It’s official—Red Bull Cold Rush is making a comeback! After a two-year break, the backcountry freeskiing event is returning to Canada for three days of competition at Revelstoke Mountain in British Columbia. From February 3-6, a handful of the world’s best skiers will be invited to battle it out in the steep and deep for a piece of the $36,000 prize purse.

“Red Bull Cold Rush is the one and only top tier event that I, and all the other backcountry skiers, have to express our type of skills in a competition format. The fact that this amazing event is coming back to Canada just gets me all fired up! It’s where I spend my winter doing what we do, so I’ll be right at home this year,” says Sean Pettit, a two-time winner of Red Bull Cold Rush.

The peer-judged contest is bound to be a thriller as some of the best backcountry skiers on the planet go head-to-head, sending their best lines and tricks in British Columbian pow. Also, Red Bull has announced that they will be spicing things up this year with an all-new backcountry touring component to the competition. Stay tuned for a complete list of invited athletes.

For more information, see the press release below.

Press Release provided by Red Bull:

Vancouver, British Columbia — After a two year hiatus, the biggest event in backcountry freeskiing returns to its roots. Fusing the disciplines of backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs and alpine ski touring, Red Bull Cold Rush will return to Canada from February 3-6 at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia. The Red Bull Signature Series event will see a handful of the world’s premier skiers invited to battle it out for a chunk of the $36,000 prize purse awarded to the most versatile, well-rounded freeskiers.

The return of Red Bull Cold Rush means a blend of fresh powder and fresh ideas. Along with the new location in Revelstoke, the event is also being updated with fresh elements including innovative on-mountain features and a competition format that places a greater focus on alpine touring. But one thing remains the same: the peer-judged three-day competition will see athletes pushing one another to raise the bar of backcountry freeski progression.

“Red Bull Cold Rush is the one and only top tier event that I, and all the other backcountry skiers, have to express our type of skills in a competition format. The fact that this amazing event is coming back to Canada just gets me all fired up! It’s where I spend my winter doing what we do, so I’ll be right at home this year,” says Sean Pettit, professional backcountry freeskier and two-time winner of Red Bull Cold Rush in 2010 and 2011.

History of Red Bull Cold Rush:
In an event that pits man against nature, nature always has the upper hand. Born and bred in Canada, the first ever Red Bull Cold Rush was set to take place in 2007 at Red Mountain in Rossland, BC, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Due to warm temperatures and a deep freeze that followed, the terrain was deemed unsafe to ski. When the event returned to the mountain in 2008, it was a skiers’ dream come true. Blue skies and deep snow greeted some of the best freeskiers in the world. Dave Treadway ended up at the top of the podium followed by Sean Pettit in 2nd and the late JP Auclair in 3rd.

In 2009 and 2010, the event moved to Retallack, BC, pushing riders further and into new and challenging territory. A year later, Red Bull Cold Rush moved south of the border for the first US event held at Silverton, Colorado where it remained for a second year into 2012.

Revelstoked! The Mountain:
Even in the powder-heaven that is the BC Interior, Revelstoke was a stand-out destination and obvious choice to play host for the return of Red Bull Cold Rush. Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts the most vertical in North America at 5,620 ft. of lift accessed terrain, two alpine bowls and legendary glades. The only resort worldwide to offer lift, cat, heli and backcountry access from one village base, it has become a true ski mecca and synonymous with backcountry adventure.

“This is the perfect event for us because it showcases all we have to offer – our diverse terrain, excellent conditions, and all the challenging vertical and features they could event want,” says Revelstoke Mountain Resort General Manager Rob Elliot.

On average, the mountain’s peak receives roughly 30-45 ft. of the fluffy stuff every year. For those in search of the white room, the high altitude and location in BC’s Interior Selkirk Mountains brings some of the most consistent quality snow in the region.

Peer pressure – Event format:
There’s nothing more important than impressing your friends, and that is exactly what the premier field of 15 men and 5 women will do throughout the peer-judged event as athletes aim to raise the bar of backcountry freestyle progression. Following each run, competitors will evaluate one another on performance basing scores on style, speed and technique.

Spread across three powder-laden days, the competition focuses on several distinct ski disciplines including backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs and alpine touring in order to find the best all-around freeskier. Each day of competition will focus on one specific discipline, with a new emphasis on the ski touring component that will see athletes traversing to different areas of the mountain in the shortest possible time. Athletes will now be able to accumulate more points through the touring portion, helping to offset potentially lower scores in other disciplines that might not be their strong suit.

Earn your turns – ski touring:
Deep in the backcountry, sometimes the only way to get to the freshest line is by foot – untouched spots that even snowmobiles/cats can’t access – and it’s always the most rewarding way to earn your turns. Ski touring, which consists of strapping on synthetic ‘skins’ to the bottom of skis to add traction, allows athletes to traverse the mountain and tackle uphill climbs to get to those hard-to-reach spots. Similar to cross-country skiing, the bindings/boots allow for free heel movement that lets skiers move easily at a walking pace across difficult terrain.

Over the past few years, touring has seen a steady growth in popularity among all types of skiers, offering both a cost effective and environmentally low-impact means to access the mountain without relying on machines. Touring will often take adventurous skiers outside of resort boundaries and into challenging and sometimes hazardous locations. For that reason, anyone looking to take part in touring should be properly educated in avalanche awareness and safety before venturing out and always consult with a local guide to be informed about the latest snow conditions.

Partnerships:
Red Bull is excited to have the support of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing and the The Sutton Place Hotel. In addition, for Red Bull Cold Rush 2015, Red Bull is excited to announce partnership with The North Face, official host of the ‘Big Mountain’ day of competition.