitter (#UltraNatural) for more updates.
EDITORS' CHOICE:
- Watch Travis Rice's winning run from the 2012 event
- Upgrading the 2012 course for Red Bull Ultra Natural
- Listen to 'The Art of FLIGHT' soundtrack right now
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