March 8, 2005

World Skiing Invitational Announces Formats and Field Sizes

World's best primed to converge on Whistler for the exclamation point to the competitive season

 

The World Skiing Invitational, featuring the highly anticipated Slopestyle and Superpipe competitions, has announced the formats and field sizes for the 2005 event, April 12-16. The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival sets the stage for the World Skiing Invitational with a 10-day mêlée of legendary music, arts and sports events in Whistler, April 8-17. Some of the world's best pro skiers make a yearly pilgrimage to the Festival to compete for a $50,000 purse in Canada's biggest freeskiing event, and revel at Whistler's party of the year.

 

"This has been such an incredible season on the ski contest circuit," said Lindsay O'Brien, athlete manager, W1 Inc. "The skiers have been pushing themselves and the sport to a whole new level. We anticipate big things from the skiers at this year's World Skiing Invitational."

 

The inaugural Slopestyle Qualifier will see 40 male skiers go head-to-head, April 13. The top 7 qualifiers advance the Finals where the 13 invitees will be primed to take them down, April 14. There is no Slopestyle Qualifier for the ladies, but 10 of the world's best will duke it out in the Slopestyle Finals, April 14. 60 male and 10 female qualifiers will suit up for the Superpipe Qualifier, April 15, with the top 10 and 3 respectively advancing. They will meet up with the 20 male and 7 female invitees at the Superpipe Finals, April 16. For more information, visit

www.whistler2005.com/WSI.

 

Slopestyle: Both the Slopestyle Qualifier and Finals give the skiers two runs, with the better of the two ranking the field. The top 5 men and 3 women in the Slopestyle Finals advance to a one-run Super Final to determine the ultimate winners. There will also be an athlete-judged wall-ride for all Slopestyle finalists, where the skiers lay it all on the line in a half-hour jam session. The skier with the best hit of the session wins.

 

Superpipe: A one-hour jam format will take the pressure off and allow skiers more than one shot at putting together their best run of day. For both the Qualifiers and Finals, each skier's best run will be used to determine who will stand on the podium. The legendary SuperHit is also back with a half-hour jam session for all finalists. The competition is judged by the skiers, with the biggest and best hit winning it all.

 

The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler's event of the year, is produced by W1 Inc. - Whistler's largest sport and entertainment marketing company. Experience the synergy of legendary music, arts, and sports events, featuring the World Snowboarding Invitational, the World Skiing Invitational, the DKNY Jeans Outdoor Concert Series and the Kokanee Freeride Club Concert Series, as well as the Pro Photographer Showdown and Filmmaker Showdown. New additions to the line-up this year include the Smirnoff Experience, Brave Art and the Red Bull Gelandesprung. For more information, visit www.whistler2005.com.