FUELING THE TELE FIRE
THE 5TH ANNUAL TELEPALOOZA TELEMARK FESTIVAL HARBORS HIDDEN TREASURE
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2008
Media Contact: Molly Murfee - mmurfee.aei@usa.net.
Chief of Press: Abbie Baugh – (907) 754-2554 – abaugh@alyeskaresort.com
GIRDWOOD, AK – April 1, 2008— One outrageous freeheeling freak fest hit Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska this weekend with the 5th Annual Telepalooza, a telemark festival held in memoriam of Jeff Nissman. The three day festival, heavy set with a pirate theme throughout the entire weekend, offered up a thrashing menagerie of costume-crazed parties, dance all night bands, an uphill/downhill fun race, a smorgasbord of telemark lessons for all levels, and telemark skiing demos. Additionally this year, Telepalooza hosted the inaugural 1st Annual World Telemark Freeskiing Championships in Alyeska’s most coveted and closed terrain – that of the Shadows and the North Face Prow.
At Telepalooza the telemark skier could find anything their floppy-heeled heart desired. The day could begin trying out the latest and greatest in free demos for the festival attendee from Atomic, K2, Rossignol, Karhu, Black Diamond, G3, Hammerhead and Garmont. Calling on the backcountry skills of the sport, a Beacon Park hosted contests for children and adults in fastest times for single and multiple burials. Those envious of all the fun could get on board with beginner and intermediate Telemark Clinics.
Meanwhile, in some of the most challenging terrain within bounds of Alyeska Resort, the 1st Annual World Telemark Freeskiing Championships began. For two days, the best telemark skiers in the world today tested their prowess against the famed slopes of Alyeska Resort. A whopping 780 inches of snowfall for the season allowed patrol to open the 1,400 vertical feet of the Shadows, unopened for competition since 1999 and never to the public. The fifty-plus degree chutes, rife with hair-raising cliff bands and big mountain exposure put the thighs, lungs and endurance capabilities of these super human athletes to the ultimate test.
Day two of the Championships dawned on another venue unopen to the public and unused since 1999. With the field cut nearly in half, the cliffs of the North Face Prow demanded tele freeskiers to master a barrage of varying weather and terrain conditions. When the Men’s and Women’s divisions were whittled to ten and three competitors respectively for a Superfinals run, sparks flew as these consummate tele skiers negotiated cliff bands as if skiing through water. When the snow settled, powerhouse Nick deVore of Aspen, Colorado and the composed Megan Michelson of Boulder, Colorado took the first ever World Telemark Extreme Championship titles.
When competitors and spectators collected themselves from the awe-inspiring antics of the freeskiers, battalions of pirates began arriving at the Sitzmark nightly to cash in on the insane amount of raffle booty. Over $30,000 worth of skis and gear were given away nightly to benefit the Friends of the Chugach NF Avalanche Information Center. Tough Guy Productions featured their latest films to inspire the freeheeling crowd before rockin’ out to live bands ‘til the wee hours of the morning.
The final day of the festival saw not only new World Telemark Freeskiing Champions crowned, but also the Nissman Memorial Fun Uphill / Downhill Classic Race. Fifty pirates were divided into telemark, Randonee, splitboard and relay divisions to climb up 1,000 feet to then rocket down 1,000 more through gates, a wrapaloosa and finally the finish line.
Jeff Nissman, in whose honor this festival was created, was an expert tele skier, climber, fire fighter, avalanche ranger and adventurer. In his spirit, Telepalooza brings together telemark skiers of all levels – from the beginner to the big mountain freerider. Crews of telemark skiers and enthusiasts from around the nation volunteer their time to make the grassroots event happen. It highlights the skills of the backcountry skier and raises money for the local avalanche center. Through its locale at Alyeska Resort, the perfect in-bounds telemark skiing terrain is featured with steep, wide-open bowls and grand aesthetic chutes. Add costume themes and parties and Telepalooza embodies the fun-loving attitude and athleticism of a culture of skiers who choose to go about their turns just a little bit differently.
WORLD TELEMARK FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
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 Sovitski 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
The final stop of The North Face Masters competitive big mountain snowboarding tour arrives at Alyeska Resort April 2-6, 2008. The two-stop tour is the first competitive snowboarding series specifically tailored to fill a competition gap in the sport of big mountain snowboarding. For more information on current and upcoming events visit www.alyeskaresort.com or call (SKI-SNOW) 754-7669 for the latest 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, Alaska Rock Gym, Alaska Railroad, Alaska Sea Kayakers, Alaska Mountaineering School, Alaska Wildland Adventures, Alaska Rider Tours, Alaska Driftway Fishing, Angle 45, Alyeska Landscape Professions, Alaska Liquor Distributors, Alaska Brewing Company, Allure Day Spa, Alpine Air, Alpineer, Alta House, The Ascending Path, Alyeska Resort, AMH, Babkin Charters, the Bake Shop, Bear Tooth Pub and Grill, Backcountry Magazine, Backcountry Access, Black Diamond, Bishop Bomber Bindings, Carriage House Bed and Breakfast, Chair 5, Chugach Express, Chugach Mountain Massage, Chugach Powder Guides, Chugach Outdoor Center, Cliff Bar, Coast Magazine, Coast Pizza, Copper Whale Inn, Dancing Bears Bed and Breakfast, David Edwards, Denali Winery, Double Muskey, Girdwood Ski and Cyclery, Art Seriously, Friends of the Avalanche, Girdwood Suite Retreat, Girdwood Styling Salon, Glacier City Snowmobile Tours, Great Outdoor Clothing Company, Glacier Brewhouse / Orsos, Great Harvest Baking Company, Hidden Creek Bed and Breakfast, H2Oasis, the Ice Cream Shop, Java Haus, Jack Sprat, K2 Aviation, Kennicott Wilderness Guides, Maxine’s Bistro, Metro Music and Books, Middle Way Café, Melanzana, Misty Mountain Massage, Moose’s Tooth Brewing Company, the Nissman Family, NOVA, Oakley, the Patrick Fur Farm, Pilates Studio One, Renowned Tours, Silvertip Grill, Scarpa, Susitna Place Bed and Breakfast, Sunny Cove Kayaker, Skinny Raven Sports, Soul Shine Boutiques, Tap Root Café, Tikie Holewski, Twenty Two Designs, Voile Equipment, World Cup Ski and Sports.
Press release written by Molly Murfee, freelance writer, for Alyeska Resort. Molly’s e-mail is mmurfee.aei@usa.net.
