The Movement Skis World Backcountry Freeride Jam will host, the first ever North Face Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Championships. In April of 2006 a remarkable course was set and the inaugural Spearhead Passage race was held. A long format ski mountaineering race that took competitors from the Whistler Roundhouse area (elevation approx. 6000ft) to the summit of Whirlwind Peak and back. The race was 26 kms long and about 2150 meters in elevation gain, two competitors were under 3.5 hours (longest finisher under 7 hours) and the finish was a sprint finish with only 8 seconds between first and second!

This same race course was honored with the classification as a “High Range International Classic” event by the International Ski Mountaineering Committee which is the overseer for all World Cup Ski Mountaineering events. This status has only been awarded to one other race in the world in Mezzalama, Italy. This added recognition for the venue will only help to bring an even stronger field of athletes to this year’s event and it recognizes the unique challenge this course represents in spectacular backcountry scenery. This event is also sanctioned by the Alpine Club of Canada.

An added race stage Friday the 20th for the National Championships is the Whistler Wind Up which is a hill climb sprint from the Whistler Village to the Roundhouse, total elevation gain of approximately 1200m (4000 ft) over 3 kms. A huge test of lungs and legs. The Saturday 21st stage will see the Spearhead Passage event take over. This race will be the 3rd Ski Mountaineering competition held in Canada this season with the others being hosted at Sunshine Village, Alberta and Nelson, British Columbia.

Competitor cresting Oboe summit

Ski mountaineering is the original form of skiing competition and was the only ski event in the first three Olympic games. Currently there are over 20 international events around the world including a World Championship series. The Movement Skis World Backcountry Freeride Jam is a part of the world renowned TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival held each April at Whistler Resort – attendance in 2006 was over 260,000 people!

MORE ABOUT THE FREERIDE JAM...

Movement Ski World Backcountry Freeride Jam - Free Clinics, Free demos, Free tours... you name it!

Three days of spectacular skiing and boarding in the midcountry, the backcountry…where the powder is and the people are not! The heart and soul of the Jam are the free product demos and skills clinics. To introduce people to the backcountry and to try big mountain, off piste skiing and boarding, to show them how accessible and rewarding it can be. The latest equipment and know-how from backcountry boarding, ski touring, telemark, kiteskiing/boarding experts and equipment, makes it easier than ever to explore the best the mountains have to offer.

More at www.wbfj.ca