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Ledcor Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship - Red Resort

J Dogg — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:24:58 -0500

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Ledcor Group of Companies has partnered with Red Mountain Resort for the second year in a row to present the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship, Canada's biggest and longest running Big Mountain
Championship.

From January 10th to 20th over 200 freeskiers will visit Red for two separate competitions - a Junior event and an Open event. A handsome cash purse of $12,500 will be awarded to the top Open Mens and Ladies skiers who dominate the steeps, deeps, chutes and cliffs of Mount Roberts, which boasts some of the best freeskiing terrain in North America and one of the longest, most challenging venues on the Big Mountain Freeskiing Circuit.

A global construction company, Ledcor is leading the construction of Red's condominium project Slalom Creek. As a general principle, Ledcor supports community by providing local opportunities through employment and supplier contracts. Peter Hrdlitschka, President of Ledcor, states "As the premier builder working at the exciting development of Red Mountain Resort, Ledcor Construction Limited is pleased to sponsor the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship for a second consecutive year".

Erik Kalacis, Red Mountain Resort's General Manager and Vice-President of Sales and Marketing states "We sincerely thank Ledcor for participating again this year. Ledcor's support is much appreciated since it has increased the prize money and elevated the production values of this world-class event. The athletes, media and spectators are in for a great time with some spectacular skiing!"

The format of the competition will follow the International Free Skiers
Association's (IFSA) Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines. Athletes will be judged on line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression and control. The IFSA heralds the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship as "a pinnacle in North American competitive freeskiing". Jeff Holden returns to lead the team of judges as Head Judge for another year. Captain Jack Carey returns as Chief of Competition.

Event Schedule:

Friday Jan. 11, 2008

8:00AM-4:00PM Junior Athlete Registration (Guest Services/Ticket Office)
9:00AM-3:00PM Course inspection (Link's Line)
7:00PM Mandatory Junior Athlete's meeting (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Saturday Jan. 12, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Mandatory inspection run (Link'sLine)
9:00AM Junior Competition - Qualifying Round
Sunday Jan. 13, 2008 7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Link's Line)
9:00AM Junior Competition - Final Round (Link's Line)
2:00PM-3:00PM Awards (Day Lodge)

Wednesday Jan. 16, 2008

8:00AM-4:00PM Open Athlete Registration (Guest Services/Ticket Office)
7:00PM Mandatory Open Athlete's meeting (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Thursday Jan. 17, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Mandatory inspection run ( Link's Line)
9:00AM Open Competition - Qualifying Round ( Link's Line)
4:30PM Athlete meeting for results / start order (Sourdough Alley
cafeteria)

Friday Jan. 18, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Mount Roberts)
9:00AM Open Competition - Semi-Final Round (Mount Roberts)
4:00PM Athlete meeting for results / start order (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Saturday Jan. 19, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Mount Roberts)
9:00AM Open Competition -Final Round (Mount Roberts)
6:00PM Athlete Dinner and Awards (Day Lodge)
9:00PM After Party presented by Skier Magazine (Rafters)

Sunday Jan 20, 2008 Weather Day

The Junior event returns to Red for a second year with a new age category 7-11 and an additional day of competition. Held on Link's Line underneath the Motherlode Chair, skiers aged 7-18 will compete in a two-day event on January 12th and 13th.

The Open competition is limited to skiers 19 years and older. On January
17th the Open qualifications on Red's most difficult in-bounds run, Link's
Line, will determine the top 50 semifinalists. The competition will then
move to Mount Roberts for two days, visible to spectators from Granite
Mountain's Ledges area.

For registration forms and more event information, please visit
www.canadianfreeskiing.com or phone Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105.

Red Mountain 2008.09 Competition Dates

J Dogg — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:18:50 -0400

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Red Announces Dates for the 2008 Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship Seventh Annual Big Mountain Competition Adds Second Competition Day for Junior Event

Red Mountain Resort today announced that it will host the 2008 Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship, Canada's longest running and most popular Big Mountain competition. A handsome cash purse will be awarded to the top Open senior mens and ladies skiers who dominate the steeps, deeps, chutes and cliffs of Mount Roberts, which boasts some of the best freeskiing terrain in North America and one of the longest, most challenging venues on the Big Mountain Freeskiing Circuit. The Open event, featuring over 100 of the world's best senior competitors, will be held January 16-20, 2008.

OPEN (SENIOR) SCHEDULE:
Wednesday January 16 - Registration & Inspection
. Athlete Registration
. Course Inspection
. Mandatory Athlete's Meeting (PM)

Thursday January 17 - Qualifications (Link's Line)
** NOTE** There will be no pre-qualified athletes - all open skiers must participate on Thursday
. Course Inspection
. Competition
. Athlete Meeting
. VIP & Athlete's Reception

Friday January 18 - Semi-Finals (Mount Roberts)
. Course Inspection
. Competition
. Athlete Meeting

Saturday January 19 - Finals (Mount Roberts)
. Course Inspection
. Competition
. Awards
. After Party

Sunday January 20 - Finals (Mount Roberts)
. Weather Day

Due to popular demand, the Junior competition featuring the next generation of freeskiers will have the competition expanded to a two-day format to allow for increased participation.

JUNIOR SCHEDULE:
Friday January 11 - Registration & Inspection

. Athlete Registration
. Venue Inspection (Strongly Recommended)
. Mandatory Athlete/Coach Meeting (PM)

Saturday January 12 - Qualifications (Link's Line & Papoose Bowl)

. Course Inspection
. Competition
. Athlete Meeting
. Athlete Dinner

Sunday January 13 - Finals (Link's Line)
o Course Inspection
o Competition
o Awards

The competition will continue to follow IFSA Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines, led by Competition Director Jack Carey and Head Judge Jeff Holden. Competitors ski the venue unrestricted by gates, choosing the most difficult line they believe they can master while negotiating big chutes, large drops and very challenging terrain. The judging involves five categories - line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression, and control and Holden will once again have one of the most experienced and respected
judging teams on the circuit.

Registration forms and more information on the 7th annual Canadian Open reeskiing Championships are available by logging on to www.redresort.com, or by calling Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105. Online registration till open October 1st, 2007 to all competitors. See www.canadianfreeskiing.com for more information.

Saas-Fee Freeride Just Wrapped

J Dogg — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:00:10 -0400

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Story by SaasFreeride.com

Friday night was tense in Saas Fee. It was raining, and the glacier had been shut for two days because of the high temperatures and the adverse weather. But when we woke to clear skies on Saturday morning things started to look up. The park shaping crew have been known to perform miracles in the past, and this year was no exception. In spite of the slushy conditions they had managed to keep the park in tact.

The international competitor field soon went to work on the table top that was to be the setting of this years Big Air. After a while it became clear that this was going to be a tough competition. The standard was high; Arnaud Kugener (FRA) was pulling out some stylee spins, Henrik Harlaut (SWE) threw down a switch 9 effortlessly, while Brits such as the current national champion, Paddy Graham, looked strong as well.

Judges, Martin Carr, Nick Southwell, and Seb Lounis had seen enough and signalled the beginning of the qualifying rounds. The level of riding was soon announced as Paddy Graham flew out of the bottom of the park backwards having landed a switch seven. Murray Buchan (UK) responded immediately by landing a switch 5 well beyond the knuckle. The riders seemed intent on pushing one another, and James Woods (UK) took the prize for effort, by tweaking his tail grab so hard that he pulled his ski clean off.

The women seemed comfortable on the kicker too, and Virginie Faivre (CH) made a couple of the guys look bad by stomping a perfect corked three to kick off the girls qualifier. Teri Spencer (UK) went massive, and previous winner Marta Ahrenstedt (SWE) showed amazing confidence. It seemed like an instant before the 40 odd competitive field had finished their qualifiers, and the judges looked uncomfortable trying to work out the ten male finalists and four women. In the end they reached a consensus and the best went back for another round.

The wind started to pick up and the snow was softening, but it didn't seem to affect the competitors and it seemed they had been saving the best for last. Murray Buchan overcame the slushy take off and stomped a switch nine with ease, Paddy Graham decided to get technical and pulled a corked nine tail grab to late shifty with so much style even the riders at the top shouted in appreciation.

Stephane Vaillant (FRA) held his grab all the way to touch down on his switch nine, and Samuel Favnet (FRA) responded in kind with the biggest jump of the day stomping an enormous switch 720 half way down the landing.

Then Henrik Harlaut stepped up to the plate. Henrik was defending his Saas Fee ride crown, and with this guy it was bound to get interesting. There was an attentive, almost nervous silence as he dropped into the kicker switch. Flying off the lip, he tweaked a mute and sent a massive 1260 out of sight and well beyond the knuckle. When he popped into view seconds later, clearly having stomped the hell out it, everyone realised who this years champion would be.

		In the women's Virginie Faivre soon followed Henrik's example, by claiming the woman's title her title with a perfect cork 3 critical.

The night before it had seemed impossible, but everyone involved agreed that it had been another classic Ride Freesport event. The glacier had held up well, the park shapers had built a superb kicker, and as per usual the riding level was taken another step. Both champions vowed to come back to defend their titles again, and they will have to push the level even further to hold off the competition, so make sure you're there to see it!

FINALLY

Riders and organisers both agreed that the 5th edition of the Saas-Fee Ride was the best yet, especially considering the high temperatures this summer. The event pulled through the odds with the help of a few important factors; Europe 's best summer skiing glacier, the new design of the Snowpark and the extra efforts of snowpark shaper Nicklas Hoglund. Other thanks go to Prisca and Lars at the Saas-Fee Bergbahnen and Anja and the crew from Saas-Fee Tourism for hosting and supporting the event. Thanks also to all the people from the British Freeski Camps for working on the set up and break down.

Look forwards to seeing you all in October at the London Ride 07, 27th October 2007, Grand Hall, Kensington Olympia, London (part of the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show).

RESULTS:

Big Air

Men: 1st place - Henrik Harlaut (Sweden), 2nd Place - Samuel Favnet (France),
3rd Place - Stephan Vaillant (France)

Women: 1st Place - Virginie Favre (Suisse), 2nd Place - Marta Ahrenstedt (Sweden),
3rd Place - Teri Spencer (UK)

For RIDERS FINAL RESULTS, click here

For PRESS RELEASES in English, French and German, click here

For VIDEO CLIPS from Saas-Fee Ride 2007, click here