Competitors include Olympians, X Games Medalists and World Champions
November 2 – 3 at AT&T Park in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (October 10, 2007) – Esurance ICER AIR organizers are thrilled to announce an unprecedented line-up of world-class skiers and snowboarders, freestyle motocross, BMX riders, skateboarders and headliner acts Mos Def and Talib Kweli for the third annual Esurance ICER AIR competition taking place November 2-3, 2007 at AT&T Park, a celebrated San Francisco landmark and home of the San Francisco Giants.
“We are proud to announce an unbelievable line-up of award-winning athletes for this year’s event. We are also excited to bring Esurance ICER AIR back to San Francisco and to expand the event into a two-day festival,” said Glen Griffin, ICER founder and president. “Spectators will be able to enjoy a roster of the best athletes out there demonstrating world-class skills and performing unbelievable tricks. The competitors are just as excited as we are about the event itself.”
With the influence of Jon Olsson, this year’s big air competition will feature a newly-designed ski and snowboard jump designed by David Ny of Scandinavian Shaper. David and his team have designed snowboarding and skiing venues around the globe including the Winter Olympic Games in Torino and are considered the most experienced scaffold jump designers in the world. The jump will rise over 10 stories in the middle of the ball park, extending over 350 feet in length and will be covered with over 200 tons of snow. Spectators will be afforded views of Olympic medalists and X Games champions flying through the air against the backdrop of the spectacular San Francisco Bay.
The line-up for this year’s men’s ski competition includes: TJ Schiller, first place winner of last year’s Esurance ICER AIR, back to make another run at the title… Simon Dumont, first place winner at the 2007 Honda Ski Tour, Winter X Games multiple medalist and one of the best Superpipe riders in the world, will make his third attempt at the Esurance ICER AIR title… Peter Olenick, Winter X Games medalist and third place finisher in the 2007 Honda Ski Tour, has appeared in films by acclaimed cinematographer Warren Miller and industry giant Teton Gravity Research… Jon Olsson, first place winner of the 2007 U.S. Open Slopestyle, first place finisher at the 2007 Jon Olsson Invitational and an X Games gold medalist… Tanner Rainville comes to Esurance ICER AIR with a number of 2007 first place finishes under his belt, including the 2007 Tignes Airwaves Big Air Competition, 2007 WSI Playstation Big Air and the Vermont Open Big Air… Mike Riddle, second overall at the 2007 Honda Ski Tour, is known as a highly technical skier who always goes as big as he can… and Sean Field 2005 and 2006 Esurance ICER AIR alum. Also competing are skiing standouts John Spriggs, Tim Durtschi, Josh Bibby and Colby West.
The line-up for the men’s snowboard competition includes: Andy Finch, a member of the 2006 USA Olympic team and a regular on the podium in virtually every event in which he competes… Chas Guldemond, one of the hottest up-and-coming athletes in snowboarding, is widely recognized for consistently “upping the ante”; he nabbed the top spot at the 2007 Garnier Fructis Australian Open Slopestyle and second place at the 2006 U.S. Open… Andreas Wiig, an accomplished rider, is coming into this competition with a slew of big wins, including first place finishes in the 2007 Winter X Games Slopestyle and X Games Best Trick, as well as a 2006 Esurance ICER AIR second place finish…Brent Meyer was on the cover of Future Snowboarding magazine in 2006 and has been featured on Discovery Channel’s “Stunt Junkies”… John Jackson, Tim Humphries, Jeremy Thompson, Wyatt Caldwell and Mason Aguirre will also compete to claim the title and snag a piece of the $100k prize package.
The line-up for the men’s vert ramp competition includes: Pierre Luc Gagnon (skateboarder), a podium regular and a participant in the X Games, with a double gold win in the Vert and Best Tricks categories… Mike Crum (skateboarder), one of the original X Games skateboard athletes and one of the best vert riders out there, has a history of being a top contender in every contest he enters… Famous for his Kickflip McTwist, Danny Mayer (skateboarder) brings originality and innovation to the vert, as well as a reputation for challenging the limits of the sport… Koji Kraft (BMX rider) is known for his huge air and clean double tailwhips and occasional double flips. Also taking the ramp will be skateboarder Neil Hendrix and BMX rider Jimmy Walker.
Among the many new features of Esurance ICER AIR is the introduction of a second venue, the Village. Located adjacent to AT&T Park on the opposite side of McCovey Cove, the Village will be home to freestyle motocross, a skate/BMX park, wakeboarding, 60 vendors and exhibitors, a music stage and beer garden.
Sponsors
Esurance ICER AIR sponsors include: Esurance, Crocs, Toyota, PlayStation, Whistler Blackcomb, Head Skis, Freeskier, Transworld Snowboarding, Spin, Outside, and Skull Candy. The charity partner for Esurance ICER AIR is R.O.C.K. (Real Options for City Kids).
Tickets
Friday tickets for the Village are $10, Saturday tickets for the stadium and the Village are $24, and Friday/Saturday combo tickets are $30 (include admission to both venues). Saturday and two-day tickets include a lift ticket to a major Lake Tahoe resort, a one-year subscription to Spin, Outside, Freeskier and TWSnowboarding magazines, as well as additional giveaways. Tickets can be purchased at www.icerair.com.
About ICER AIR
The idea of skiing San Francisco became a reality two years ago. On September 29, 2005, 15,000 people watched history being made as ICER AIR took to Fillmore Street for the first-ever urban big air ski and snowboard competition. Realizing the potential for this type of event and always wanting to push the limits of creativity, ICER AIR founder Glen Griffin moved the jump to a larger venue, AT&T Park, and on November 4, 2006 turned Esurance ICER AIR into an action sports, music, and lifestyle experience. The one-day event featured BMX, skate, and wakeboard performances and competitions, with the spotlight on the first big-air stadium ski and snowboard competition in the United States. The world’s most talented skiers and snowboarders launched themselves off a jump over 100 feet high and 350 long as 28,000 spectators looked on in awe. Continuing the mission of bringing the mountains to the city, Esurance ICER AIR 2007, to be held November 2-3, has evolved into a two-day, multi-venue series of events, action sports, concerts, and parties. ICER AIR intends to grow into other cities and will announce its future plans soon. www.icerair.com
About Esurance
Esurance, a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), provides personal auto insurance direct to consumers online and through select online agents. Through Esurance’s award-winning Web site, customers can get quotes, compare rates, buy policies, and manage their auto insurance quickly and easily. Committed to innovation and healthy competition, Esurance is proud to support unique, one-of-a-kind events like Esurance ICER AIR. For more information on teams and sporting events sponsored by Esurance, visit https://www.esurance.com/aboutus/sports.asp
About ICER
ICER began in 2000 as a small ski and snowboard products company with aspirations to grow into a global sports brand. ICER entered the marketplace by introducing a revolutionary new pocket-sized, spray-on liquid wax for skis and snowboards. Building on the success of the ski and snowboard product lines, ICER plans to expand its line by roll out products for sailing, surfing, wakeboarding, water-skiing, skateboarding and biking. www.icersport.com.
