Skiers and Boarders Compete to Tackle Legendary Terrain

Squaw Valley USA Will Open Its Legendary Tram Face, Closed Since 1949, Especially for the Event!

Squaw Valley, Calif (November 11, 2008) — Forty of the world’s best skiers and snowboarders will descent on Squaw Valley USA this winter, where for the first time ever they’ll compete on a legendary section of the mountain during the Freeride World Tour Event: Nissan Tram Face, anticipated to take place February 28th, 2009.

The Freeride World Tour event at Squaw Valley USA, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, will help set a new standard for freeride competition, attracting some of the best in the sport.  The Tour promises to be demanding for participants and exciting for spectators when for the first time the legendary Tram Face, closed since Squaw Valley opened in 1949, will be open for the pro event.

”The Tram Face at Squaw Valley is legendary terrain that many have dreamed to ride but few have dared to,” said longtime Squaw Valley USA skier Cody Townsend, ranked 5th in the 2008 World Freeride Tour.  ”Having the first ever competition on Tram Face is like the first time Monaco was raced in Formula 1, Teahupoo was surfed and the Masters was played at Augusta. Opening up the off-limits terrain for the competition is a dream come true for anyone that’s driven into Squaw Valley and seen the amazing Face that dominates the mountain.”

Participants arrive at Squaw on February 26, opening ceremonies take place on Friday, February 27 and competition is scheduled for Saturday, February 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed to an alternate date between February 29 and March 5. Spectators can enjoy the festive atmosphere with live music and ongoing events at The Village at Squaw Valley plus another village at Squaw Valley’s High Camp.

Riders participating in the Squaw event, which is the second leg of the Freeride World Tour, will arrive in California after showing their stuff in Sochi, Russia. After Squaw, the riders will travel to Tignes, France and Verbier, Switzerland. After this final event, the four Freeride World Champions (ski/snowboard/men/women) will be crowned.

The four events of the Freeride World Tour 2009 are: 
 
1. NISSAN RUSSIAN ADVENTURE – SOCHI, RUSSIA 
Dates: 20-25 JAN 2009, Preliminary contest day: Wednesday 21 January

2. NISSAN TRAM FACE – SQUAW VALLEY USA 
Dates: 27 FEB-05 MAR 2009, Preliminary contest day: Saturday 28 February

3. NISSAN FREERIDE DE TIGNES, FRANCE
Dates: 8-14 March 2009, Preliminary contest day: Monday 9 March

4. NISSAN XTREME – VERBIER 09, SWITZERLAND
Dates: 20-29 March 2009, Preliminary contest day: Saturday 21 March

Confirmed Freeride World Tour Qualifying Events Include:
 
THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING – SNOWBIRD (USA), 30 January -1 February SPYDER BIG MOUNTAIN FIEBERBRUNN (AUT), 5-15 February 2009
THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING – CRESTED BUTTE (USA), 13-15 February 
WINTER MYSTICXPERIENCE (ITA), 19-22 February 2009
SALOMON EXTREME FREERIDE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT TAOS (USA), 4-7  March 2009
THE NORTH FACE MASTERS OF SNOWBOARDING – KIRKWOOD (USA), 6-8 March
NENDAZ FREERIDE (SUI), 13-18 March 2009 –
JASNA ADRENALIN (SK), 31 March-5 April 2009
RÖLDAL FREERIDE CHALLENGE (NOR), 22-26 April 2009 (2010 qualifier)

For more Freeride World Tour Information, visit: www.freerideworldtour.com.

Skateboard Inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame

ROCHESTER, New York—The latest toys to be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame require noinstruction manual. Welcome the Baby Doll, the Skateboard, and—the Stick! , Thomasthe Tank Engine™, Wiffle Ball, and Yahtzee.

The Baby Doll and Skateboard were chosen from among 12 toy finalists that included Clue, Dollhouse, Flexible Flyer  Sled, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Rubik’s Cube.

On the flip side, the Skateboard —encouraging speed, sharp turns, spins, thrills, and risks—brings out the more daring side of a child’s personality and has been attracting kids to the sport since the early 1950s. The first skateboarders cruised the beach walks of Southern California trying to imitate the moves of the surfers they watched offshore. Singing duo Jan and Dean’s Top 40 hit “Sidewalk Surfin’” gave the new sport national exposure. Network television aired skateboard competitions, and by the time Life magazine put a skateboarder on a 1965 cover, more than fifty million skateboards hadbeen manufactured. The early contraptions were homemade affairs of roller-skate wheels fixed to two-by-fours but changes in skateboard technology in the 1970s improved traction on asphalt and concrete.Today’s superior technology and improved safety gear provide for a safer, more stable ride. 

Skateboarding requires creativity, discipline, stamina, and risk-taking. It is now the sixth most popular participant sport in the United States.

The National Toy Hall of Fame ® at Strong National Museum of Play ® recognizes toys that haveengaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover through play.  Criteria for induction include:

Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); 

Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations);

 Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and Innovation (the toyprofoundly changed play or toy design).

Information courtesy of www.allextremesports.com

 

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