Subaru Freeskiing World Tour
Canadian Freeskiing Championships a huge success! 27 athletes heli-dropped into summit of Mt. Mackenzie for Finals
Sunday January 10, 2010, Revelstoke, BC: After a morning of tensely watching clouds roll across the summit of Mt. Mackenzie, the sky opened up long enough for competitors in the Canadian Freeskiing World Tour at Revelstoke Mountain Resort to be transported by helicopter into the upper landing zone for the Finals of the second stop of the 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour.
In front of a cheering crowd, athletes from around the world charged down the steep mountain face of the summit of Mac Face, pushing themselves to the limit. Competitors dropped into 50 degree chutes, skimmed over rocky outcrops and launched huge air with finesse and style.
Seven women and twenty-seven men vied for the Canadian Championships title, with Jess McMillan of Jackson Hole, WY taking the women’s crown and Arne Backstrom from Lake Tahoe, CA taking the men’s.
If you missed today’s live online HD broadcast, watch all the event highlights on www.freeskiingworldtour.com.
Background
Revelstoke Mountain Resort is thrilled to announce a three year commitment to host the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. The first event kicks off January 6-10, 2010.
"Revelstoke has been globally recognized for decades for its welcoming community, huge snowfall in the Selkirk and Monashee Ranges and its big mountain terrain. Now with the evolution of RMR that offers the highest lift- serviced vertical in North America, 515,000 acres of heli and cat accessed terrain, we are further poised internationally to be the mountain adventure capital of the world," states Rod Kessler, VP and COO of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. "We are ecstatic to be hosting the Canadian Championships as part of the Freeskiing World Tour for the next three years and feel this is a significant opportunity for both Revelstoke Mountain Resort and our community. Holding this event in Revelstoke underscores our presence in the global ski industry and is recognition by the freeskiing community RMR is one of the most sought-after resort destinations world- wide. This is not just a resort event, this is a Revelstoke event. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and support from our community and of course the sponsorship commitment from the Revelstoke Accommodation Association."
The Revelstoke Accommodation Association (RAA) is the first major sponsor to come on board for the new event series and is lending financial and in-kind support.
"The hotel sector in Revelstoke saw tremendous value in coming on as a major sponsor of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour at Revelstoke Mountain Resort," enthuses Fred Beruschi, Chair of the Revelstoke Accommodation Association. "We recognize the long term benefits the event will bring to local tourism, the town of Revelstoke as well encouraging overnight stays in our Revelstoke hotels. We are pleased to be a part of this major new event and welcome visitors to come and experience the phenomenal skiing, extensive outdoor recreation options and warm hospitality of our mountain community."
The Canadian Freeskiing Championships at Revelstoke Mountain Resort will showcase some of RMR's most spectacular terrain including high alpine bowls, chutes, cliffs and gladed features that will push even the most veteran freeskiers to their limit.
"We are thrilled to add Revelstoke Mountain Resort to the premium list of resorts hosting the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. The quality of snow, terrain, and vibrant mountain culture make Revelstoke a perfect fit for the FWT," says Adam Comey, President of Mountain Sports International. "The FWT features the world's best big mountain athletes and the Revelstoke terrain will be an excellent opportunity for our athletes to continue to push the sport to new levels."
The Freeskiing World Tour is the largest and longest running competitive Big Mountain Freeskiing tour in the history of the sport, featuring athletes from all over the world and over $100,000 in prize money. The 2009-10 Tour will have 6 stops on two continents, kicking off in Chile in September.
For further information on Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the Canadian Freeskiing Championships at RMR please visit http://www.freeskiingworldtour.com.