heavenly
TO HOST u.s. fREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS NEXT TWO
YEARS
Freestyle returns to famous moguls of Gunbarrel
South Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev. –
April 26, 2012 – Heavenly Mountain Resort will host the U.S. Freestyle
Championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14. The two-year deal brings the women’s and
men’s moguls, aerials and dual moguls back to South Lake Tahoe for the second
time. Heavenly also hosted the U.S. Freestyle Championships in 2004, as well as
FIS World Cup Freestyle events in 1999 and 2000.
Beginning March 29-31,
2013, the nation’s top
moguls and aerials athletes will compete for the U.S. Freestyle National title
at Heavenly’s freestyle arena located at the California Lodge base area, with
the moguls competition commencing on Heavenly’s famous Gunbarrel run. The
women’s and men’s aerials competition will be held at the base of World Cup run
in California, adjacent to Gunbarrel. Heavenly is one of only a handful of
resorts to recently host the championships two years in a row, joining Stratton
Mountain Resort (2011, 2012), Squaw Valley (2009, 2010) and Killington (2006,
2007).
“Building
on our heritage of freestyle skiing and competition that dates back to its roots
in the 1970’s, we’re excited and honored to host the 2012-13 and 2013-14 U.S.
Freestyle Championships at Heavenly on Gunbarrel,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s
general manager. “Gunbarrel is the most iconic moguls run in North America and
has spawned such great skiers as Glen Plake and current U.S. Freestyle Ski Team
athlete Sho Kashima. It’s the ultimate challenge for America’s top freestyle
skiers.”
Because
the U.S. Championships event falls after the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi,
spectators will also have the opportunity to watch U.S. Olympic athletes compete
after they return from the Games.
“Heavenly
will provide a great combination of spectator-friendly venues, plus a rich
heritage of freestyle skiing,” said USSA Vice President, Events Calum Clark.
“The U.S. Freestyle Championships will showcase our most accomplished freestyle
skiers both as they prepare for and return from the Olympics in
Sochi.”
"Heavenly
has a tradition of hosting the biggest Freestyle events in the land, dating back
to the 1970s Hot Dogging contests,” said Glen Plake. “The 2013 Freestyle
Nationals belong at Heavenly, and for the competitors, what a pleasure to be
competing on such hallowed ground!"
The
moguls of Gunbarrel have been home and training ground for several amateur and
pro mogul skiers, including Chris Hernandez, Brooke Ballachey, Travis Woodcock,
Christy Tibbetts and Travis Cabral, as well as current U.S. Ski Team Member Sho
Kashima, and rising stars Ryan Hickey and Anna Park.
“I'm
very excited that the next two U.S. Championships will be held on my home
mountain,” said Sho Kashima, current U.S. Freestyle Team athlete. “This event
brings the best moguls and aerials skiers in the nation to the best freestyle
skiing venue in the world. It will be a great event for the community of South
Lake Tahoe, especially with the 2013-14 Championships being held at Heavenly
leading up to and immediately following the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.”
“We
have hosted many major freestyle events over the years at Heavenly, including
World Cups, Nationals, Junior Nationals, pro freestyle events and countless
regional freestyle competitions. The first major freestyle contests in the 70s
were at
Heavenly,” said Jere Crawford, Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation freestyle
head coach and the 2011-12 USSA Freestyle Coach of the Year. “Rick Buxton and his staff at Heavenly
always do a first class job.
“Gunbarrel run is
possibly the finest mogul venue on the planet. You
can drive right up to it and see it from all over town. When we build an aerial
site right next to it, you have the greatest show on snow. Throw in all the
lodging, dining, night life, scenery and ease of access, it’s no wonder this is
the competitors' favorite place to compete. Who wouldn't want to go to Tahoe in
late March?”
Event admission will
be free and spectator seating will be available on a limited basis.
About
Heavenly
Heavenly
Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind
combination of scenic beauty, exhilarating on-snow experience and nightlife
unmatched in the ski industry. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc.,
the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. One of the largest
resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s
highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features 97 trails for every level of skier
or snowboarder. The famous moguls of Gunbarrel were the site of the U.S.
Freestyle Championships in 2004. For
more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or
call 800-HEAVENLY.
