JOI athletes and schedule

For those that havnt seen it, got this off freeskier:

The worlds top big air athletes has arrived in Åre for the third and last edition of the Jon Olsson Invitational. The line up is more impressive than ever with some 30 skiers from 10 different countries.


Friday night´s Nations cup will add a new element to this years competition. The skiers will try to collect points for their respective countries by performing jumps in teams of two, side by side. For the main attraction, the JOI-finals on saturday night at 7 pm, a crowd of thousands is expected to the Olympia slope in Åre.

Jon Olsson on the first training session at monday night:
- I could feel some anxiety among the riders when we were about to hit the jump for the very first time. The size of the gap and the proportions of the whole jump is a little frightening before you get used to it. The first session turned out great, however. We had a beautiful evening with clear skies and the shape of the jump feels perfect. All the riders are stoked, we will push the boundaries for big air skiing the next couple of days, says Olsson.

The finalized starting field...

1. Jon Olsson, SWE
2. Jacob Wester, SWE
3. Oscar Scherlin, SWE
4. Niklas Karlström, SWE
5. Jim Johanson, SWE
6. Andreas Håtveit, NOR
7. Tomas Dölplads, NOR
8. PK Hunder, NOR
9. Espen Linnerud, NOR
10. Simon Dumont, USA

11. Sammy Carlson, USA
12. Colby West, USA
13. Peter Olenik, USA
14. Michael Olinek, USA
15. Ahmet Dadali, USA
16. Tom Wallisch, USA
17. A-J Kempainen, FIN
18. Kalle Leinonen, FIN
19. Shoya Okazaki, JAP
20. Shinji Osada, JAP

21. Phil Casabon, CAN
22. TJ Schiller, CAN
23. Josh Bibby, CAN
24. Patrick Hollaus, AUT
25. Martin Misof, AUT
26. Fabio Studer, AUT
27. Richard Permin, FRA
28. Aurelien Fornier, FRA
29. Byron Wells, NZ
30. Russ Henshaw, AUS

31. Jossi Wells, NZ
32. Grete Eliassen, NOR

The finalized Event Scedule

Thursday March 29th
09.00-11.00 and 15.00-18.00 Press Office, Tott Hotell
15.00-16.00 Press conference, Tott Hotell
18.00-20.00 Session at Olympia finish arena
22.00-02.00 Party at Werséns with Red Bull Music Academy

Friday March 30th
09.00-12.00 Press Office, Tott Hotell and 17.00-20.00 Olympia finish arena.
16.00-17.00 Meet the riders at the Telia shop
19.00-21.00 Oakley Nations Cup at Olympia finish arena - FREE ENTRANCE
22.00-02.00 Red Bull party at Bygget with Timbuktu, Joel Mull, Cari Lekebuch

Saturday March 31st
16.00-17.00 Postersigning with all riders at townsquare
17.00-21.00 Press Office, Olympia finish arena.
19.00-21.00 Jon Olsson Invitational finals at Olympia finish arena - FREE ENTRANCE
22.00-02.00 JOI and Red Bull final party with Million Stylez

Media
A press conference will be held at the Tott Hotell in Åre, Thursday March 29:th at 3pm. Present skiers will be Jon Olsson (SWE), TJ Schiller (CAN), Simon Dumont (USA), PK Hunder (NOR) and Oscar Scherlin (SWE). To register for the press event, press images and accreditation for the JOI 2007 please contact Lina Myhr, lina@playground.se or by phone +46 (0) 704645702.

For information about SkiStar, please contact:
Linda Wasell, press contact, SkiStar Åre, ph: +46 (0) 703956271
E-mail: linda.wasell@skistar.com