The 7th FIS Snowboard World Championships is set to go in the Swiss resort Arosa from January 13 to 20th. Participants from forty seven nations, the latest Lativa and Romania, have confirmed their intentions to compete, the list of which includes five reigning World Champions from the last event in 2005, ready to defend their titles

The Snowboard World Championships will begin with a launch party in Arosa’s Post Square. Commenting on the challenging weather conditions in the Alps until recently, Organising Committee Thomas Gurzeler said, “Execution of WCS is not at risk. We will hold the event in pouring rain if it’s necessary. I’m getting less and less nervous.”

Among the many exciting competitors special focus will be on Jasey Jay Anderson from Canada and Finnish Antti Autti. The “Canadian Rocket” Anderson grabbed Gold in 2005 in the Parallel Slalom and Parallel Giant Slalom in his home country. Autti was also a double world champion due to his victories in the Halfpipe and in the Big Air in Whistler.

In addition, Americans Lindsey Jacobellis and Seth Wescott will try to repeat their Gold medals in the Snowboard Cross. Both proved in 2006 at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino that the titles were no flashes in the pan: Wescott took home the first ever Olympic SBX title, Jacobellis grabbed Silver. Manuela Riegler from Austria, who won the 2005 Parallel Giant Slalom, will start, too.