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NEWS
RELEASES - 2006 | 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATHLETES HAVE UNTIL MARCH
8 TO THROW NAME IN THE RUNNING FOR A SPOT IN THE
WHISTLER COMPETITIONS TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival’s
Canadian MVP will win inaugural Pontiac Peak Performer Award
and a hot new ride
WHISTLER, BC , February 23 2007 –
For 10 days in April, skiers & snowboarders will gather for
five competitions and the classic end to an incredible season
in Whistler.
Snowboarders and skiers will again join forces for the 2007 TELUS World Ski & Snowboard
Festival, with the Old Spice World Snowboarding Classic and
the World Skiing Invitational taking place simultaneously
April 12 - 21.
Over 150 riders and skiers will take on the Stompede, Rail Session,
Superpipe and TWO Big Air competitions throughout the festival week.
In addition to $100,000 in cash & prizes on the line, athletes will be
motivated to go big by the opportunity to win the inaugural Pontiac Peak Perfomer
Award and the keys to a brand new Pontiac G5 GT.
The Canadian skier or rider who out-spins, out-jumps and out-grinds their competitors
across four events and receives the most votes at the on-site Pontiac display
will receive the Peak Performer award and will squeal out of town in a slick,
black Pontiac G5 GT after the April 21 Big Air.
A newly introduced lottery format will give the opportunity for emerging athletes
to secure a spot in the World Skiing Invitational and Old Spice World Snowboarding
Classic competitions, so fresh contenders can mix it up with established pros
and previous champions.
Athlete Manager Lindsay O’Brien said, “Uniting pros and amateurs
through a mixture of invitational and open fields makes the festival an event
for all levels of riders. It provides an exciting opportunity for up & comers
to size up their skills against the pros and help to launch their competitive
careers and have a ton of fun in the process.”
Between now and March 8, athletes can go to www.whistler2007.com < http://www.whistler2007.com/ > to
request an invitation or enter the lottery. Confirmed competitor lists
will be announced on March 12.
Event Low-Down:
April 12-15 Stompede – With a mix of invitational and open
lottery spots, the new & improved STOMPEDE Arena will again be built at
the top of the Emerald Chair on Whistler Mountain and will consist of a terrain
park course with specially designed features and rails. Instead of running
the course in its’ entirety, each heat will session each feature together,
then move on to the next feature.
2006 Winners have received advance invitations to the competion. These include
skiers Mike Henitiuk, Riley Leboe, Taylor Felton, Kaya Turski and Michelle
Parker. Snowboarders include Craig Beaulieu, Brad Martin, Dennis Bannock,
Star Quinn and Charmaine Ironside.
April 13-14 Old Spice Big Air – The first of TWO
Big Air competitions will kick off on Saturday 14, showcasing 15 snowboarders
and 15 skiers in a 2 jump contest. The top 3 scoring skiers will advance
to a 5,7,9 and beyond super final, and join a charged field with 2006 ski
air winners Jon Olsson, TJ Schiller and Sammy Carlson and riders TJ
Schneider, Mike Page and Travis Williams.
April 18-21 Superpipe – Blackcomb’s Superpipe
will host 4 days of competitions, with Round One starting out with 85 snowboarders
and 95 skiers. Top skiers and riders will move on to the Semi Finals, then
Finals, where 2006 Superpipe Ski Champions Andreas Hatveit, Mike Riddle,
Justin Dorey, Marie Martinod and Sarah Burke, and Snowboard Superpipe Champions
Crispin Lipscomb, Takaharu Nakai, Taka Ishihara, Brad Martin, Soko Yamaoka
and Dominique Vallee will be waiting to take them on.
April 19 Rail Session Defending snowboarders Matt Dano and Molly Milligan
will fight off 10 male and 3 female invited challengers. On the ski side, Corey
Vanular and Kaya Turski will take on 10 male and 3 females in the one hour
action packed Rail Session.
April 21 Big Air – The Festival’s Grand Finale
invites a whole new field of riders to hit the jump, along with 2006 ski winners
Jon Olsson, TJ Schiller and Sammy Carlson and snowboard champs TJ Schneider,
Mike Page and Travis Williams. Skiers and riders will compete in the
5,7,9 and beyond Super Final with the top placer winning the much sought after
title of Big Air Champion.
The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is produced by Watermark
Communications, a Whistler sports & entertainment marketing company, and
presented in partnership with Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb. Founded
by W1’s Doug Perry twelve years ago, and now the largest annual winter
sports and music festival in North America, the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard
Festival is a high-octane 10 day and night showcase of the best of snowsports,
music, arts and mountain life. Featuring major professional ski and snowboarding
competitions, the largest free outdoor concert series in Canada, the legendary
Pro Photographer and Filmmaker Showdowns, and many more unique art and cultural
showcases, the Festival is the ultimate wrap party. For information on
the 2007 TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival , this year from April
13-22, visit whistler2007.com < http://www.whistler2006.com/ >
-30-
Lisa Richardson
Communications Manager
Tel: 604 938 3399 x21
Email: lrichardson@watermarkinc.ca
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