While a number of riders have made the trip to Italy for the World Cup stage, which sees action start tomorrow, the overall leader Max Parrot of Canada is still competing in the United States at the X Games in Aspen.

Parrot currently has 2,800 points at the top of the men’s rankings, but he can expect his advantage to be cut.

Belgium’s Seppe Smits and Finland’s Roope Tonteri are best placed to mount an assault on Parrot’s overall lead.

Smits has 2,060 points, with the 2011 world champion being closely followed by Finland’s Roope Tonteri, who has 1,928.

Reigning world champion Ryan Stassel of the United States is among the other star names who are set to be in action alongside Sweden’s Mans Hedberg, Switzerland’s Moritz Thoenen and the British duo of Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls.

Several of the top women’s competitors will be competing at the X Games, leaving the door open for a number of other snowboarders to top the podium.

Among those looking to take advantage include the Czech Republic’s Sarka Pancochova, the Netherlands’ Cheryl Maas and Lucile Lefevre of France.

Lia-Mara Boesch, Sina Candrian, Isabel Derungs and Carla Somaini will be the Swiss representatives in the event, along with reigning big air world champion Elena Koenz.

While it will be the first World Cup to be held at the venue, previously Seiser Alm has held Europa Cup and Junior World Championship competitions.

Action at the Italian resort will continue until Friday (January 27).