The Lost in Paradise FIS Para Snowboard World Cup and Festival is being held at Whitehorse’s Mount Sima until March 31. The Easter weekend sporting event is the final set of Para Snowboard World Cup races of the season.
The snowboarding competitions and celebrations are broken up into several different races and activities. A kick-off event was held at the Canada Games Centre on the evening of March 27, while the main festival, which involves para snowboarders racing down the banked slalom course, is being held March 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Among the shredders representing Canada in the Lost in Paradise para snowboarding banked slalom races are two-time paralympic medalist Tyler Turner (Beijing 2022) and X Games medalist Alex Massie, according to a press release from organizers.
Following the conclusion of the para snowboarding competition on March 29, awards will be handed out at the Winterlong After Party, which will begin at 4 p.m. at the mountain.
Beyond racing action, the main festival will also feature spectator activities and attractions such as a vendor area, beer garden, DJ performances and free hot dogs.
From March 29 to 30, Mount Sima will host the 2024 Snowboard Yukon Champs. This friendly competition is open to snowboarders of all ages and abilities and involves slopestyle, snowboard cross and banked slalom events.
According to the press release, Lost in Paradise is the first para snowboarding world cup held in the territory. However, the Yukon is not entirely new to hosting world cup events: In the 1980s, the Cross Country World Cup was held here.
Lost in Paradise came about through collaboration between Canada Snowboard, Mount Sima, Snowboard Yukon and Sport Yukon.