FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBARU U.S. EXTREME FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE LONGEST RUNNING
BIG MOUNTAIN FREESKIING EVENT, RETURNS TO CRESTED BUTTE, CO, FEBRUARY
17-22, 2009
Watch live coverage of the final and superfinal rounds on www.freeskiingworldtour.com
Junior freeskiers granted a rare opportunity to compete alongside their
ski heroes, as the competition includes a category for athletes age
12-17
Crested Butte, Colorado, February 10, 2009—For the 18th
consecutive year, competitive freeskiing’s elite will gather at the
Subaru US Extreme Freeskiing Championships, February 17-22. The first
official stop on the 2009 Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) roster, athletes
are poised to battle for one of the most coveted titles in the sport of
freeskiing. And with a snowpack that continues to accumulate, Crested
Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) is more than ready to host the world’s
best freeskiers.
“We’ve received close to five inches of fresh in the past 24 hours and
there’s more on the way,” said CBMR Communications Director Todd
Walton, yesterday. “This year’s snowfall is over 210 inches and the
snowpack is in stellar condition for the event. Crested Butte is set to
have one heck of a competition on some beautiful snow.”
The first resort in the United States to initiate an extreme freeskiing
contest, CBMR has the longest running event of this kind and host’s
male, female, junior, and master’s competitors. With $20,000 being
awarded to top finishers and prizes from a litany of sponsors, the
“Extremes,” as it is known in freeskiing circles, is one of the most
prestigious events on the 2009 FWT. Some of the best known freeskiers
in the world—athletes such as Kim Reichhelm, Kristin Ulmer, Dave
“Swany” Swanwick, Seth Morrison, Brant Moles, Shane McConkey, Noel
Lyons, Alison Gannett, Wendy Fisher and Aaron Estrada—all entered past
competitions as unknowns or up-and-comers and distinguished themselves
by taking top honors in the U.S. Extremes.
This year's stacked field of competitors includes Telluride Freeskiing
World Tour Qualifier winner Mark Welgos, Scott McBrayer, Kent Hyden,
Rob LaPier, Lars Chickering-Ayers, Andy Sabatier, Josh Daiek, Arne
Backstrom, Chuck Mumford, Chris Tatsuno, Tyson Buldoc, Jacqui Edgerly,
Andria Huskinson, Jaclyn Paaso, Crystal-Rose Lee, and the 2008 overall
US Freeskiing Series winner Crystal Wright.
“To come out on top at Crested Butte is every freeskier’s goal,” said
Mark Welgos. “The level of competition is being raised at each event.
With a win already under my belt, I'm going into the Extremes with the
confidence I need to contend with the stacked field of athletes.
Crested Butte is where it all started and with the level of competition
being at the highest it’s ever been, the stage is set for the ultimate
freeskiing battle.”
Junior freeskiers will be granted a rare opportunity to compete
alongside their ski heroes, as the competition includes a category for
athletes age 12-17. The Junior Extremes are a part of the Junior
Freeskiing Tour. The FWT main event is 18 and over and there is a
master’s category for those 40 years and up.
Subaru US Extreme Freeskiing Championships
Event Schedule (subject to change)
Tuesday, Feb 17 Registration
9:00am – 3:00pm Registration Open Capital Room
4:00pm – 4:45pm JR/Master Athlete Meeting Peaks Ballroom
Wednesday, Feb 18 Junior/Masters Day 1
8:00am – 3:00pm Registration Open Capital Room
9:00am – 3:00pm Media Check In Capital Room
9:15am – 11:15am JR Day 1 Run Start
11:30am – 12:15pm Masters Day 1 Run Start
4:30pm – 5:15pm Athlete Meeting Peaks Ballroom
Thursday, Feb 19 Junior/Masters Finals & FWT Qualifier
8:00am – 3:00pm Registration Open Capital Room
9:00am – 3:00pm Media Check In Capital Room
9:00am – 12:30pm FWT Qualifier Start
12:30pm – 2:00pm JR Day 2 Final Start
2:00pm – 3:30pm Masters Day 2 Final Start
4:30pm – 5:00pm JR/Masters Awards
5:00pm – 5:30pm FWT Athlete Meeting Peaks Ballroom
Friday, Feb 20 FWT Day 1
9:00am – 3:00pm Media Check In Capital Room
9:00am – 2:30pm FWT Day 1 Start
4:30pm – 5:00pm FWT Athlete Meeting Peaks Ballroom
Saturday, Feb 21 FWT Finals & Super Finals
9:00am – 11:00am Media Check in Capital Room
9:00am – 1:00pm FWT Day 2 Start
2:00pm – 3:00pm FWT Super Final
4:00pm FWT Awards
9:00pm Event Wrap Party LoBar (downtown)
Sunday, Feb 22 Weather Day
The four days of competition will take skiers to the natural hazards
and solitude of the Extreme Limits where a field of over 160
competitors will charge down super-technical steeps with pitches from
39-45 degrees, ultimately determining the 2009 Subaru U.S. Extreme
Freeskiing Champion.
2009 Freeskiing World Tour Schedule of Events
Subaru Telluride Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier, Telluride, Colorado. February 5-8, 2009
Subaru US Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte, Colorado. February 17-22, 2009
Subaru US Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird, Utah. March 10-15, 2009
Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships, Kirkwood, California. March 19-23, 2009
Subaru Freeskiing World Championships, Alyeska, Alaska. April 8-12, 2009
Mountain Sports International will be satellite broadcasting LIVE from
Crested Butte beginning on Friday. Live coverage of the best freeskiing
in the world can be viewed from the comfort of your desk chair. MSI’s
content creation team will also be producing and posting same-day world
class photography on its newly redesigned website,
www.freeskiingworldtour.com and media partners www.powder.com and
www.skipressworld.com
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Subaru of America
The North Face
Corona
Powder Magazine
Emergen-C
Ski Press Magazine
Sports Insurance
Grabber
V.I.O.
Beyond Coastal
IFSA
Special thanks to our resort partners:
Telluride Ski and Summer Resort
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Alyeska Resort
For more information log onto
www.freeskiingworldtour.com
MEDIA INQUIRES AND FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Cara Williams
Media, PR & Communications Manager
Mountain Sports International
office: 801.349.4608
cara@mtsports.com
Justine Chellel
Marketing & Sales Coordinator
Mountain Sports International
office: 801.349.4606
jchellel@mtsports.com
REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND ATHLETE INQUIRIES CONTACT
Sara Pinsoneault
Athlete Communications & Registration Manager
Mountain Sports International
office: 801.349.4650
sarap@mtsports.com
