The North FaceŽ Masters Big Mountain Snowboarding Competition Arrives at Alyeska, Alaska
Epic snow conditions and $45,000 tour prize purse attract snowboarders from around the globe to Alaska for the final stop on the only big mountain snowboarding tour in North America
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — March 26, 2008 —The final stop of The North Face Masters competitive big mountain snowboarding tour arrives at the famed Alyeska Resort in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains April 2-6, 2008. The two-stop tour is the first competitive snowboarding series specifically tailored to fill a competition gap in the sport of big mountain snowboarding. After a sold-out first stop at Snowbird, Utah, where nearly 100 male and female riders proved big mountain snowboarding is thriving, tour organizers, athletes, sponsors, and media look forward to the next progression of big mountain riding in Alaska. Complete, same-day coverage of The North Face Masters Alyeska competition will be broadcast on www.thenorthface.com/masters.
World-class big mountain snowboarders, including The North FaceŽ Masters Snowbird winners Clif Dimon and Susan Mol, both from Crested Butte, Colorado, will meet the challenges of Alyeska’s infamous Headwall for the three days of competition. E ach day’s chosen section of the Headwall will get progressively steeper and longer, spanning from 1,200 to 1,800 vertical feet, with the finals venue accessed via helicopter courtesy of Chugach Powder Guides.
Big mountain snowboarding is a test of a snowboarder’s creativity, athleticism and ability to push their personal limits. A spectator-friendly sport, big mountain snowboarding includes the successful management of huge cliff jumps, tight chutes, steep powder stashes, and variable snow and weather conditions.
“Our terrain offerings for the event should truly meet the definition of big mountain freeriding – with more than 700 inches of snowfall this season we will be able to offer dozens of high angle ramps, super steep couloirs and really huge Alaskan faces which will allow the snowboard competitors to showcase their full arsenal of talents,” said Rich Eidem, Ski Area General Manager of Alyeska Resort.
"Alaska is the epitome of big mountain snowboarding and a perfect venue for the championship of The North Face Masters," said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face. "I look forward to watching the live webcast to see what the competitors will bring to the big mountain arena at Alyeska."
The North Face Masters Snowbird winners Dimon and Mol, rode away from the podium with not only a sizeable chunk of the tour’s $45,000 cash purse, but with airfare, lodging, and entry to compete in The North Face Masters finals at Alyeska Resort. Rallying in support of competitive big mountain snowboarding, The North Face also awarded winners of The Nissan Mammoth Quest with the same Alyeska Resort bonus package. Complete, same-day coverage of The North Face Masters Alyeska competition will be broadcast on www.thenorthface.com/masters throughout the event April 4-6, 2008.
Online registration will remain open until March 31, after which the few remaining spots will be filled at Alyeska on-site registration on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please visit www.thenorthface.com/masters to register, view photos and videos, check out T he North FaceŽ Masters athlete bios, and more.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE NORTH FACE MASTERS SPONSORS
Contacts:
Nicole Pelletier // MSI
nicolep@mtsports.com801.349.4606
Pamela Bennett // The North Face
pam_bennett@vfc.com510.618.3654
About The North FaceŽ
The The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.
About MSI
Mountain Sports International (MSI) is a private company, founded in 1997, to develop and produce action/adventure sports events and programming in North America. MSI owns and produces the U.S. Freeskiing Series, the U.S. Freeskiing Open, and the Freeskiing World Tour, in addition to several other properties and concepts.
MSI provides event management services for Burton, Salomon, and Red Bull and has provided infrastructure and expertise for the NBC Gravity Games and ESPN Action Sports Projects, including the Tony Hawk Gigantic Skatepark Tour. MSI specializes in matching clients with events for brand penetration into target demographics, developing product identification and loyalty. MSI matches brand and culture, company and credibility to create sought-after events that help to define the action sports culture.
