Skiing's world governing body decided not to hold the event after athletes and coaches complained that the course was too dangerous and too difficult.

FIS and Korea Ski Association officials held an emergency meeting with coaches last night after competitors claimed the course as too steep with too many turns, event spokesman Ma Seung-woo said.

"Ski officials and competitors decided to halt the planned snowboard cross because the athletes' safety is the top priority," he said.

He said the competitors expressed concerns about injuries, calling it an "unprecedented" example of athletes and coaches asking to halt a competition.

Yongpyong Resort has held many leading events including the Winter Asian Games in 1999 and is due to be part of a visit next week from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission.

Canadian team coach and former snowboard cross champion Drew Neilson blamed the FIS for the situation, rather than the local organisers, who he praised for their preparations and the facilities they had provided.

"The turns were very tight, on a very steep pitch," he said.

"With the speed involved, if there was an accident, there would be nowhere for anyone to go.

"What we do is dangerous.

"It's a dangerous sport.

"We all came to the agreement that we wouldn't compete to show FIS that they have to do a better job in preparing for the event.

"They made a mistake."

In collision-prone snowboard cross, competitors race down a narrow course navigating steeps, sharp turns and jumps.

The snowboard cross, the fourth event of the season, will be rescheduled at another venue.

A parallel slalom event will go on as planned Wednesday (February 9), Ma claimed.

Among those affected by the cancellation was Britain's Zoe Gillings, who had had to pay her own way to the event after her funding was cut.

"We have come halfway across the world to compete," said the Isle of Man competitor, who had finished eighth in last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"It's very frustrating.

"I have been training out here, trying to make the most of a bad situation."

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