BIG EVENT

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to Host The North Face Masters of Snowboarding February 13-17


[Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, Calif.] January 23, 2013 - The North Face Masters of Snowboarding presented by PrimaLoft will take place February 13-17, 2013 at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, California. The event will feature top big mountain snowboard competitors battling for The North Face Masters of Snowboarding champion title, $15,000 in prize money and a chance to advance to the 2014 SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

The event will feature one open 2-star Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ) event at Alpine Meadows (Feb. 13-14) with the top five men and top three females advancing to the Masters 4-star Championship event. The Masters Championship event will take place over two days (Feb. 14-17) at Squaw Valley immediately following the qualifier event at Alpine Meadows. Riders participating in the Squaw Valley competition will also earn 4-star FWQ points. A seeding list will be created to qualify athletes for the 4-star event based off 2012 Masters of Snowboarding results.

“We are truly thrilled and honored to welcome The North Face Masters to our mountains,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “The North Face Masters is undeniably one of the most prestigious events in big mountain snowboarding, and we look forward to watching the best snowboarders test their skills on our legendary terrain.”

In addition to the championship title, The North Face will also grant the A-Rob award in honor and memory of the late Masters’ champion Aaron Robinson. The A-Rob award captures the spirit of the community and desire to explore the mountains. Another award up for grabs is The Young Gun Award for the under 21 rider who demonstrates raw talent, an innovative riding style and exemplifies true sportsmanship and passion for the mountains.

"Now in its sixth season, The North Face Masters is one of the largest big mountain snowboarding competition in the country, providing an opportunity for established riders, as well as up-and-comers, to put together a winning run during competition," said The North Face Director, Sports Marketing Katie Ramage. "Utilizing control, fluidity, creativity and style in choosing their line, riders embrace the natural features within the venue to showcase their sport which continues to advance. We're excited to bring this event to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows given their world class terrain and history of attracting world class riders."

The North Face Masters is part of the Freeride World Qualifier system. FWQs are rated on a 1 to 4-star scale with competitors earning more or less points at events according to venue difficulty and scale, competitive pool and other factors. The Masters is the top-level qualifier event and a pivotal step for athletes hoping to advance to the SWATCH Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

The North Face Masters of Snowboarding is presented by Primaloft and supported by Subaru of America, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Mountain Sports International, Snowboard Magazine, Clif Bar, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.

For media or general information about The North Face Masters contact Jessica Kunzer MSI marketing and communications director at jkunzer@mtsports.com or (801) 349-2612.


About Squaw Valley
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is a year-round mountain destination offering world-class adventures in every season. Come winter, Squaw is renowned for its legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts including a unique mountaintop beginner area and unrivaled expert steeps, chutes and bowls. In summer and fall, Squaw’s scenic Aerial Tram offers transport to a wide array of mountaintop activities in a spectacular alpine setting and The Village welcomes a full line-up of live music and festivals. For the ultimate slopeside lodging experience, guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony.

About Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows’ seven powder bowls, summit-to-base groomed slopes, and authentic hospitality are among the many attributes that have made the resort a favorite of the local community and visitors alike. Alpine Meadows offers skiers and riders access to more than 100 trails across 2,400 skiable acres serviced by 13 lifts. With its high annual snowfall of 450 inches, the resort boasts one of Tahoe’s longest skiing and boarding seasons.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined forces in November 2011, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can access 6,000 skiable acres, 43 lifts and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on one lift ticket or season pass.
For more information about Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows, visit www.squaw.com or www.skialpine.com or call 1.800.403.0206.

About The North Face
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in Alameda, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers, and major outdoor specialty retail chains. For more information, go to www.thenorthface.com.

About Mountain Sports International, Inc. (MSI)
Mountain Sports International (MSI) is a private company, founded in 1997, to develop and produce action/adventure sports events and programming in North America. MSI operates the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face, in addition to several other properties and concepts. MSI launched MSI Live in 2009, to provide live HD webcast production, content management, encoding, and satellite uplink & delivery. MSI provides event management services, infrastructure and expertise for high-end brands, including The North Face, Red Bull, Subaru, UFC, Burton and Sierra Nevada. MSI matches brand and culture, company and credibility, to create sought-after events that help to define the action sports culture. For more information, visit www.mtsports.com.