KOREY KACZMAREK, LAURA DEWEY LEAD THE NORTH FACE MASTERS GOING INTO THE FINALS AT ALYESKA, ALASKA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2008
Media Contact Nicole Pelletier - Mountain Sports International (801) 349-4608 - nicolep@mtsports.com
Chief of Press Abbie Baugh - (907) 754-2554 - abaugh@alyeskaresort.com
Inclement weather delays The North Face Masters finals until Sunday
Watch live final round coverage tomorrow at 2pm AKST (6pm EST) on www.thenorthface.com/masters
Alyeska, Alaska, April 4, 2008 --- The final stop of The North Face Masters competitive big mountain snowboarding tour is in full swing at Alyeska Resort in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. The North Face Masters is the first competitive snowboarding series specifically tailored to fill a competition gap in the sport of big mountain snowboarding.
Heavy snowfall and limited visibility has delayed the competition today, but the finals will resume tomorrow as the top five women and top 15 men in overall standings will have the rare opportunity to access the finals venue via a Chugach Heli Guides helicopter.
During yesterday’s semi-finals round (video highlights available now at www.thenorthface.com/masters), Laura Dewey of Snowbird, Utah, executed a nearly flawless run with an aggressive line choice, which moved her from fourth place to take over the top spot with 41.22 points. Dewey’s impressive performance knocked fellow Snowbird rider Shannon Yates from first to second with 40.33 points overall. Current tour leader Susan Mol of Crested Butte, Colorado, was bumped from second to third with 38.75 points, navigating the steep no-fall zone directly below the start, but falling later in her run.
Sitting in second place after Thursday’s qualifier, Korey Kaczmarek of Moonlight Basin, Montana, carved the mountainside into ribbons with a performance filled with speed, airtime, risky line selection and technical perfection to overtake the lead with a total of 49.42 points. Thursday’s leader Rob Kingwill of Victor, Wyoming, nearly maintained his lead with another impressive performance yesterday, but inevitably slid to second place after with a combined score of 48.25 points. The North Face Masters Young Gun winner at the Snowbird stop, Jonathan Penfield of Snowbird, Utah, sits in third with 46.33 points.
“I wanted to take full advantage of the steep terrain—it’s a lot like what I am used to riding at Moonlight Basin,” said Kaczmarek after his run down Alyeska’s North Face yesterday. “Today’s variable conditions were definitely tricky, and this course was pretty daunting for a lot of riders. I felt strong and totally in my element, so I just went for it.”
With tomorrow’s competition holding the promise of huge Chugach Mountain powder stashes and the vertical playground that Alaska is famous for, the top five women and 15 men look forward to the opportunity to compete on one of the most sought-ever venues on the planet. Chugach Heli Guides is providing athletes heli-dropped access to the Shadows area of Alyeska’s Headwall. The elusive Shadows area is only accessible in ideal conditions, and is reserved for skilled, experienced riders willing to put it all on the line to showcase their skills.
Don’t miss a second of the action, watch the LIVE full coverage webcast of tomorrow’s finals on www.thenorthface.com/masters or www.futuresnowboarding.com beginning at 2 pm AKST (6 pm EST) with a VOD highlights later in the evening.
For more information please contact Abbie Baugh at Alyeska Resort (907) 754-2554 or abaugh@alyeskaresort.com.
Special Thanks To:
The North Face
Alyeska Resort
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
Primaloft
Future Snowboard Magazine
Chugach Heli Guides
Mountain Sports International
