Ricker, Maltais headline snowboard cross roster

Olympic champion Maelle Ricker and World Cup leader Dominque Maltais will headline the Canadian snowboard cross roster at the upcoming world championships.

Francois Boivin of Jonquiere, Que., and Tom Velisek of Squamish, B.C., Kevin Hill of Vernon, B.C., and Dan Csokonay of Calgary were also named to the roster Tuesday by Snowboard Canada.

The 2011 FIS snowboard world championships will be held Jan. 14-22 event in La Molina, Spain.

Maltais, of Petite-Riviere St-Francois, Que., has won three races this season and leads the World Cup snowboard cross standings.

"It's been an exceptional start to the 2011 season," Maltais said in a release. "I feel in the greatest shape of my career, as focused as ever on winning. Both Maelle and I are riding strong, and we intend to deliver our best performances at the worlds."

Boivin and Ricker, of Squamish, B.C., were the last Canadians to reach the snowboard cross podium at the world championships.