OPENING IT UP
DAY TWO OF THE 1ST ANNUAL WORLD TELEMARK FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Nick deVore and Megan Michelson take the first titles
For Immediate Release
March 31, 2008
Media Contact: Molly Murfee - mmurfee.aei@usa.net.
Chief of Press: Abbie Baugh - (907) 754-2554 - abaugh@alyeskaresort.com
GIRDWOOD, AK - March 31, 2008 - Alyeska Resort continued to open up the goods to telemark freeskiers vying for the title of best in their world. Once again, the resort opened terrain previously untouched since 1999 competitions for the 1st Annual World Telemark Freeskiing Championships. The thigh pumping, heart stopping North Face Prow became the showcase for the remaining 46 competitors who stood up to the judge's cut from Day One. After surviving and excelling through the challenges of yesterday's venue in the Shadows, it was Nick deVore of Aspen, Colorado and Megan Michelson of Boulder, Colorado who skied away with the titles of Champions.
The North Face Prow served up an unrelenting high cliff band to end in a wide-open Alaskan field of fresh snow interspersed with plenty of rocky features to maximize on the Knuckles fingers. The one two punch of the two days of competition tested the endurance of athletes able to hold on to their bended knee turn all the way to the bottom. After a Finals run, the Men's and Women's divisions were cut to an exclusive top 10 and 3 respectively of the best. Standing on the ridgeline of the North Face Prow were the heavy hitters in the competitive telemark world. These men and women, seasoned by years of podium finishes in multiple venues, have created the who's who in telemark skiing today.
Nick deVore fired out of his two runs with enough speed to not only melt the snow around him but to boil it. Flying with tremendous height over every feature, deVore attacked every inch of the hill with a voracious hunger. His greased lightning performance won him 36.6 and 35.8 points for his two runs today, the title of World Telemark Freeskiing Champion and a bonus prize of future full days of heli skiing with Valdez Heli Camps.
Ousted out of his five year run of Championship telemark titles, zen master Dylan Crossman skied with his usual solid unwavering, over the cliff bands and variable conditions presented to him throughout the venue with equal steadiness and velocity. His efforts got him 32.8 and 34.2 points for his Finals and Superfinals run. Young gun Jake Sakson's monumental airing of the Shadows yesterday put him in first place coming into the Finals. His high speed antics and airings on the North Face Prow allowed him to stay on the podium with a third place finish and 26.4 and 29.6 points for two runs.
Megan Michelson's exorbitant lead of 12 points going into today permitted her to grab the Championship crown for the Women, even though a tumble through the rocky ridges of the North Face Prow in her Superfinals run threatened to eject her from her high position. Michelson scored 24.8 and 21.4 for her Finals and Superfinals runs. Veteran competitor Martha Burley played mastermind with finding the most creative line through the venue, men or women, and her inventive choices popped her into second place, shortening the spread between she and Michelson by a mere .6 points for a total of 25 and 23.4 points for two runs. Kate Cardamone's even and sturdy performances landed her in third with 21.8 and 24.2 points in two runs. Junior Woman Francesca Pavillard-Cain earned another Championship title for her belt. Nothing seems to be able to topple Pavillard-Cain. With only another year in the Junior's division, the women's world better watch out for this unshakeable hot shot. Pavillard-Cain led the Junior Women today for a total of 78 points for the entire competition Amelia Hamilton and Rebecca Mamrol followed in behind Pavillard-Cain with 75.6 and 54 points respectively. Spencer Jonas took it for the Junior Men, with Peter Mamrol edging in for a second.
And while serious competition kept energetic spectators alert and alive up top, down below at day's end 50 Telepalooza festival goers once again donned their piratey best to compete in the "fun run" uphill / downhill race of the weekend. Additional raffle prizes of $20,000, brought the total up to $30,000 in giveaways to benefit the Friends of the Chugach NR Avalance Center. The exorbitant amount of prizes had not only the international tele community in an uproar, but the surrounding Girdwood community as well.
The competitors of the Worlds showed they can not only ski technically, but can ski technically in any conditions in the Finals and Superfinasl. Typical for big mountain skiing, terrain and snow conditions changed within a matter of vertical feet, keeping every competitor on their toes and adapting in a high velocity chase for the Championship title. Watching the time-tested contend for the podium, a spirit of competitive and yet sincere camaraderie arose. Those able to adapt to the weather and demanding terrain of the Chugach of Alyeska Resort showed they were the ones to truly have the prowess to open it up and let 'em rip for the 1st Annual World Telemark Freeskiing Championships.
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Francesca Pavillard-Cain Crested Butte, CO
2. Amelia Hamilton Olds, Alberta, Canada
3. Rebecca Mamrol Anchorage, AK
JUNIOR MEN
1. Spencer Jonas Girdwood, AK
2. Peter Mamrol Anchorage, AK
WOMEN
1. Megan Michelson Boulder, CO
2. Martha Burley Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
3. Kate Cardamone Basalt, CO
4. Kelsey Vrem Girdwook, AK
5. Gwen Stosovloski Girdwood, AK
MEN
1. Nick DeVore Aspen, CO
2. Dylan Crossman Bethel, VT
3. Jake Sakson Cabondale, CO
4. Bayden Hamilton Olds, Alberta, Canada
5. JT Robinson Fruit Heights, UT
Alyeska Resort is host to the North Face Master Series starting April 2-6 followed by the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships April 9-13. For more information about the upcoming schedule of events visit www.alyeskaresort.com or call (907) SKI-SNOW for current mountain conditions.
EVENT SPONSORS
Valdez Heli Camps, Valkyr Adventure Lodge, GCI, Black Diamond, K2 Telemark, Karhu, G3, Rossignol, Moment Skis, Hammerhead, telemarkski.com, Atomic, greenmultimedia, Garmont, Alyeska Resort, Captain Morgan, Native Eyewear, Smartwool, Alpine Air Alaska, Friends of the Chugach, Tough Guy Productions, Marmot, Alaska Coast, World Cup, Girdwood Suite Retreat, The Ascending Path, Alaska Driftaway Fishing, Art Seriously, Backcountry Magazine, Backcountry Access, Cliff Bar, Cloudveil, Off-Piste Magazine, Patagonia, Powder Magazine, REI, Scarpa, Smartwool, Voile Equipment and countless other local sponsors.
Press release written by Molly Murfee, freelance writer, for Alyeska Resort. Molly's e-mail is mmurfee.aei@usa.net.
