Paltinis Arena to host first skiing and snowboarding competition on wet grass

The first skiing and snowboarding competition on wet grass will be held on 7 November at the Paltinis resort. Participation will be free for enthusiasts aged at least 16 who have an intermediate or advanced level of ability, the organisers announced in a press release on Wednesday.

Called 'SKI gone WILD,' the event will take place on Slope A ahead of the opening of the winter season. Those without suitable equipment for sliding on wet grass will be able to borrow skis or snowboards free of charge from the organisers.

The competition will follow a knockout format, with two competitors starting simultaneously in separate lanes. The first to cross the finish line will qualify for the next round, with pairings determined by the times recorded in the qualifying round.

The contests will take place in four categories: men's skiing, women's skiing, men's snowboarding and women's snowboarding. They will continue until the small final and the grand final have been completed.

The winners in each category will receive a ski pass for the winter season, while those finishing second and third will be awarded cards worth 200 and 100 points respectively.

Registration will open at 11:00 at ApresSki Paltinis Arena. The technical briefing is scheduled for 13:00, followed by a training run, a qualifying run and the knockout races. The programme will also include an awards ceremony and a party at ApresSki Bar, scheduled to begin at 17:00.

Wearing a ski or snowboard helmet will be compulsory throughout the event. According to the rules announced by the organisers, starting before the start signal, entering an opponent's lane or deliberately making contact with another competitor will result in disqualification.