PRESS RELEASE:

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